Kanu o ka ‘Âina New Century public charter school on the Big Island has received accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for its K-12 program.

The WASC accreditation, the first for a Hawaiian-focused charter school, is effective for six years, a news release said.

“This is validation of the quality of education at Kanu, which is at once culturally-driven and academically rigorous and prepares students to walk comfortably in multiple worlds,” said school administrator Pat Bergin.
About 220 students attend the school in Waimea, which was chartered in 2000.