Description

Opened in 2015, our state-of-the-art facility fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where both students and educators can thrive. Visit our website to learn more and apply today!
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Background
Ho‘okele Elementary School is the newest elementary school in the Kapolei Complex area, which includes four other elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Ho‘okele Elementary opened in July 2015 in the rapidly growing community of Kapolei. The 12-acre lot was provided by developer D.R. Horton Hawaii and is located adjacent to the Mehana subdivision. The 78,404 square feet facility is the first Department of Education Design Build school in Hawaii. Design Build involves only one design builder (contractor), in our case, Kiewit Building Group, who was responsible from the initial concept to the school completion streamlining the process to only 18 months.

Ho‘okele Elementary serves students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. A preschool program is available to students who qualify for Special Education. The school opened with approximately 420 students. Most of the students came from Kapolei Elementary and Barbers Point Elementary due to the change in school boundaries. The students reside in Mehana and Kapolei Lofts as well as the communities of Kapolei Knolls, Malanai, Kanehili, Kaupea, and Kapolei Kai that are east of Fort Barrette Road. Two of the three Hawaiian Homestead communities in Kapolei fall within our school boundaries, Kanehili and Kaupea. A year later, the enrollment has grown to approximately 670 students.

Ho‘okele means Navigator. The name of this “high tech” elementary school was selected for its meaning in relation to the 21st century. The students of Ho‘okele must learn to successfully navigate in an ever-changing world. The skills our students will need to excel in are collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking/problem solving.

The 21st-century environment is equipped with wireless connectivity throughout the campus and designed to accommodate indoor and outdoor learning. The school is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certified school. It met the building certification program in the five key areas of energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development and water savings. The school uses green cleaning products and has identifiable storage and collection recyclable bins throughout the campus.

The campus consists of seven buildings that surround the piko (center) and learning gardens. This arrangement gives the school a community feeling. Each building has a name reflective of a Hawaiian village, Haku - Overseer (office/library), Ha‘i Mo‘olelo -Storytellers (cafeteria), Mea‘ohi - Gatherers (classrooms), Lawai‘a Fishers (classrooms), Laulima - Teamwork (play court), Mahi‘ai - Farmers (classrooms) and Ike Hana Lima - Craftspeople (art/science). Native plants were selected to complement the culture of the school and would be able to thrive in the sweltering Kapolei climate.

Ho‘okele Elementary School is comprised of students and teachers formerly from many different schools. To build a cohesive collaborative community and positive culture, the Tribes Learning Communities process was selected to assist the school in attaining this goal. Tribes is a process that help students flourish in a safe, caring environment to gain the knowledge, skills and resiliency to be successful in an ever-changing world.

Minimum Qualifications

The Hawaii State Department of Education is committed to hiring highly qualified teachers in every classroom. With the exception of designated Career and Technology Education (CTE) positions, the minimum qualification to apply for a teacher, librarian or counselor position is a Bachelor's Degree.
If you are hired without completing a Teacher's Education Program, you have a maximum of 3 years to obtain a valid Hawaii teaching license. You must enroll in a Program to continue employment with the Department. Within each year of employment, you must satisfactorily demonstrate active pursuit towards meeting Hawaii licensing requirements, as set forth by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB). It is your responsibility to ensure the program you have enrolled is aligned with the teaching line you are hired in.
Upon hire you will need to have a valid Hawaii teaching license or Emergency Hire Permit. You may apply for your Hawaii teaching license on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Website (https://hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org/).

Supplemental Information

Please visit www.teachinhawaii.org to review the eligibility requirements for all bonuses, differentials, and initial salary placement. To obtain a Hawaii Teaching License, which is required to receive any salary differentials, please apply with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board at www.hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org.
For more information about this school, please visit their website at: https://hookele.hidoe.us/

Equal Opportunity

The Hawaii State Department of Education does not discriminate in its educational policies, programs, and activities on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, and disability in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991. The Department does not discriminate in its employment policies, programs, and activities on the basis of sexual orientation, arrest and court record, and National Guard participation, as well as on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, and disability, in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991, Equal Pay Act of 1963, and Chapter 378, Part I, Hawaii Revised Statutes.