The Kamehameha Schools Hawaii campus announced its new head of school Wednesday.
M. Kahealani Naeole-Wong was appointed to the po‘o kula post after two years as assistant head of school and two months as interim head of school. A graduate of Kamehameha Kapalama, she joined the Hawaii Island team in 2003 and served as its elementary school principal for eight years.
Naeole-Wong will replace Holoua Stender, who was appointed in 2012 and now moves on to an executive vice president of education role with Kamehameha Schools.
In a written statement, Naeole-Wong said she looked forward to fostering a culture of growth and learning on the campus.
“I hope to build on a strong foundation and collaboratively lead our school to continue to grow as a Kula Hawaii,” she said.
Prior to her work at Kamehameha Schools, Naeole-Wong was vice principal for Waiakea Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Waiakea High School.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and two master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction and education administration from University of Hawaii at Manoa.
A search for a new assistant head of school is expected to begin next spring, with an interim appointee serving in the meantime.
Students at the Hawaii campus arrive for their first day of school next Wednesday.