State and county officials say they are moving forward with plans to rebuild Kamehameha III Elementary in Lahaina at the Ku‘ia site, a 14-acre property . Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Education

While it wasn’t the community’s first choice, the Ku’ia site might be the next best option for rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary.

Gov. Josh Green’s office announced Wednesday that state and county officials have landed on the Ku’ia site below the Lahaina Bypass as they move forward with plans to rebuild the school destroyed in the 2023 Maui wildfires.

The selected site sits a little over a half-mile from the school’s original campus on Front Street and above the tsunami inundation zone.

Outreach meetings and surveys showed the Ku’ia site wasn’t the top choice. About 67% of community members preferred rebuilding on the original Front Street campus.

However, officials with the Hawaii Department of Education rejected the original site, citing the high flood risk, limited space to build, high cost of going vertical and potential impact on ancestral remains.

The community’s next favorite option was the Kuʻia property with its favorable traffic conditions, easier emergency access and close proximity to the original elementary school. According to the governor’s office, just over half of survey respondents supported the Ku’ia site.

A third proposed site at Pulelehua received support from 46% of respondents in the survey, and a fourth site at Pu’ukoli’i Village was not well received.

“From the beginning, my priority has been to follow the lead of the Lahaina community in deciding where their keikis’ school should be rebuilt,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said. “The selection of the Kuʻia site reflects the voices of residents who want their children connected to their home, culture, history and future.”

The state said survey respondents put a lot of weight on a property’s cultural and historical significance. Residents also cited traffic patterns and providing educational and extracurricular opportunities for students as key factors.

The governor’s office said locating the school at Kuʻia addresses many of the priorities expressed by the community.

Officials also pointed out a few other benefits of the Kuʻia site, saying it keeps the school in Lahaina where King Kamehameha III lived and governed, as well as putting the school close to other educational and civic resources.

With plans to develop multiple access points, state officials also say the Ku’ia property would enhance safety, fire mitigation, accessibility and convenience for the Lahaina community.

“This represents a major milestone in Lahaina’s healing and recovery,” 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 project is estimated to cost $162 million. State officials said they are pursuing FEMA reimbursements, with any remaining balance expected to be covered by state appropriations, insurance payouts and other funding sources. Construction will depend on federal support and legislative approval.

The Hawaii Department of Education is working to return the Front Street site to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Maui County.

“Rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary is essential for the healing and recovery of our students, families and staff. Our priority is to provide a permanent school where learning can continue without disruption,” said Keith T. Hayashi, superintendent of the Hawaii Department of Education. “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.”