History

Kailua Elementary School (KES) was the first school in Kailua, established in 1883 as Kailua School.  Its original location was at Maunawili Junction.  It was a two-room schoolhouse for grades one through eight.  Kailua School was closed in 1887 due to low enrollment and wasn’t reopened until 1895.   In 1926, a new school was built near Windward YMCA, and in 1929, Kailua School moved to its present location on Ku’ulei Road.  This location is in the heart of Kailua town on the Windward side of O’ahu between the Ko’olau Mountains and Kailua Bay.