Waiakeawaena Elementary School

Waiakeawaena Elementary School is a public school run by the Hawai'i Department of Education in Hilo, the second largest city in Hawaii. It serves about 830 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. Its mascot is the menehune.HistoryIn 1917, the school was founded as a two-room classroom on the corner of Kahaopea Street and Kilauea Avenue. It moved to its present site in 1919. By then, it had eleven classrooms with 70 students. After 1949, new classrooms were added every three years. The cafeteria was built in 1955. In 1956 there were 576 students. By 1966, the population grew to 795. Three multi-story buildings were built in the early 1970s. The library was built in 1985. Today, the school is on an 8-acre portion of land, where 3.75 acres are for school facilities, and the remaining 4.25 acres are for a playground used by the school and the County of Hawaii.Alma Mater''Our strong bond can ne'er be brokenFormed at Waiakeawaena SchoolFar surpassing wealth unspokenSealed by friendship ties.Waiakeawaena, WaiakeawaenaDeep 'graven on each heartShall be found unwavering trueWhen we from life shall part.''