KHON2's Niihau series continues with a focus on education, valued there as much for its traditional roots as for its future possibilities.
It's one of few places in Hawaii untouched by modern development, but the school at Niihau's village is on the cutting edge in many ways.
It's possibly the only purely solar powered school in the nation. But it's what's inside that's even more remarkable.
"These kids, not only are the technologically trained in many respects, but they also are able to feed themselves, which is not found in many schools in America," says Lauae Kanahele of Kula Aupuni Niihau a Kahelelani Aloha Charter School, "Being able to live, not subsisting on the land but thriving is a skill that is now lost to a lot of people and it's not lost to them."
Teaching is a valued profession here. "The teachers in school are all Niihau people. There are some people who come in to give additional training, and we are in that process at this moment, and it's a program that works very well," said Kahelelani.
Education runs in the family for many from Niihau, and they carry it wherever they go, such as: two West Kauai schools dedicated to Niihau culture and language.
"My grandmother was a school teacher, and my mother was a school teacher too and also my auntie," said Kanahele, "I'm a music teacher, I'm a bus driver, I'm probably almost everything."
Many from Niihau say they dream of returning and contributing to the education of future generations there. "My plan would be to go back to home, go home, 15 and maybe get educated to go and give back to the community," said Kanahele.
