LAHAINA — Lahainaluna High School is embarking on a new voyage beginning with the Class of 2026.

LHS will be the first high school on Maui to have an Early College Degree Seeking Program. Students will be able to earn their high school diploma and college associate’s degree when they graduate from Lahainaluna High School.

Modeled after and a member of the Waipahu High School Early College 3.0 Consortium, Lahainaluna will be the first high school on Maui to have an Early College Degree Seeking Program in conjunction with the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Students in this program will also be able to take classes from Leeward Community College and UH West Oahu with other students from the Waipahu Early College 3.0 Consortium.

Kristy Arakawa, the new Early College Coordinator at Lahainaluna, noted, “This is such an amazing opportunity for the students of Lahaina, and it was Principal Jeri Dean’s vision that set the wheels in motion.

“Although this has been a dream for the last four years, it wasn’t until Principal Dean took a small group of Lahainaluna educators to Waipahu High School in March of this year to see the innovative programs like their Early College Program, Career & Technical Education Academies and certification programs for seniors. A move that has launched Lahainaluna from a school rich in tradition to a school leading the charge to ensure that the students of Lahaina explore higher (receive a college) education.”

The Early College Non-Degree Seeking Program will also be available. Students who join this program will not acquire enough credits to graduate with an associate’s degree, but they will still be able to have a few college credits under their belt when they graduate from high school.

They may be able to shorten the amount of time they are in college, cutting down loan debt significantly.

According to Arakawa, “The most amazing part of the new Early College programs is that ALL of the college courses the students will be taking are FREE for Lahainaluna High School students. State grants and donations from the community will also help pay for textbooks and online fees.”

These Early College courses will be taught by college professors, not high school teachers. The courses will have the same pace and rigor as a normal college course on a college campus.

Time management and self-discipline are very important traits that all college students must learn to master.

Students are required to attend their college courses; if they have sports or a part-time job, realistically, they may not be able to take these Early College courses.

Early College students will be treated like normal college students and are governed by both college and high school rules of conduct, regardless of age.

The college will not be able to communicate with parents or send progress reports when students are struggling, just like a normal college student.

Some college courses may be taught on Lahainaluna’s campus, but the majority will be taught virtually after the normal high school day.

Parents and students may contact Arakawa at kristy.arakawa@k12.hi.us or Ilima Greig-Hong (ilima.greig-hong@k12.hi.us), vice principal in charge of the Early College Program, with any questions.

A preliminary list from Lahaina Intermediate has been collected for students who are interested in the Early College Degree Seeking Program; e-mail Miss Kristy or Ms. Ilima if you would like to be added to that list.

The Early College application and registration will start when students register for their classes at Lahainaluna in December and January.