NEWS RELEASE

Giorgio Caldarone to lead Kamehameha Schools commercial real estate division planning projects

Giorgio Caldarone, Kamehameha Schools director of real estate planning

The former head of agriculture and renewable energy projects for Kamehameha Schools to lead commercial real estate division planning

Kamehameha Schools has named its former O‘ahu and Neighbor Island Regional Manager, Giorgio Caldarone, as the new director of real estate planning – a newly created position in the schools’ Commercial Real Estate Division.

Over the past 10 years, Caldarone worked in the Land Assets Division overseeing residential and agricultural initiatives and heading up Kamehameha Schools’ utility-scale sustainable energy projects.

“As a regional manager, Giorgio was primarily focused on planning  various efforts that would generate income on our agricultural lands to support our educational initiatives,” said Walter Thoemmes, chief of staff at Kamehameha Schools. “As the director of planning, his kuleana will be no different. He’ll just be working with a different category of lands.”

With a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, the West Point graduate is now using his background and years of agricultural and sustainable project planning experiences to oversee commercial planning projects for Kamehameha.

Since starting his new role in commercial real estate on January 26, Caldarone is busy developing regional and market-area plans to enhance strategic returns for the trust’s educational mission. In order to do this, the new Director is working closely with Kamehameha’s staffers – who have educational, community, commercial, environmental and cultural kueana – to develop land use plans that will advance the schools’ mission and values  on its properties throughout Hawai‘i.

Prior to joining the commercial real estate team, Caldarone’s leadership influenced the success of various key initiatives for the schools. He led Kamehameha’s award-winning 2008 North Shore Plan and was instrumental in the planning and implementation of Kamehameha’s  2009 Strategic Agricultural Plan.  He was also responsible for the development and implementation of Kamehameha’s renewable energy plan.  In addition, Caldarone supported the integration of various ‘āina-based education programs into Kamehameha’s land management.

In 2014, Caldarone was credited for advancing a proposal for Hawai‘i’s largest solar farm planned for 250 acres on Kamehameha’s lands in Waiawa. Recently approved by HECO, the project, at full buildout is expected to generate enough energy to power roughly 9,800 homes and save energy ratepayers approximately $145 million over the course of the 25-year project.

“Giorgio’s comprehensive experience in planning that spans community and sustainability makes him the perfect fit for this position. His leadership is what we need to help us design the most effective environment-conscious projects to sustain our educational mission for generations to come,” said Thoemmes.

About Kamehameha Schools

Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling over 6,900 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O`ahu, Maui and Hawai`i and 30 preschool sites statewide. Over 40,400 additional Hawaiian learners and caregivers are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools’ outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai`i and across the continental United States. Income generated from its Hawai‘i real estate and portfolio of diverse financial investments fund 96% of the Schools’ educational mission.