The vision that
is Maryknoll School began with a young priest and six
Maryknoll Sisters more than seventy eight years ago. When Maryknoll
School was blessed and opened its doors in 1927, there were 93 boys and 77
girls. The six Maryknoll Sisters, who had arrived from
New York just four days before opening day, comprised
the first faculty. The school was a one-story wooden frame
building, containing four classrooms, on Dole Street.
Honolulu was not without Catholic schools at the time;
excellent private schools conducted by congregations of
religious men and women from Europe and patterned on European
values and ideas existed. The American Sisters, however,
believing that education of choice should be open to everyone,
set out to establish a coeducational, parish school. Families
in the parish, as well as other families desiring to have
their children educated in the American way, were invited
to send their children to the school.
Within four years, the Sisters knew that expansion was
necessary. In 1931, the first freshman class was enrolled
and in 1935 the first thirteen graduates of the only Catholic,
coeducational High School in Hawaii received their diplomas.
The High School division continued at Dole Street until
1948 when it was moved to the former MacDonald Hotel on
Punahou Street. In August 1953, the present Grade School
facility was dedicated.
The passage of time brought many changes. As their neighborhood
transformed from small frame cottages to high-rise condominiums,
the Dole Street families began to leave. Nevertheless,
they continued to send their children and grandchildren
to Maryknoll School. As the school became less and less
parish oriented, most of the Maryknoll Sisters, whose
mission it is to found, establish, train, and move on,
left to pursue new endeavors.
A total enrollment of 1,400 students are accommodated on both campuses. Currently we
have 830 students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight
and 570 in grades nine through twelve. The faculty numbers
150 and consists primarily of lay men and women.
As the only Catholic institution on Oahu offering a coeducational
program from Pre-k through grade Twelve, Maryknoll School
remains unique in the community. The vibrant, family spirit
carried forth by the faculty and staff, in a combined
effort with the students, continues to promote excellence
in education.
The most recent reflection of Maryknoll's commitment to
excellence was its acceptance into the Coalition of Essential
Schools in January 1995.
|
Maryknoll Grade School, 1927
High School construction
Rogers Hall, 1954
Maryknoll High School, 1998
Maryknoll Grade School, 2003 |
