Four of the state’s 17 public charter schools with Hawaiian-focused programs have gained full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The milestone culminated a three- to four-year process for the schools, which serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The schools are:

» Kanu ‘o Ka ‘Aina New Century Public Charter School in Waimea on Hawaii island.

» Ke Kula ‘o Nawahio-kalani‘opu‘u Iki Laboratory in Keaau on Hawaii island.

» Ke Kula ‘o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory in Kaneohe.

» Kula Aupuni Ni‘ihau a Kahelelani Aloha New Century Public Charter School in Kekaha on Kauai.

Two of the schools — Kamakau and Nawahio-kalani‘opu‘u Iki — are Hawaiian-language immersion schools.

The association says its accreditation process is "ultimately about fostering excellence" and "involves a dual purpose … that schools be worthy of the trust placed in them to provide high-quality learning opportunities, but with the added requirement that they clearly demonstrate that they are about the critical business of continual self-improvement."

"Being able to recognize the uniqueness of these Hawaiian-focused schools is very meaningful," said Wai­ale­ale Sarsona, director of Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘o­lako Like Department, which provides financial support to the 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools.

The Hawaiian-focused charters, which represent just more than half of the state’s 32 public charter schools, offer instruction and learning grounded in Native Hawaiian values, knowledge, beliefs, practices and language.

For the past four years, Sarsona’s program has provided about $1.1 million annually in funding to help the schools through the accreditation process through a partnership with the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. The remaining 13 charters are in the WASC accreditation pipeline, Sarsona said, adding that seven more schools are expected to obtain full accreditation next year.

"Mainly, this validates the work we’re doing," said Kamehaililani Waiau, principal at Kamakau, which has 146 students. "It’s a language that other people understand — accreditation, WASC — that helps clarify what we’re about and shows that while we’re doing cultural stuff, we’re still meeting national standards, and that is amazing."

Waiau said the school has been accredited since 2010 by WINHEC, the World Indigenous National Higher Education Consortium, but said "the WASC process really was an opportunity for us to look at areas where we’re doing maika‘i, doing good, as well as where we can ho‘oikaika, or strengthen, and not just maintain, but improve on that status."

Sarsona said a particular challenge for the schools was conveying their Hawaiian-focused missions to an accrediting body unfamiliar with Hawaiian culture and language.

"The process did confirm once again that there is a disconnect," said Kauanoe Kamana, principal of Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u Iki. "Hawaiian-language medium education is unique to our home and does not fit the culture of WASC or any mainstream accreditation efforts. For Hawaiian medium schools, the use of Hawaiian language and culture is the reason for our existence, with academics as a byproduct of that effort."

Still, she said the experience was positive, and credited the school’s "ability to explain and write up sections in ways that bring the disconnect to light rather than talk around it and explain how we do what we do and why we do what we do."

"Once the visiting committee saw for themselves and talked with teachers, staff, students and parents, they got a clearer idea," Kamana said. "They were able to see that what we do does not match with mainstream ways of describing why we’re successful."

Sarsona’s program at Kamehameha Schools also provides an additional $8 million annually to Hawaiian-focused charter schools, which breaks down to $1,500 per student, based on official enrollment.

Charter schools are legally independent, outcome-based public schools operating under contract with the state Public Charter School Commission. According to the Hawaii Charter School Administrative Office, charter schools are encouraged to become accredited but can still offer educational programs without accreditation. Diplomas received from nonaccredited public schools, including charter schools, are still valid.

WASC lists 22 Hawaii charter schools as either accredited or candidates for accreditation.