Society for Kona’s Education and Art seeking help to revive its century-old historic facility

In 1981, a group of young families wanted to provide education in the arts for children in the rural South Kona area of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo.

They bought an abandoned building that was constructed in the early 1900s — and the home of the Japanese Language School and the Headmaster’s cottage for about 40 years — and they founded the Society for Kona’s Education and Art.

“We eventually got the lease, formed a nonprofit, and then a preschool for kids and started our classes,” founding member Arnold Rabin said. “And we’ve been doing this ever since.”

Now, after decades of classes, day camps, adult workshops and community events, the society’s facility at 84-5191 Mamalahoa Highway is in need of a massive restoration. The list of repairs is long: fix cracked walls, upgrade the outdated electrical and plumbing systems, install sturdier beams, replace buckled flooring and revitalize the overgrown grounds and gardens. 

“As a nonprofit, we often would put our funding from grants and fundraising toward programming and staff, and not toward the building maintenance,” said Ali Rabin, the society’s president. “Without these major repairs, we may be forced to close for good.”

To focus on restoring the building and making it safe, the society has paused its programming, including regular summer art and dance camps for youth, and stopped paying staff.

After countless hours of meetings, site evaluations and planning, the society also known as SKEA said it needs to raise $150,000 to bring the building back to life for another 40-plus years.

The funding also will enable the society to improve accessibility that meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act; improve safety across the campus; relaunch youth art camps, adult workshops and local events; and build a regenerative business model with reliable staffing and year-round programming.

Ali Rabin said the goal is to raise the needed $150,000 by October, in time for the society’s fall art camp “that so many kids look forward to.”

The society recently signed a new 35-year lease with Kamehameha Schools, which Ali Rabin said was awarded after the society raised funds for a septic system that was completed last year.

“That was a huge expense, but we believe in this space and see a future for us there,” Ali Rabin said.

SKEA has already been able to use donations from this fundraising campaign to tear down the dilapidated headmaster’s cottage that was used as an office and tent the building for pests.

“We are completing projects as we get the funds, because we want our community to see that making this site a sustainable location is a priority for us,” Ali Rabin said.

With its new lease, SKEA has now been zoned for agriculture, so once programming returns, the nonprofit can begin implementing planting opportunities and teaching youth how to grow their own gardens and crops.  

“Kamehameha Schools is excited to have us down here, because they believe in the importance of arts education for local children,” Ali Rabin said. “That is part of their mission, as well as local agriculture.

“This is a completely new opportunity for us and could help us bring in more funds for programming as well. We’re excited to have children and the community to be part of this.”

Due to the new agricultural programming, and its consistent problem with wild pigs, SKEA also will need to complete fencing around its property, ideally before the return of its programs.

To help save money, the nonprofit plans to host work parties for anyone interested in volunteering to help fence the property.

SKEA always is looking for volunteers and passionate community members interested in joining the board and getting involved with the society’s programs. They include the Art of Learning program, which brings arts education each year to five area public schools – Hoʻokena Elementary School, Konawaena Elementary, Konawaena Middle School, Konawaena High School and Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School.

SKEA art teachers bring projects that can be integrated into a school’s curriculum to help engage students.

Since SKEA will be on pause until at least October, the Art of Learning may not be relaunched until the following school year in 2026, which is part of the reason Ali Rabin and the Board of Directors are really aiming to complete its goal by October for the annual art camp.

According to Ali Rabin, about 30 youth attend the art camp each year along with 10 teens who participate in a pottery camp simultaneously.

“I love art camp, because I get to hang out with my friends and do cool art projects,” said 9-year-old June Elise Ben Joseph. “I also really really like dancing class.”

The society is currently raising money through a GoFundMe titled “Help Us Save SKEA,” where it has also shared an informative video about the nonprofit’s past and what it hopes to accomplish in the future. As of Tuesday, 110 people have contributed $$27,191 toward the short-term goal of $30,000, with an ultimate goal of $150,000.

“We are saving a building, but also preserving a legacy and home for the arts for the greater community,” Ali Rabin said. “This has been a gathering place for so many generations. It represents old Hawaiʻi and is part of our vision for a thriving South Kona community.”

Real-time updates on SKEA can be found on its Instagram and for more information, visit the SKEA website.