Molokai school slated to close at end of year due to lack of funding

KAUNAKAKAI - The more than 50-year-old Molokai Mission School in Kaunakakai will close at the end of this school year, as it will lose much of its funding that has come from the affiliated Seventh-day Adventist Church, school officials said.

The school will not receive its $35,000 to $40,000 subsidy from the Hawaii Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on Oahu next year, said Ralph Kanemitsu, Molokai Mission's treasurer. The subsidy makes up about half of the school's budget.

Carol Kanemitsu, who is the school board chairwoman and Ralph's wife, said the loss of the subsidy reflects the cutbacks that the church is making at smaller schools, relating to economic conditions also affecting the church.

The Hawaii Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on Oahu could not be reached for comment on Friday.

The other Seventh-day Adventist-affiliated school in Maui County, Maui Adventist School in Kahului, will not be affected, said Principal Miki Nelson.

Nelson said the cuts were made to the smaller schools. Her school has 42 students. Molokai Mission reported having only six students.

But Nelson said the principal from Molokai Mission will replace her as she will leave next school year.

Ralph Kanemitsu said it costs around $70,000 a year for a teacher at Molokai Mission, and without the subsidy, they "cannot come up with the money."

Tuition alone cannot cover the costs at the school since tuition is $175 a month for the 10-month school year, or $1,750 total.

But with an enrollment of six, there is no way they could make ends meet, Kanemitsu added.

He said that in the past, there were 20 or 30 students, who generated more money for the school.

The school can accommodate children grades 8 to 8, although all the grades are not filled, Kanemitsu said.

It's a sad time for the Kanemitsu family, which had three generations attend the school.

Ralph Kanemitsu did not attend the school, but his wife, Carol Medeiros Kanemitsu did. The Kanemitsus also have a grandchild in 8th grade there.