Ohana in Paradise: How a Maui school is building for the future
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Think of the Hawaiian island of Maui, and paradise comes to mind. Beautiful landscape, idyllic weather, incredible hospitality.
But for Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in Maui, it’s family—or what Hawaiians call “ohana”—that make it paradise.
“Once you’ve earned the trust of the people here, they wrap their arms around you, and you become a part of the family,” said Principal Joshua Rempfer, who arrived in Maui eight years ago. “I feel this is where I belong.”
Of course, even paradise isn’t perfect on this side of heaven.
“The recession in 2008, and two new public elementary schools in the area led to some decline in Emmanuel’s enrollment,” recalled Rempfer. “By 2018, not long after I became a teacher at ELS, we had only four 8th grade graduates.”
However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, the school began to grow. It didn’t take long for the new and diverse students and families at Emmanuel to feel that same sense of belonging that Rempfer felt. The school grew so much that it was time for some prayerful planning and decision-making.
Thankfully, some forward-thinking members had purchased 25 acres of land nearly two decades prior, so there was space to expand the school. With guidance from Lutheran Church Extension Fund’s (LCEF) Real Estate Solutions team, they sold off about half of the property in order to own the other 12 acres outright. They then made plans to build a new pre-K through 8th grade school that could accommodate an ever-growing Emmanuel family.
“In June 2024, LCEF visited with Real Estate Solutions (RES) and Emmanuel,” said Matt Molinari, LCEF district vice president for the LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District. “Emmanuel already had knowledgeable people working on the project, but they weren’t yet all pulling in the same direction.”
“Despite lots of time and effort, it had felt like our wheels were spinning for a bit,” shared Rempfer. “But when RES came on board, our project gained some needed traction. LCEF has been a great blessing because they came in and listened and gained the trust of the people.”
The new school will double the size of the preschool, expand the K-8 space, and include a community center and gymnasium—something that is rare and coveted on the island.
Best of all, Emmanuel’s new, expanded campus will allow them to share their little slice of paradise with the outside community as they’re invited to use the gym and community center.
“The more families you’re in contact with throughout the week, the more opportunities to share God’s Word and see the Holy Spirit at work,” said Rempfer. “What the building project does is create space to connect with people on Maui and share Christ’s love.”
Emmanuel isn’t just a school on paradise island. It’s family and togetherness, where people belong as they live as the body of Christ. And that is true heaven on earth
