Kaupo School Explained

Kaupo School
Coordinates:20.6369°N -156.1225°W
Area:2.25acres[1]
Built:1923
Added:June 30, 2000
Refnum:00000662
Designated Other1:Hawaiʻi Register of Historic Places
Designated Other1 Abbr:HRHP
Designated Other1 Date:June 1, 1996
Designated Other1 Number:50-50-04-01630[2]
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom

Kaupō School was a historic school building in Kaupo, Hawaii, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It was under the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE).

In 1923 the school was built. The property had a school building with two rooms and a cottage that served as the residence for a teacher. By 1964 the number of students was five, so the HIDOE closed the school with Hana High and Elementary School in Hana taking the students. The school reopened in circa 1982 as some landslides that happened that year obstructed the road to Hana. Kaupo School later closed when the road reopened.[3]

In 2016 the Governor of Hawaii and the Legislature of Hawaii gifted the Kaupo Community Association funds to restore the building and work was to begin in 2019. The Maui News wrote that the school building had "deteriorated" and that the initial goal was to restore the building to its pre-existing state.[1] However in 2020 Kaupo Community Association announced that the building had to be deconstructed due to the pre-existing damage; some members of the area community disliked how what would effectively be a rebuild could cause the NRHP to delist the building.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Kaupo School restoration work blessing Saturday. The Maui News. 2019-08-15. 2020-10-12.
  2. Web site: Historic Register Counts . Hawai'i State Historic Preservation Division . State of Hawaii . February 1, 2022 . February 19, 2022.
  3. Web site: Uechi. Colleen. Kaupo School demolished during restoration project. Maui News. 2020-01-18. 2020-10-12.