On Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, the Hawaii State Department of Education held a groundbreaking ceremony for High Core, marking an important step forward in supporting at-risk secondary students across O‘ahu. High Core’s groundbreaking milestone reflects a long-standing commitment to students who benefit from alternative pathways to success.
“We know that not everyone is going to follow one path and college isn’t the only answer to be successful,” said Hawaii State Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, District 8) “We want to see all students succeed and if they receive the kind of support our communities and teachers give, they will succeed.”
For nearly 60 years, the High Core Program, also known as Storefront, was located in portable classrooms on Center Street in Wahiawa, serving students who learn better in non-traditional learning environments by helping them build life skills, resilience, and a sense of purpose. Due to construction of the Center for Workforce Excellence, the program has been temporarily relocated next to the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center, until its new permanent home is completed in the summer of 2027.