PUKALANI - Kamehameha Schools Maui has gone to a co-principal organizational structure for its high school and has named the two people to fill those positions.
The new po'o kumu, or principal, for the school's High School Academies, grades 11 and 12, is Jay-R Ka'awa, and the po'o kumu for the High School Foundation Program, grades 9 and 10, is Lance Cagasan. Kamehameha Schools Maui po'o kula, or head of school, Lee Ann Delima made the appointments.
"The Kamehameha Maui ohana is pleased and delighted with the selection of Jay-R Ka'awa and Lance Cagasan to serve as our high school po'o kumu," said Delima. "Individually, they represent and work with the heart of Pauahi's timeless mission at the forefront of all they do. Together, they have demonstrated a unique cohesiveness that bolsters and bonds students and staff to reach meaningful goals and extend themselves to higher peaks."
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LANCE CAGASAN, foundation principal
Following a two-year pilot program, the private school in Pukalani is formalizing a "co-principal governance model" that features two principals "who are fully authorized to lead the school in a fashion consistent to that of a conventional one-principal structure," a news release about the appointments said.
Principal supervisory duties were realigned by grade levels, 9 and 10 for the Foundation Program, and grades 11 and 12 for the High School Academies. The new structure will allow the principals to respond more efficiently to teachers, parents and students and increase time for instructional leadership responsibilities, said the news release.
Ka'awa has been at Kamehameha Schools Maui for seven years as the high school hope po'o kumu, or vice principal, and interim po'o kumu of the High School Academies.
She has overseen the academy pro-gram and all the components of high school activities. Prior to her time at Kamehameha, Ka'awa served as a teacher and hope po'o kumu at Molokai High and Intermediate School. Ka'awa earned her bachelor of science in physical education/biology and secondary education and master's of secondary education at Southern Utah University before getting her Educational Administration Certification from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Cagasan has been at Kamehameha Schools Maui for the past 13 years, most recently as the interim po'o kumu of the 9th and 10th grades, overseeing the academic program and all components of the athletic programs. He also was the high school hope po'o kumu and the high school varsity basketball coach. Cagasan got his bachelor of arts in sociology from UH-Hilo, his professional diploma from UH-Manoa and his master's in education from Chaminade University.
Both began their new roles Friday.
Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
