The state, Maui County, and federal and private partners are moving ahead with plans to rebuild King Kamehameha III Elementary School at the Ku‘ia site below the Lahaina Bypass, officials announced Thursday. Cultural and environmental surveys for the 14-acre property are expected to begin in the coming months.
“This represents a major milestone in Lahaina’s healing and recovery,” Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. “It demonstrates the resilience of the Lahaina community, with support from the County of Maui and the entire state.”
The $162 million project would sit about 0.6 mile mauka of the original King Kamehameha III Elementary campus on Front Street, which was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires. The new location would be above the tsunami inundation zone.
King Kamehameha III Elementary, long a cornerstone of Lahaina, was one of hundreds of structures lost in the deadly fire that swept through the historic town. According to the state Department of Education’s “School Academic Plan” dated March 8, 2023, the school enrolled 623 students before the disaster displaced them.
In the months following the fire, students cycled through several temporary learning arrangements — first online classes, then community-based learning hubs, and by October 2023, classrooms under tents on the Princess Nahienaena Elementary campus.
To provide a more stable setting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed a $78 million temporary campus at Pulelehua, a development below Kapalua Airport, using Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. The Corps awarded a $53.7 million subcontract to Native Hawaiian-owned Pono Aina Management to construct the site, which opened April 1, 2024.
The Pulelehua campus includes about 30 air-conditioned modular classrooms and can accommodate up to 600 students. State officials said the site will serve as the elementary school for as long as five years, while planning for a permanent replacement campus continues in coordination with the community.
“From the beginning, my priority has been to follow the lead of the Lahaina community in deciding where their keikis’ school should be rebuilt,” said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. “The selection of the Ku‘ia site reflects the voices of residents who want their children connected to their home, culture, history and future. This new school will honor the legacy of King Kamehameha III while providing a safe and resilient place for our children to learn and thrive. I extend a special mahalo to Governor Green, the State Department of Education, our federal and private partners and most importantly, the Lahaina community for guiding us to this important step forward.”
The project still requires federal funding and legislative approval before construction can begin. The state is pursuing reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with any remaining costs likely covered by state appropriations, insurance, or a combination of both.
“Rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary is essential for the healing and recovery of our students, families and staff,” DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “Our priority is to provide a permanent school where learning can continue without disruption. With the emergency proclamation allowing us to move more quickly and with strong support from the Governor, Mayor and legislature, we’re committed to transitioning our students from temporary modular classrooms to a school they can call home — built with their needs and future in mind.”
The Ku‘ia site was selected following months of community outreach.
Between May and November 2024, DOE held meetings and surveys with residents, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders, with 485 people participating.
Initial survey results showed 67% of respondents supported rebuilding on the original Front Street site, but officials said that location was not feasible due to the presence of iwi kupuna, flood risk and cost. A vertical campus would have been required, which did not meet the community’s needs.
The Ku‘ia property emerged as the next choice, supported by 51% of respondents in the second survey, who cited better emergency access, favorable traffic conditions, and its proximity to the old campus.
Another option at Pulelehua, about seven miles from Front Street, gained 46% support in the second survey, while a fourth site at Pu‘ukoli‘i Village, nearly two miles away, drew just 4% support.
Residents said cultural and historical significance was among the most important factors in selecting a site, along with traffic, access, and opportunities for students.
Officials said the Ku‘ia location addresses many of those priorities, while keeping the school in Lahaina and places it near other educational and civic resources.
Preliminary plans call for multiple access points to ease traffic congestion and provide additional evacuation routes, bolstering safety and community resilience.
Source: The Garden Island
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