Kealakehe High School

What Kealakehe High School does

Kealakehe High School is a public secondary school operated by the Hawaii State Department of Education, located at 74-5000 Puohulihuli Street in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Founded in 2009, it serves grades 9-12 as the designated public high school for the West Hawaii catchment area, including Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, and North Kohala. The school operates under the WaveRiders brand and mascot and delivers a comprehensive educational portfolio spanning core academics, the AVID college-readiness system, JROTC WaveRider Battalion, Driver's Education, Special Education, English Language Learner (ELL) services, Seal of Biliteracy, STEM Academy, a College and Career Center, and a full athletics program (cross country, basketball, swimming, football, volleyball, bowling, baseball, softball, track, golf, tennis, water polo, judo).

The school's technology stack is built on standard EdTech SaaS infrastructure rather than proprietary systems: Edgenuity powers online learning for summer school credit recovery and credit advancement; Infinite Campus serves as the Student Information System for gradebook, attendance, and parent/student portals; Clever provides single sign-on; Google Classroom is used for coursework and assignments; Panorama Education supports social-emotional learning surveys; EZSchoolPay handles online meal payments; GoFan provides mobile ticketing for events; SurveyMonkey hosts the School Quality Survey; and Edlio powers the public website. Students use Chromebooks, and Jostens provides yearbook publishing, cap and gown, and senior portrait services.

Kealakehe's revenue model is structurally distinct from a commercial enterprise. The school is funded primarily through state and federal education allocations channeled via the Hawaii State Department of Education. Ancillary student-paid revenue streams include mandatory registration fees (Class Dues $10, Student Association Dues $10, plus optional items such as Yearbook Color Fee $25, Athletic Card $20, Locker $5, Parking $10), school meals (Breakfast Regular $0.95 / Reduced $0.30; Lunch Regular $2.20 / Reduced $0.40), bus transportation ($60 round trip / $30 one way per quarter), and yearbook purchases ($50 through Jostens, with late fees after November 15). Free and reduced-price lunch and fee waivers are provided under No Child Left Behind provisions for eligible students. As a government entity, the school does not have independent revenue generation, private investors, or external ownership.

Name

Kealakehe High School

Legal name

Kealakehe High School

Website

https://khswaveriders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kealakehe High School is a public high school in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, operated by the Hawaii State Department of Education. It serves grades 9-12 students in the West Hawaii catchment with college preparation, JROTC, athletics, and standard EdTech-enabled academic programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public high school education
• Secondary education programs
• College preparation services
• Athletics and extracurriculars
• Special education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Funded by Hawaii State Department of Education through state and federal allocations
2. Student Fees: Registration fees including Class Dues ($10), Student Association Dues ($10), optional Yearbook Color Fee ($25), Athletic Card ($20), Locker ($5), Parking ($10)
3. Food Services: School breakfast and lunch programs with standard pricing and free/reduced lunch options for eligible students
4. Transportation Services: Bus service with quarterly payments ($60 round trip, $30 one way per quarter)
5. Yearbook and Graduation Materials: Yearbook sales through Jostens ($50), cap and gown orders, senior portrait packages

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kealakehe High School is a public high school operated by the Hawaii State Department of Education, delivering comprehensive secondary education for grades 9-12 in West Hawaii. Its core offering includes college-preparatory academic instruction through the AVID system, Career and Technical Education pathways including JROTC and Driver's Education, an Athletics program across 14+ sports, the WaveRider Learning Center for after-school tutoring, and support services in Special Education, English Language Learner instruction, and College and Career counseling.

Product overview

Kealakehe High School is a public high school offering a comprehensive educational program for students in grades 9-12. The school's portfolio includes core academic programs (AVID college preparation, Special Education, ELL support), career and technical education (JROTC WaveRider Battalion, Driver's Education), and student development services (Athletics, Associated Student Body, College and Career Center). The school operates summer programs for credit recovery and advancement through Edgenuity, provides after-school homework assistance through the WaveRider Learning Center, and offers yearbook production via Jostens. Administrative functions are supported through Infinite Campus (student information), Edlio (website), and various Google enterprise tools for classroom collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WaveRiders: The mascot and athletic/community brand name for Kealakehe High School, used for sports teams and school spirit.

Products and services

• High School Education (Grades 9-12) Comprehensive public high school education program serving students in grades 9-12, providing college-preparatory curriculum, standardized testing preparation (SAT, ACT, AP), and graduation requirements fulfillment aligned with Hawaii State standards.
• JROTC WaveRider Battalion Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program focused on leadership development, citizenship, and personal responsibility, operating as a major department within the school for student cadets.
• AVID College Preparation Program Advancement Via Individual Determination program designed to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility through rigorous coursework, tutorial support, and structured student skill development.
• Driver's Education State-certified driver's education program with lottery-based enrollment, parent nights, and behind-the-wheel instruction for student permit acquisition.
• Summer School Programs Credit recovery and credit advancement programs offered during summer months using Edgenuity online platform, with in-person library support for enrolled Kealakehe High School students.
• WaveRider Learning Center 21st Century Learning Program offering after-school homework assistance in the library on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:30-5:00 pm with free transportation to designated bus stops for enrolled students.
• Associated Student Body (ASB) Student council and governance program including class officers, school-wide ASB council, and School Community Council participation opportunities for student leadership development.
• Athletics Program Comprehensive athletic program including cross country, basketball, volleyball, swimming, football, bowling, baseball, softball, track and field, golf, tennis, water polo, judo, and JROTC competitive activities.
• Yearbook Services Yearbook production through Jostens including senior portraits, cap and gown photos, class activities coverage, and senior dedication pages for students and families.
• College and Career Center Guidance resources for college applications, scholarship information, FAFSA workshops, and career planning assistance for high school students preparing post-secondary transitions.
• Seal of Biliteracy Graduation honor recognizing students literate in English or Hawaiian and another language, with Google Classroom support and an application process for qualifying students.
• Special Education Services Specialized educational support and services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 accommodation plans in compliance with state and federal special education law.
• English Language Learner (ELL) Program Language support services for students learning English as a second language, integrated with general academic instruction across content areas.
• Supplemental Educational Services Free tutoring program under No Child Left Behind for students receiving free/reduced lunch, focusing on reading, math, and science support to close achievement gaps.

Quantifiable outcome

• First state championship in any sport - Girls Swimming IRLS State Championship 2010

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaii State Department of EducationcoreOthersOperates under Hawaii DOE oversight as a public high school; follows state curriculum standards and policies
• EdgenuitycoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning platform used for credit recovery and credit advancement programs during summer school; provides both curriculum and teacher support
• JostensminorOthersProvides yearbooks, cap and gown, and graduation materials for students
• Rotary InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors the Interact Club (International Action) - a high school community service club that fundraises for local and global charities
• American Cancer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Relay for Life annual fundraising event; school community participates in cancer research and awareness activities
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollege-readiness program system that prepares students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hawaii Baptist Academy: Established private K-12 institution in Hawaii with a comprehensive college-prep program. Competes in the same broader secondary education market as Kealakehe, drawing from a similar demographic and offering overlapping programs including athletics and fine arts.
• Kamehameha Schools (Hawaii Campus): Largest private K-12 institution in Hawaii offering a full college-preparatory program. Operates in the same overall education market as Kealakehe but as a private, endowment-funded alternative that competes for higher-income Hawaii Island families.

Direct peers

• Keaau High School: Hawaii DOE public high school east of Hilo on the Big Island. Same district governance, same AVID/athletics/JROTC portfolio, and serves a comparable demographic — a directly comparable peer institution.
• Hilo High School: The flagship Hawaii DOE public high school on the Big Island's east side. Operates under identical state curriculum and assessment standards and offers a comparable slate of AVID, JROTC, athletics, and CTE programs at larger scale.
• Honokaa High School: Hawaii DOE public high school on the Big Island's Hamakua coast. Operates under identical state standards and offers comparable athletics, AVID-style college prep, and extracurricular structures, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Waiakea High School: Hawaii DOE public high school in Hilo, Big Island. Same district, same funding structure, and overlapping program offerings (AVID, athletics, JROTC), making it a directly comparable peer for benchmarking.
• Kohala High School: Hawaii DOE public high school in North Kohala on the Big Island. Draws from part of the same West Hawaii geographic catchment and operates under the same DOE framework, making it a direct peer despite smaller enrollment.
• Konawaena High School: Hawaii DOE public high school also serving the West Hawaii / Big Island region. Directly comparable in governance structure, curriculum, and student demographic, and competes for the same North Kona / South Kohala student catchment.
• Ka'u High School: Hawaii DOE public high school on the southern Big Island. Same state governance and curriculum, comparable rural public high school operating model, and similar reliance on Edgenuity-style digital learning tools for credit recovery.

Regional players

• Baldwin High School: Hawaii DOE public high school on Maui. Operates under identical state standards and curriculum frameworks as Kealakehe, with similar AVID, JROTC, and athletics portfolios — a useful cross-island peer for state-level benchmarking, though geographically separate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KealakeheS
• Facebookfacebook.com/khswaveriders
• Instagraminstagram.com/khswaveriders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/kealakehe-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kealakehe High School