Help Us Build Middle School Classrooms (Phase I)
Credits
Produced, filmed, edited, and sound by Noah Semeria http://www.mira.productions
Supporting footage by Bradford Schmidt – https://www.bradfordschmidt.com/
Supporting audio recordings by Andrew Vastola – http://maukaview.com/
Our Greatest Need
Our greatest and most-immediate need is unrestricted funds to support the pre-construction and construction costs of Namahana School. Additionally, Namahana Education Foundation will be responsible for supporting the facilities costs once Namahana School opens, as well as additional operating costs that are not supported by state funding.
As tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax identification number 85-2393805.
What Your Gift is Building
Namahana School will be opening in Fall 2025 with 7th and 8th grades. This fast-approaching deadline is set by the Hawaiʻi State Charter Commission. In order to adhere to this timeline, we must construct facilities for our incoming first year cohort of 7th and 8th graders. We have identified a vendor that manufactures eco structures that are energy efficient, sustainable and financially responsible facilities. These permanent state-of-the-art structures are extremely durable and can be customized to our current building designs. The use of pre-manufactured structures, which go up quickly within a three to five month period, will allow us to move straight into the build out of our permanent facilities.
Our Phase I Campaign includes:
Classrooms for 7th and 8th grades (120 students)
Administrative building, Resource Center, Maker Space and bathrooms
Site work and infrastructure
Soft costs, including design fees, project management, geotechnical, permitting and FF&E
Pre-construction and pre-opening operating cost
Reserve & contingency funds

Ways to Give
Check
For check gifts, make payable to Namahana Education Foundation and mail to:
NEF
PO Box 1353
Kīlauea, HI 96754
Wire
A bank wire is a secure electronic transfer of funds between financial institutions. To proceed with our wire transfer instructions, please download our Wire Transfer form here.
Pledge
A pledge is a promise to give a gift that you pay out over a period of time. You can set up a pledge on your terms by selecting the flexible payment plan that works best for you. Please contact us to inquire.
Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable account at a public charity enabling donors to contribute, receive an immediate tax deduction, and suggest grants over time. To make a Donor Advised Fund gift, please contact your financial advisor and designate Namahana Education Foundation as the recipient, with our EIN # 85-2393805.
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
Gifts of stock are an easy way to make a lasting contribution to the Namahana Education Foundation while realizing significant tax benefits. Please download our Stock Gift Form and Instructions here.
Ho’oilina Planned Giving
To include Namahana Education Foundation in your estate plan, please consult your attorney or financial advisor. Download our sample bequest language here.
Donor Recognition: For donations made via check or wire, please share your donor recognition preference with us so that we can acknowledge your donation correctly. Any public recognition of donors includes the indicated name and excludes the gift amount, unless otherwise permitted by the donor.
Rise to the Challenge
From the gift of land to the gift of expertise to the gift of capital, making the dream of Namahana into a reality depends on the generosity of those who resonate with our vision, values, and hopes for our children. Now that our school’s values, mission, educational philosophy, and leadership are established, we are beginning the Herculean task of building the physical campus that will achieve our vision.
Hawaiʻi State charter schools receive a per-student allocation once they are in operation, but no funds for physical infrastructure. Now that Namahana School has been granted conditional charter approval, we must meet an extensive set of assurances required by the State, from detailed plans for governance, enrollment, staffing, and financial oversight, to compliance with state permitting and construction conditions.
Given the significant investment this demands, most charter schools lease existing space in other facilities, and it is not uncommon for new schools to begin operating in trailers, yurts, or even tentsDespite the steep challenge, we are convinced that in order to truly unleash the potential of a Namahana School education, we must create a physical space for learning that reflects our vision and values.
Thanks to the remarkable support we have received so far, we believe we will be able to complete campus construction on our ambitious timeline. We know it can only happen with the full participation of our community in all its diversity and scope.

Recent Fundraising News
FAQ
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We are thrilled to share that the location of Namahana school has been finalized and will now be located on Ala Namahana Parkway, across from the post office in Kīlauea. Escrow closed on this 11.3 acre lot in early October 2023. The facilities will be located at this new school sight. A thoughtful phasing approach has been considered to accommodate school operations while the permanent campus is being constructed. You can learn more about the different phases on our Campus Design page.
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Hawaiʻi State charter schools receive a per-student allocation once they are in operation, but do not receive funds for physical infrastructure and other pre-opening costs. Now that Namahana School has been granted conditional charter approval, we must meet an extensive set of assurances required by the State, from detailed plans for governance, enrollment, staffing, and financial oversight, to compliance with state permitting and construction conditions.
“We are writing the history of our community today. This is a moment that our ʻohana [family] on the North Shore of Kauaʻi will always remember as a turning point in the lives of our children and their children.”
Kau‘i Fu
NEF Board Chair