Lynn Kaho‘ohalahala officially began work as principal at Lahainaluna High School on July 10.

LAHAINA – The circle of life has connected for Lynn Kaho’ohalahala. The lifelong educator who graduated with the Class of 1969 from Lahainaluna High School has returned to her alma mater to serve as principal at the historic campus. She officially took her seat in the Principal’s Office on July 10.

Kaho’ohalahala earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Puget Sound, then a Master’s in Education from Heritage College, and finally a Certificate of Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

She taught in Tacoma for two years, returned to the islands for a 23-year stint at Lanai Elementary and High School, then finished her teaching career for four years in her return to Lahainaluna.

“Mrs. K” moved from the classroom to the Administration Building as a vice principal for ten years before moving down the road to Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary School. She served there for six-and-a-half years before applying for and earning the honor of leadership at Lahainaluna.

Kaho’ohalahala always exudes an air of gentle aloha, yet is precise and confident in her profession.

“I am home again, and it is an honor and a privilege to be leading the school forward. I am humbled for the opportunity, and I look forward to working with my fellow administrators, the teachers, the staff, the students and the community. I truly hope to live up to all expectations,” she said last week from the Principal’s Office at the top of Lahainaluna Road.

She leaned back in her chair and smiled with the revelation of assuming the leadership of a campus that has evolved into a dynamic position of community higher education. “So many wonderful improvements: the library, the new cafeteria, the locker room, the softball field, and now, Sue D. Cooley Stadium,” she said.

Kaho’ohalahala noted quickly that the front burner projects for the upcoming school year include air conditioning, construction of new buildings, renovation of the old cafeteria into a science laboratory, and a new mathematics building.

Another important focus for Principal Kaho’ohalahala will be to move the school forward to be more “student-centered.” She explained that she would like to see the students’ daily schedule be more consistent to coincide with college credit level courses and work/study internships. She would also like to lend support to the Lahainaluna Boarding Department and its farming projects like corn and taro.

The boarding program has suffered a downward trend in recent years, but Kaho’ohalahala noted that the number of students enrolled in the program has increased to around 80. The total enrollment for the school will be right around 1,000 students, she said.

Principal Kaho’ohalahala’s administrative staff currently includes Vice Principal Joanne Dennis, Temporary Assignment Vice Principal Mark Sims, and Administrative Training Vice Principal Geri Miyamoto. Scott Soldwisch is the athletic director.

Queried on if she and her husband, Sol Kaho’ohalahala, will be moving into the Principal’s Cottage on campus, Mrs. K smiled and looked out her window, across the parking lot to her picturesque new home, and breathed, “Yes.”