Pahoa, Hawaii Prep named Green Ribbon schools

Pahoa High and Intermediate School and Hawaii Preparatory Academy are two of the four Hawaii schools that have been selected to represent the state in the US Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program.

The program, which is in its first year, honors schools that have significantly reduced their environmental impact and achieved energy efficiency. According to the federal education officials, designated schools also feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, foster wellness and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement.

The two Big Island schools, one public and the other private, along with Ewa Makai Middle School and Waikiki Elementary will be eligible for national recognition when the US Department of Education announces national winners on April 23.

The Hawaii entries were chosen by a committee made up of the Hawaii Chapter of the US Green Building Council, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the state’s Hawaii Energy program.