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In 1862, Sacred Hearts School, originally know as Maria Lanakila School, started as a two room building. Staffed by the pastor and his assistant, Kilito Mauliawa, Father Raymond Selalande of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, rebuilt and enlarged the small school into a four room school in 1870. Sacred Hearts School was renamed to honor his religious order and today Father Delalande is considered the school's founder. He was assisted by Helen Kaoho and lay teachers.
In 1927, the Third Order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse, New York, was invited to staff the school with the assistance of lay teachers. In 2000, the last sisters left Sacred Hearts School. This teaching order's legacy of 73 years is still very present in our lay staff today. The school embraces the same charisms of the Order by carrying the joy, simplicity, charity and peacemaking work that the sisters embodied while serving the children of West Maui. The faculty and staff are honored to stand on the houlders of the many religious and lay educators that have taught before us on the sacred grounds of Sacred Hearts School.
In 1948, a storm destroyed the school building. Father Matthew Alencastre rebuilt the school with lumber from the Navy barracks in Pu'unene and the classes resumed the following year. A worse tragedy occurred in 1971 when the school was completely destroyed by arson. The statue of Christ that is in the courtyard is the only remnant of the school after that fire. After much soul-searching and unwavering parish and community support, the present school was built under the guidance of Father Stephen Van Dende.
In 2000, when the Franciscan sisters returned to O'ahu, Father Joseph Bukoski, SSCC, and parish members set plans in to motion which created the Sacred Hearts School Early Learning Center opening its doors on August 19, 2001. May God bless the ELC - 8th grade students on this sacred ground.
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