Pahoa High and Intermediate School - History

History

Pahoa School was started in 1910 for students from the rural Puna District Communities. The high school was established along with a middle school and an elementary school. The Original buildings on campus are still in use including the front High School building, the gymnasium and two of the elementary school buildings. At one time, Pahoa High & Intermediate School had five feeder schools, with students being bussed in as far away as Volcano, 35 miles away.

The original main elementary school building was torn down in 1979 and a new two story building and portable classes replaced it. At the same time on the High School and Intermediate School campus, a new parking lot adjacent to the gymnasium, a three story classroom building, a two story building and six new one story buildings were constructed. The following year, another two story building along with a new cafeteria, a track and football field, basketball/tennis courts and a baseball/softball field were added on the High School side. In 1981 a 45 space parking lot was constructed behind the Intermediate School along with a few portable classrooms.

The school significantly grew over the years, especially in the late 1970s when the rural Puna district was sectioned off into subdivisions after the Sugar industry went under. Pahoa High & Intermediate School doubled in size during this period, and many new buildings were built on the campus. In 1999, Keaau High School was constructed ten miles away to relieve Pahoa High & Intermediate Schools overcrowded 2,500 student body, virtually downsizing it in half. Pahoa High & Intermediate School's rival then also became Keaau High School. In 2011, a new gymnasium will open on the South end of the campus, adjacent to the athletic fields. Talks of installing a new all-weather rubber track (similar to the one at Waiakea High School) are also in the works.