Survey results reveal new location favored after fire destroyed historic school in wildfires
Posted: January 6, 2025
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) released a report Friday summarizing feedback from the school and local community about the rebuilding plan for the historic King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which was destroyed in the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires.
The report revealed a new proposed site option at Kuʻia near Lahaina town as the preferred location by survey respondents, followed by Pelelehua, which is near the current temporary site of Kamehameha III Elementary.
A total of 485 community members, including faculty, staff, current school family members, alumni, and interested community members, completed feedback surveys about the location and design of a permanent campus for the historic school.
Survey participants responded via three formats: at a staff/faculty meeting, two open community meetings, and online.
There were three in-person meetings regarding the new school location: one for faculty and staff and one for school families and the public on May 21, 2024 to discuss three potential sites, and a public meeting on Nov. 19 to discuss the new site option at Ku‘ia.
After each meeting, community members could provide feedback via an online survey. The report was produced by Paʻakai Communications, which was contracted by the HIDOE to facilitate the meetings and assist in feedback collection and analysis as a neutral third party.
The three potential sites presented to the community in May 2024 were the original location on Front Street; Pulelehua, which is near the current temporary location; and Kaʻanapali 2020 – Puʻukoliʻi Village Mauka.
A fourth potential site in Kuʻia near Lahaina town was presented for public consideration in November 2024.
Of the two remaining sites presented for feedback in November 2024, participants responded as follows:
The following were cited as the most influential factors for participants:
As part of its 2025-27 biennium budget request, the HIDOE requested capital improvement funds to build Kamehameha III Elementary’s future site, without specifying a selected location. Gov. Josh Green has included the funding request in his executive budget that will be presented to the Legislature.
The new report is posted at bit.ly/KKIIIReport, a dedicated webpage where community members may continue to find information and updates about rebuilding plans for the King Kamehameha III Elementary permanent campus.
Click here to download the report.