Alaiasa To Leave DOE For Principal Post At Kamehameha Schools

Po‘o kumu Sheena Alaiasa

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama ended a careful search for its next high school po‘o kumu (principal) last week by hiring away the current principal of Castle High School, Sheena Alaiasa.

Alaiasa will officially start her new job June 1 and is “extremely honored and humbled” by the opportunity. She has led Castle since January of 2014, first as acting, then as permanent principal.

“I believe that our young people need to be prepared for their journey ahead,” she stated, “to know and understand one’s culture and to find balance between expectations and challenges to be prepared to excel in the world they live in.”

The Laie resident and New Zealand native spent five years as King Intermediate principal, and the school’s achievements during that time resulted in Alaiasa being named National Middle Level Principal of 2013 by MetLife and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

“We had an excellent pool of candidates from which to choose,” noted KSK po‘o kula (head of school) Earl Kim. “Ms. Alaiasa’s distinguished experience as an educator, deep understanding of the role of culture in education and child-centered philosophy made her the right person to lead our high school.”

Castle-Kahuku Complex area superintendent Lea Albert called Alaiasa “a force of excellence” as an administrator, and she will be missed. “We wish her the best,” Albert said, “and will be all the while thankful for the many contributions she has made to administrators, teachers and especially to our students.”

A search for her replacement begins soon.