The Hawai‘i School Facilities Authority (SFA), in collaboration with the Hawai‘i Department of Education, has been making steady progress over the past year to build a brand new middle school from the ground up in Waikapū in central Maui. 

The first phase of the new school is targeted for completion in 2031 and will initially accommodate 600 students in the sixth to eighth grades. Since 2022, the Hawai‘i State Legislature has generously allocated funding each year for a cumulative total of $76 million. 

A School of Maui, for Maui

Culture is important in Hawai‘i, and this is reflected in the way SFA is approaching the development of this community resource for the growing central Maui population. SFA has been partnering with two Maui organizations, Moʻolelo Group and Hawai‘i Off Grid, inviting various stakeholders to share their insights to help shape the development of this new school.

“Everyone deserves more transparency and wants to have their voice heard on important matters like schools. In the past, the rich historical culture of a place was not regarded as important when schools were being built,” said Riki Fujitani, SFA executive director. “SFA has adopted a fresh new approach, making respect for the past a priority and integrating community feedback in the early phases of the development.”

This process involves taking time to gather input from Waikapū descendants, cultural practitioners, kanaka educators, and representatives from the Department of ‘Ōiwi Resources to ensure the school reflects the place-based knowledge and values of Waikapū and Nā Wai ʻEhā. Discussions have focused on cultural philosophy, campus aesthetics, native plant palettes, and integrating Hawaiian design principles into the design process. 

“Their continued guidance will ensure this school is not just a building, but a reflection of the community’s identity,” Fujitani added.

In Harmony with ʻĀina

With the support of the central Maui community, SFA reached a new, exciting milestone earlier this year, transitioning from planning to schematic designs for Phase I of the school.

“We’re off to great start but we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this progress without the support of so many Maui residents,” said Liz Lee, SFA planning officer working on the central Maui school project. Liz has previously led various public-private partnership projects, including education programming and planning for numerous international initiatives as global director of planning and design at Avenues World Holdings, LLC, in New York City. 

The schematics took into account Mauiʻs climate and natural systems and the Department of Education’s needs to create a conducive environment that included learning, outdoor, and support spaces on the 26.2-acre campus.

Site Testing and Monitoring Underway

Building a school may not be rocket science, but it comes pretty close. It requires just as much due diligence and meticulous attention to details.

Joji Matsumoto, SFA program manager, who is overseeing the central Maui school project, is definitely putting his master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington to good use.

The new middle school has completed a number of pre-design assessments. These have included a geotechnical survey conducted by Hawaiʻi Geotechnical Consulting, archaeological monitors by CSH, and a separate hazardous materials survey focused on arsenic and heavy metals because the land was historically used for agriculture.

In addition to the site testing, Joji is also overseeing an environmental assessment, which is now in the final stages of preparation before being submitted to the state for review. The SFA project team is currently incorporating the latest visual materials in the draft environmental assessment, including updated site plans and building elevations. This draft environmental assessment will be published in the State's Environmental Notice for the public to review and comment.

Wailuku First Friday - Information for Maui

The SFA team takes every opportunity to share the progress of the new central Maui school with the community. SFA and its partners, Moʻolelo Group and Hawai‘i Off Grid, had a display table at the Wailuku First Friday on Aug. 7, to share the latest updates on the school.

“I enjoyed being able to share our plans and with the crowd of Valley Isle residents,” said Riki Fujitani, SFA executive director, who grew up in Wailuku, Maui, and has deep family ties on the island. “So many DOE teachers expressed their appreciation for SFAʻs approach of building schools with the community and teachers in mind. It was a great feeling to be there.”

The SFA team is planning to hold a community open house event on Maui this coming fall to provide the community with updates on the school’s development. Watch for more details!