History

Emmanuel Lutheran School has been on Maui since the mid-1980s.  The church was built in 1971 and the preschool program followed a year later.  The grade school was not added until the mid-1980s when the church built the 7 classroom building to house the school.  The preschool continues to run inside of the sanctuary.  The church added a two room modular when enrollment demanded it in 2003.  This modular houses sixth and seventh grade.  The school purchased land to build a bigger school and church in 2005 but has yet to raise enough money to break ground.  The school is thriving with a student body that reflects the diversity of our island.  We have a teacher student ratio of 13:1 students to teachers.

 

1979 Press Release for the K-5 School

 

EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOLS are ministries of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Maui. The school programs began as outreach ministries into our community and are designed to serve the people of our Valley Isle.  Emmanuel Lutheran Church began its official ministry as a congregation in 1967 following several years of monthly services being provided by Oahu and Big Island pastors.

 

 In July of 1968, her present pastor, The Rev. Milton E. Fricke, received and accepted the call to become the first permanent pastor of the congregation. His arrival marked the beginning of our full time ministry on the island of Maui.   Christian Education has been a large part of our ministry since that time. A  Sunday School program was immediately begun which is still strong today.  A Youth program was soon added to relate to teenagers and that program is also continuing today. .   The congregation then saw a need for more preschool care and planned its first unit as multi-use worship and education facility. This continues to be our only building unit at this writing.

 

In September, 1972, following the 1971 dedication of this facility, Emmanuel Christian Preschool and Day Care Center was opened. The initial, enrollment was just 12 students when we opened.  Having dedicated ourselves to providing the best preschool program possible within our means, we were destined to grow. Our enrollment reached a high of 34 that first year and we opened the second year with a full enrollment of 45 students. We have continued to maintain that enrollment with ever lengthening wait lists each year of our operation.  The natural movement that comes with a successful program is expansion. We were encouraged by many to increase the size of our preschool so that more could be enrolled. However, the congregation had already been discussing the hopes of opening a grade school program as the natural extension of our preschool program.

 

After much prayerful consideration, this became the direction that the congregation would move. As the plans began to materialize, we sought a place where such a program could begin, since we did not have the necessary facilities.  We approached Kahului Union Church about the possible use of their classroom space. But it had already been promised to another group. However, when their plans did not materialize, we had a place to begin.  Emmanuel Lutheran School, grades K-2 opened in September, 1978, with an enrollment of only 12 students. It was a beginning and we knew that if we provided a quality program, it would grow. And it has!

 

In September, 1979, our school enrollment is 36 students in K to 5.  Our commitment to our students calls for the addition of one new grade each year until reaching’ 8th grade.  We are now working on our building philosophy and plan to begin working with an architect soon for the design of our new classroom facility. We intend to build on our church property in the sixth increment of Kahului. Our projection is to have the facility for school use by September, 1981. We hope to grow into a school of some 225 students in grades K to 8, with each classroom averaging 25 students. Our goal is to provide QUALITY, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION where the student is our number one concern.

1983 Maui News Article:

Lutherans set CE building fund drive

1984 Maui News Article:

School building: Growth Promotes facility expansion

1985 Maui News Article:

New Lutheran school opening Sunday

 

2005 Maui News Article:

Site blessed Church, school planning move

2005 Maui News Article:

Burgeoning ‘ministry’ building new site