Sacred Hearts School
One Website Two Different Schools
Two different Sacred Hearts Schools have owned this site's domain at different times. In 2001 the first school was Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen's School located in Brooklyn, New York. It appears that when the domain's registration expired a Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, Maui purchased it. Now new owners have aquired the domain. However, they have chosen to keep an edited version of the site's archived content as an example showing how websites are first created and then can move from one owner to another. Some site's will dramatically change focus and content from one new owner to another. This site has remained true to its url name and original purpose as an online presence for two different Sacred Hearts Schools.
We show examples of both schools with archived content from 2001 and 2010- 2011.
To learn more about the Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, go to their current website at: https://www.shsmaui.org/
While vacationing on Maui, we stayed in Lahaina near the school and regularly interacted with the students. We were very impressed with the intellect and drive of the girls with whom we often shared meals. One morning we witnessed a remarkable exchange regarding ancient philosophers and the influence of their reasoning. They spoke knowledgeably about existentialism, acceptance of reality, and most intriguing, the idea of "nothing." We were enthralled and noting our interest they shared resources and one especially good webpage to start us thinking. We often speak of how we were introduced to Nothing in Maui by the students of Sacred Hearts.
Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen's School 2010 - 2011
239 Dickenson Street
Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: (808) 661-4720 Fax: (808) 667-5363
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Sacred Hearts School community is to provide excellence in education and to nurture a life of prayer, faith and service in the Catholic tradition.
WE ARE "SCHOOLS ATTUNED" TEACHERS!
We are a small Catholic school devoted to the intrinsic and intellectual development of our students. Through our teachings students develop a respect for others, themselves, and the world in which they live. We are devoted to educating *All Kinds of Minds and building a positive learning community.
*All Kinds of Minds is the nonprofit institute founded by Dr. Mel Levine.
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
Along with the parents, who are the childrenfs first teachers, the Sacred Hearts School staff is committed to gteach as Jesus didh in our calling as educators. Sacred Hearts School is a small Catholic school providing a faith-based education to students in pre-school through eighth grade. At Sacred Hearts School, we combine current technology, diverse teaching techniques, and a contemporary curriculum in a traditional Catholic setting. Our approach to learning is to nurture the whole student: spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. At Sacred Hearts School, we believe that Gospel values and faith give today's students the fortitude to rise above tomorrow's challenges.
(revised 05/14/08)
GOALS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Sacred Hearts School is a Catholic school which views itself as an important part of a larger living faith community committed to the goals of a Catholic Christian Education. At Sacred Hearts School, instruction in Catholic religious truth and values is an integral part of the school program. Religion functions as the underlying reality in which the studentfs relationship with God and the experiences of learning and living achieve their deepest meaning (to teach as Jesus did).
Goals
Sacred Hearts School shows its commitment to the goals of Catholic Christian education in the following areas:
Religious/Spiritual
The religious/spiritual goal is to foster a closer relationship with God. We strive to develop spirituality and prayer in our students so they will be able to draw from their Christian values throughout their lives.
Intellectual
The intellectual goals are to develop the students; potential in their academic abilities and to imbue the students with the desire to become lifelong learners.
Psychological
The psychological goal is focused on developing the whole child. We are concerned with an awareness of the studentfs own individuality and the development of the studentfs self-confidence.
Sociological
The sociological goal is to assist our students in becoming responsible and competent members of society. We want them to be aware of all that is happening in the world.
Physical
The physical goal is to promote a healthy mind and a healthy body through the use of motor skills and general fitness.
Aesthetic
The aesthetic goals show our students how to appreciate all of Godfs beauty around us and to emphasize the studentsf creativity through the arts.
History of Sacred Hearts School Lahaina, Maui
147 years ago, Sacred Hearts School, originally know as Maria Lanakila School, started as a two room building in 1862. It was staffed by the pastor and his assistant, Kilito Mauliawa. In 1870, Father Raymond Selalande of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, rebuilt and enlarged the small school into a four room school. He renamed the school, Sacred Hearts School, presumably after his order and today Father Selalande is considered the school's founder. He was assisted by Helen Kaoho and lay teachers.
In 1928, the Third Order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse, New York, was invited to staff the school with the assistance of lay teachers. In 2000, the last sisters left Sacred Hearts School. This teaching order's legacy of 72 years is still very present in our lay staff today. The school embraces the same charisms of the Order by carrying the joy, simplicity, charity and peacemaking work that the sisters embodied while serving the children of West Maui. Each lay teacher and non-teaching staff member honors the history of the Franciscan nuns by seeing his or her job at Sacred Hearts School as a vocation, a ministry he or she honored to follow. There is a genuine sense of gratitude held by the faculty and staff that comes from standing on the shoulders of the many dedicated giants that have taught before us on the sacred grounds of Sacred Hearts School.
In 1948, a storm destroyed the school building. Father Matthew Alencastre rebuilt the school with lumber from the Navy barracks in Pu'unene and the classes resumed the following year. A worse tragedy occurred in 1971 when the school was completely destroyed by arson. The statue of Christ that is in the courtyard is the only remnant of the school after that fire. After much soul-searching and unwavering community support, the present school was built under the guidance of Father Stephen Van Dende.
The classes were always taught as double grades due to the school's small enrollment. But as enrollment increased in the late 1960's, the grades were taught separately except for the Jr. High which was eliminated altogether. In 1973, by parental request, the 7th and 7th grades were reinstated. The Parent-Teacher Guild (PTG) raised sufficient funds to build the present Kindergarten-Library building in order to have space for the Jr. High classes.
In 2000, the last of the Franciscan sisters teaching at Sacred Hearts School were called back to other mission assignments on O'ahu. Under the guidance of the pastor, Father Joseph Bukoski, plans were drawn up to renovate the first floor of the convent converting it into our current preschool, the Sacred Hearts School Early Learning Center, Ke Kula Kamali'i Pu'uwai La'a. The vision became a reality due to the requests and support of the parish and Lahaina community. The Early Learning Center opened on August 19, 2001. Presently, the center services 10 students ages 3 years old and 24 students ages 4 to 5 years old. Since its opening, it has always been filled to capacity with a waiting list.
Sacred Hearts School : Admission
Dear Parent,
Thank you for your interest in Sacred Hearts School. Please find Student Enrollment application and Registration Contract on the bottom of this page.
If you are applying for grades 1-8, please include your child's latest report card along with the Enrollment application.
If you have any questions about Sacred Hearts School and this application packet, please call the office at (808) 661-4720.
Mahalo,
Susan Hendricks
Principal
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
2010-2011
“Peace Be With You” students and parents,
This year the teachers and I reflected on the legacy that all of us at Sacred Hearts School have inherited with our calling to be teachers here. Did you know that Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was founded 150 years ago by the priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary? That is why the name of our school is what it is. Then from 1928 until the year 2000, the nuns of the Third Order of Franciscans from Syracuse, New York began their 72 years of teaching at our blessed school.
In the decision making process of choosing a theme for the year, we worked on keeping the charisms of these two religious orders alive in the mission and work that we do with you at Sacred Hearts School. Instead of changing the theme every year, we have decided to choose a permanent theme. We wanted a theme that reflected the spirit of both religious communities that laid the foundation of this school. Therefore, your principal and teachers are returning to a theme we chose a few years ago as our permanent school theme: “Peace Be With You.” The hearts of Jesus and Mary were all about peace! The Franciscan order of priests and nuns look to Saint Francis of Assisi to guide their ministry work, and peace has always been associated with the spiritual essence of St. Francis. Peace is a way of life, a living prayer that we can model.
In every thought, word and deed we express, let us all pray for and listen to God’s guidance so that we consciously give our best to God and the Sacred Hearts School community. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit walk with us as we transition into our 149th school year! Many of our community members have been with Sacred Hearts School for a long time, and a few are new. The triad of our staff, the parents, and the students make up the formula for success in our learning community. As companions on this journey of educating the children, each piece of the triangle executes its role and each relies on the other two in order to maintain a balanced perspective of purposefulness. A Christ-centered vision, our Student Learning Expectations (SLEs), the TRIBES Agreements, this policy handbook, and our own unique gifts will surely help guide us through another year filled with appreciation, forgiveness, peacemaking, learning and living aloha.
The mission of our school is driven by the desire to provide academic excellence. We work to nurture in our community a life of prayer, faith, and service in the Catholic tradition. Sacred Hearts School impresses upon the students the belief that one person can make a difference. Our community and global outreach projects offer the students opportunities that use their virtues and multiple intelligences to make sense of the world around them. The best education “takes place when parents and educators form a coalition on behalf of the student.” (Dr. Mel Levine, Educational Care, 2002)
As a Catholic school, we find strength and purpose in Christ’s teachings. We strive to teach in such a way that we connect the intellect with the heart. We will work together to see with the eyes of the heart, to see each other heart to heart. Recognizing the divine spark and the spirit of truth in each other is our honorable task. I thank you and our parish for the commitment to our team effort. I am full of unembarrassed joy and I am honored to join you as we build relationships of the heart with God the Father, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and with each other.
Your companion on the journey,
Mrs. S.L. Hendricks, Principal, 2010-2011
Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen's School 2001
135 Summit Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231-2703
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 2:30PM
Phone: 718.625.2267 Fax: 718.260.9233
Mission
Our school community is dedicated to fostering the total growth of each individual intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially. Our goal is to provide the highest quality elementary education that will prepare our students to successfully continue their education through high school and college. Parents, faculty, and administration work together to develop an atmosphere in which the life and spirit of Jesus Christ might continue to challenge and invite each student to reach their full potential. The school offers a Christian value oriented approach toward academic learning. Our purpose is to nuture the gift of faith and enable our students to mature into responsible adults who will become productive citizens in our society.
Pastor: Father Anthony Acciarito
Principal: Sister Anna Desiderio
Religious Instruction: Sister Mary Alphonsina
Serving the parishes of:
Sacred Hearts & St Stephen
St Agnes
St Mary Star of the Sea
St. Peter/St. Paul - Our Lady of Pilar
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
More Background On SacredHeartsSchool.net
SacredHeartsSchool.net stands as an unusually rich example of how educational history, religious mission, and digital continuity can intersect within a single web domain. Unlike most school websites that are redesigned, replaced, or erased over time, this domain preserves the layered identity of two distinct Catholic institutions operating in different regions of the United States and at different moments in history. Its current form functions less as a promotional platform and more as a historical and educational artifact—one that reveals how schools communicate values, preserve traditions, and adapt to changing technological and cultural realities.
At its core, SacredHeartsSchool.net tells the story of Catholic education as lived experience: community-centered, faith-driven, and deeply shaped by place. It also illustrates how websites themselves have become part of institutional memory, serving as records of mission, philosophy, and daily life long after their original administrative purpose has passed.
Origins of the Sacred Hearts Educational Tradition
The Sacred Hearts name has long been associated with Catholic education in the United States, particularly within communities influenced by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and, later, the Franciscan teaching tradition. Schools bearing this name typically emphasize holistic development—intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social—rooted in Catholic doctrine and service-oriented values.
SacredHeartsSchool.net documents two such institutions:
• Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen’s School in Brooklyn, New York
• Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, Maui
Though geographically distant, both shared a commitment to faith-based education, small community learning environments, and strong parish integration.
Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen’s School – Brooklyn, New York
Location and Community Context
Located in the Carroll Gardens–Red Hook area of Brooklyn, Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen’s School served a diverse urban Catholic population. The neighborhood historically included immigrant families, working-class households, and long-standing parish communities that viewed Catholic education as both a spiritual and practical foundation for their children.
The school functioned not only as an academic institution but also as a community anchor, closely tied to several local parishes. Its physical proximity to churches, community centers, and residential neighborhoods made it an integral part of daily life.
Educational Mission
The Brooklyn school emphasized the full development of the child—intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically. Its mission statement reflected traditional Catholic educational philosophy:
• Strong academic preparation
• Moral and ethical development
• Religious instruction integrated into daily learning
• Collaboration between parents, faculty, and clergy
Students were encouraged to see education not merely as career preparation but as a means of serving others and growing in faith.
Administration and Structure
The school was led by a combination of clergy and religious educators, including sisters who played a central role in instruction and administration. Leadership emphasized discipline, compassion, and personal responsibility.
Instruction typically spanned elementary grades and followed a structured curriculum aligned with diocesan standards. Religious education, prayer, and participation in parish life were integrated into daily routines.
Sacred Hearts School – Lahaina, Maui
A Deeply Rooted Hawaiian Institution
Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina has a history stretching back to the 19th century. Originally established in 1862 under the name Maria Lanakila School, it evolved over decades into a cornerstone of Catholic education in West Maui.
Its setting—near the historic town of Lahaina—placed it within a unique cultural and spiritual landscape, blending Hawaiian heritage with Catholic tradition.
Growth and Resilience
The school’s history reflects perseverance through hardship:
• Early expansion under missionary leadership
• Destruction and rebuilding following natural disasters
• Community-driven reconstruction after a devastating fire
• Transition from religious to lay faculty leadership
Despite these challenges, the school maintained continuity of mission and identity, with each generation building upon the work of those before.
Educational Philosophy
Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina emphasized what it described as educating the “whole child.” This included:
• Academic excellence
• Spiritual formation
• Emotional intelligence
• Social responsibility
• Physical development
• Creative expression
The school adopted educational philosophies that recognized different learning styles and emphasized respect for individual potential.
Catholic Identity and Spiritual Formation
A defining characteristic of both schools documented on SacredHeartsSchool.net is the centrality of Catholic identity.
Religion was not treated as a separate subject but as a framework through which all education was understood. Daily prayer, religious instruction, liturgical participation, and service projects were woven into school life.
Key spiritual themes included:
• Compassion and service
• Respect for human dignity
• Responsibility to community
• Peace and reconciliation
• Moral courage
In Lahaina, the influence of the Franciscan tradition was especially strong, emphasizing humility, joy, simplicity, and care for others.
Goals and Educational Philosophy
Intellectual Development
Students were encouraged to think critically, communicate clearly, and develop a love of learning that extended beyond the classroom.
Spiritual Growth
Faith formation was central, with students guided toward a personal relationship with God and an understanding of Christian ethics.
Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing
Schools emphasized self-awareness, confidence, and emotional resilience.
Social Responsibility
Students were taught to see themselves as members of a broader community with obligations to serve others.
Physical and Aesthetic Development
Physical education, the arts, and appreciation of beauty were viewed as essential components of human development.
Admissions, Student Life, and Community Involvement
Sacred Hearts schools traditionally maintained relatively small class sizes, allowing for individualized attention and close teacher-student relationships.
Admissions materials emphasized:
• Family involvement
• Commitment to school values
• Academic readiness
• Respect for the school’s religious mission
Parent-teacher collaboration was a defining feature, and families were encouraged to participate actively in school life through volunteer work, events, and parish engagement.
Cultural and Social Significance
SacredHeartsSchool.net preserves more than institutional data—it preserves cultural memory.
The site reflects:
• How Catholic schools functioned before modern digital marketing
• How values were communicated through language and mission statements
• How schools presented themselves to families before social media
• How faith-based education adapted to changing times
The Lahaina materials, in particular, offer insight into Catholic education in Hawaii, where indigenous culture, island life, and religious tradition intersect in unique ways.
Digital Preservation and the Meaning of the Website Today
What makes SacredHeartsSchool.net unusual is its current role.
Rather than being erased or redirected, the site has been intentionally preserved as a teaching tool. It demonstrates:
• How domains can outlive their original owners
• How institutional identity can persist digitally
• How archived websites serve as historical documents
• How educational messaging evolves over time
In academic contexts, the site has been used to explore themes such as:
• Religious outreach in the digital age
• Branding and identity in nonprofit institutions
• Continuity and change in education
• The lifecycle of websites and online communities
Public Perception and Legacy
While the site no longer functions as an active school portal, its legacy remains positive and meaningful.
Former students and families consistently associate Sacred Hearts schools with:
• Strong moral foundations
• Supportive learning environments
• Dedicated educators
• Long-standing community ties
The survival of the website in archival form reinforces the lasting impact of these institutions and their commitment to education rooted in faith and service.
Why SacredHeartsSchool.net Still Matters
In an era where websites are frequently redesigned, overwritten, or erased, SacredHeartsSchool.net stands as a reminder that digital spaces can hold historical and cultural value.
It shows how:
• Education extends beyond classrooms
• Faith communities document their identity
• Technology preserves memory
• Institutional values outlast physical buildings
The site serves as both a window into the past and a case study in how meaning can persist through thoughtful preservation.
