MEDIA RELEASE

Makua Lani Christian Academy (MLCA) came to life at a recent meeting involving the Boards of Directors of Kona Christian Academy, a 115 student PreK-7 school, and Makua Lani Christian School, a high school with an enrollment of 85.

“The creation of Makua Lani Christian Academy offers parents and students an exciting new opportunity for PreK-12 college preparatory education in a Christian setting,” Dylan Mabuni, chairman of the new school’s Board of Directors, said.

“The merger will strengthen the interaction between two faculties that have already worked in close contact,” Thaddea Pitts, the newly appointed Head of School for MLCA, said.

“There are many advantages to the education experience of each group when older students interact with and work alongside younger students. The older students benefit from opportunities to develop a greater sense of responsibility for their younger peers, and the younger students gain positive role models.”

Makua Lani Christian School is a member of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools accredited through HAIS and the Accrediting Commission for Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the Association of Christian Schools International (KCA membership pending).

More than 90 percent of the graduates of Makua Lani Christian School have matriculated to colleges and universities across the United States or pursued mission work abroad.

MLCA joins several other K-12 independent schools on Hawaii Island, ranging from Christian Liberty and Kamehameha Schools in Keaau to Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Parker School in Waimea and Hualalai Academy in Kailua-Kona.

“As we look at the PreK-12 model, we see both operational efficiencies and programmatic advantages to merging the schools,” Mabuni said. “We also have the additional advantage of being the more affordable choice”

In its mission statement, MCLA pledges “it will work together with parents and the church to provide a Christ-centered, spiritual, academic and physical foundation that will produce individuals who will be Biblical thinkers capable of serving the world for Christ.”

“This is the same mission that has consistently guided both Kona Christian Academy and Makua Lani Christian School,” Mabuni said.

The long-term vision for the school is to be integrated on one campus. Until then, the elementary division—PreK-7—will continue to operate at its 74-4907 Palani Rd Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 location, and the high school will be at its current campus at 74-4947 Mamalahoa Hwy., Holualoa, HI 96725

Applications for enrollment for Fall 2013 are now available.

—For more information or for forms contact the school at: (808) 329-4898