KS’ planned educational hub for West Hawaiʻi faces its next hurdle

Preschoolers walk in front of Hāpaiali‘i Heiau on KS’ Kahalu‘u Ma Kai property as part of a hands-on learning experience about the history of the restored sacred site. A September 17 public hearing will gather testimony on KS’ special management area use permit for a 21st-century learning complex on the site.

Aug. 31, 2015

Contributed by Kau'i Burgess

Historically known as an intellectual training ground for Hawaiʻi’s leaders, the cultural landscape of Kamehameha Schools’ Kahaluʻu Ma Kai property is on its way to being redeveloped to be a 21st-century educational piko (center) in West Hawaiʻi.

“As we restore this place to what it once was in traditional times – a university for our ali‘i, for our kūpuna, and for the kāhuna – we envision once again that this will be a place of intellectual exchanges for our 21st- century learners of Native Hawaiians and our community at large,” says Jamee Miller, KS’ West Hawai‘i region interim senior director and director of education initiatives.

Before the schools’ vision for an innovative learning facility can be realized on its property, the project will have to face more entitlement hurdles – the next being Hawai‘i County approval of a special management area use (SMA) permit.

On September 17, the Hawai‘i County Leeward Planning Commission will host a hearing to gather public testimony on KS’ SMA permit application, with an expected decision to be rendered in late October.

A county nod would signal confidence in Kamehameha’s commitment to carefully deconstruct the seven-story former Keauhou Beach Hotel and develop an educational facility while mitigating harm to the surrounding shoreline environment and cultural resources.

The hotel removal operation would allow the site to support a wide variety of educational uses and programming, changing the previous landscape from visitor-oriented to education-centric.

“We envision a marine lab here, different learning spaces – classroom space as well as outdoor spaces – to meet the needs of our modern-day learners,” says Miller.

A strategy of the schools’ recently delivered Strategic Plan 2015-2020, development of an educational complex on the 22.73-acre site will offer greater engagement opportunities with Hawai‘i charter schools, the State Department of Education, and the University of Hawai‘i system.

Multiple on-island charter schools and other learning institutions, including Noelani Elementary School on O‘ahu and the Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Science (HAAS) Public Charter School in Pāhoa, have used Kahalu‘u Ma Kai for teaching science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for more than seven years.

“We’re beginning something even more historical, and that is putting our voices into what the community here really wants and what they need,” says HAAS teacher Thomas Brennon, who brings students to visit the site five times a year.

“I envision this place like a cultural, academic instructional place that all students, from different schools, can come and have that experience,” says Brennon.

For more information on the Hawai‘i County Planning Commission’s hearing on Kamehameha’s Kahalu‘u Ma Kai SMA permit, or to learn how to support the project by submitting written testimony, visit ksbe.edu/kahaluumakai.

Click here to view the news release.

As we restore this place to what it once was in traditional times – a university for our ali‘i, for our kūpuna, and for the kāhuna – we envision once again that this will be a place of intellectual exchanges for our 21st- century learners of Native Hawaiians and our community at large.
Jamee Miller, KS West HI Region Director of Education Initiatives

Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School students map Kapuanoni Heiau at Kahalu‘u Ma Kai.