The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Konawaena Middle School
Konawaena Middle School sits in Kealakekua, a small rural community in South Kona on the west side of the Big Island. The town stretches along Hawaii Route 11, the Mamalahoa Highway, roughly ten miles south of Kailua-Kona. This is coffee country, with homes, farms, and scattered roadside businesses spread along the highway corridor rather than clustered around a traditional downtown. The area's identity is tied closely to Kealakekua Bay below, a place of deep Hawaiian cultural history and a protected marine environment, rather than to any commercial center. Walkability is limited. The community has been stable to slightly declining in population, with no major new housing developments apparent in publicly reported sources. Growth pressure in the region leans more toward Kailua-Kona to the north.
The school serves grades six through eight and operates as a regular public school within the Hawaii Department of Education, the single statewide district. Enrollment is moderate for a middle school, with the three grade levels fairly evenly balanced. The student body reflects the broader South Kona community: a large share of students identify as Hispanic, a nearly equal share as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and a substantial portion as two or more races, with smaller groups identifying as White and Asian. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported in the available sources, so those figures are left out here rather than estimated.
State assessment results from the most recent school year tell a mixed academic story. In English language arts, proficiency rises noticeably across the three grade levels, building from a modest share in sixth grade to a solid majority by eighth grade. That upward trajectory through the middle school years is a genuine strength. Math follows a similar pattern of improvement from sixth to eighth grade, but the overall proficiency levels remain lower, with fewer than half of students reaching the proficient benchmark in any grade. Science, assessed only in eighth grade under the Hawaii NGSS assessment, lands in a middle range, with close to half of students demonstrating proficiency. Participation rates across all tested grades and subjects were high. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement or decline over time. Average scale scores were also not reported.
The school does not have a graduation rate, which is expected for a middle school serving only grades six through eight. The available data did not include information on course offerings, career or dual-credit pathways, staffing levels, attendance patterns, discipline data, or Title I status. Programs data was absent as well. A parent looking into academic enrichment, electives, or specialized support services would want to ask the school directly, since the public data here is thin on those dimensions.
Housing in the area is expensive relative to national norms, though somewhat below the statewide Hawaii benchmark. The typical home value in the school's zip code sits well above the national figure but a notch under the state average, and values have eased slightly over the past year. Rent data was not available for this location. The price-to-income ratio is high, reflecting the broader challenge of housing affordability across the islands. Families considering a move to this attendance area should expect rural living with limited commercial amenities nearby, reliance on a car for most errands, and a housing market that, while not at the very top of Hawaii's range, still carries a substantial cost compared with mainland communities.
What Konawaena Middle offers is a community-rooted public school in a rural, culturally rich part of the Big Island, with a student body that mirrors the diversity of South Kona. Its ELA results show real growth across the middle grades, and its science outcomes are respectable. Math is the area where proficiency lags most, and a parent may want to look into what supports or interventions the school has in place for students working below grade level in that subject. The gaps in publicly available data on programs, staffing, and student services mean that a full picture of what the school offers day to day will require direct conversation with the administration.
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