Saved Schools

Mālama Honua Public Charter School

Mālama Honua Public Charter School, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary/middle school in Waimanalo, Hawaii, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.

Location Waimanalo, Hawaii

Governance Public Charter School

Grades Elementary, Middle

Students 168

Locale Suburban

School Director Denise Espania

Demographics

Percentage of students*

2%

English Learners

48%

Free/Reduced Lunch

18%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian 1%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 83%

Hispanic or Latino

White 15%

2+ Races

Why Mālama Honua Public Charter School was nominated

“We prioritize ʻohana and community involvement and strive to create a school where, as a “village,” we lead, learn, and act with compassion, continuously educating ourselves while facilitating the education of our keiki" - from their website

Student experience design

A'ohe pau ka 'ike i ka halau ho'okahi. All knowledge is not learned in one house/school. Our students learn within four walls but more importantly the classroom extends into our community. They read, research, and write, but more importantly they listen to elders and engage in restorative practices that perpetuate Native Hawaiian cultural and positively impact our earth.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Assessments For Deeper Learning

5+ years

Community And Workforce Partnerships

5+ years

Performance Based Assessment

5+ years

SEL Integration School-wide

5+ years

Student-led Conferences

5+ years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

Co-leadership

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Internships

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

No Tracked Classes

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

High Quality Instructional Materials

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

Service Learning

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Address systemic inequities

Better support a specific population of students

Better support students of color

Respond to stakeholder demand or advocacy

Artifacts

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.