Kūlanihāko‘i High students should be able to start next school year on the new campus
Posted: March 22, 2023
Gov. Josh Green announced Wednesday that students will be allowed to physically attend Maui’s Kūlanihāko‘i High School and access its state-of-the-art facilities after construction is completed and the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) sets an opening date.
The state and Maui County have entered into a memorandum of agreement in which the state Land Use Commission will issue a temporary certificate of occupancy to the state education department in exchange for the state temporarily indemnifying the county. This will allow students to attend Kūlanihāko‘i High School in person. School buses will safely transport the students to campus on an interim basis.
HIDOE will continue to move forward with the requirement that it build an elevated pedestrian crosswalk, which is required for a permanent certificate of occupancy to be issued. Construction of the raised crosswalk will take three years to complete at an estimated cost of more than $25 million.
“This is another example of my administration taking bold action to get things done in a collaborative and inclusive manner,” said Green. “This is to the credit of the remarkable leaders on my team, dedicated lawmakers from Maui and Mayor Richard Bissen, for their hard work and focus on helping people.”
Deputy Schools Superintendent Curt Otaguro said, “The Department of Education is optimistic that Kūlanihāko‘i High students will be able to start the new school year in August at the new campus. We will continue to work closely with Maui County, Gov. Green, the state Department of Transportation, and the Land Use Commission to address any concerns and ensure student safety.”
The opening of the brand-new school, which cost $180 million to build, has been delayed by the lack of a grade-separated pedestrian crossing required in a 2013 Land Use Commission decision. Students have been attending high-school-level classes at Lokelani Intermediate School in the interim.
Kūlanihāko‘i High Student Activities Coordinator Lisa Morrison said, “This comes as such a relief. We’ve been working so hard to give these kids a fulfilling high school experience, and this is a giant hurdle cleared.”
“Now I can move forward with our plans to welcome incoming students as well as hold fun activities like dances that make high school memorable,” added Morrison, who also serves as secretary-treasurer of the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association.
Kīhei state Rep. Terez Amato said, “After waiting decades for this school we are grateful to have the support the leadership shown by our outstanding governor and our excellent mayor.”
“Education is a core value in our community. Our students, teachers, our economy indeed our entire community all benefit from such excellent leadership,” added Amato, (D, Mā‘alaea, Kīhei, Keawakapu, Wailea, Mākena).
“I want to thank the governor and the mayor for working collaboratively with myself and Rep. Terez Amato on creating this temporary solution, so that the keiki can utilize the campus in a limited, safe manner,” said state Sen. Angus McKelvey (D, West Maui, Mā‘alaea, Waikapū, South Maui). “We remain committed to funding the required grade-separated overpass. By making this only a temporary solution, it continues to put the onus on the DOE to follow through on what should have been done before this point.”
Departments involved in the collaborative effort included Attorney General Anne Lopez; State Transportation Director Ed Sniffen, Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi; Keith Regan, director of the state Department of Accounting and General Services, and leadership from the County of Maui including McKelvey, Amato and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen.
Built to serve the families of South Maui, Kūlanihāko‘i High School is being constructed in phases.