NEWS RELEASE

Kamehameha Schools Acquires Wailuku Property For Future Maui ‘Gathering Place'

Kamehameha Schools announced today that it has acquired office space in downtown Wailuku as the future site of its Maui regional office and community resource center.

“The purchase of this property allows Kamehameha to lay down deeper roots in this community. This investment will bring us closer to families and educational partners as we work together toward improving the educational outcomes of keiki and ‘ohana in this region,” said Kā‘eo Duarte, Vice President of Community Engagement and Resources. “We believe that by immersing ourselves in this place, the goals and vision that we share with this region’s stakeholders – families, businesses and educational institutions – will grow and have a greater chance of being realized.”

The fee simple property, the site of the former Wailuku Federal Credit Union, is located at 175 Market Street and includes a 2,688 sq. ft. single-story building constructed in 1972 that sits on a land area of 15,987 sq. ft. The site has been vacant for two years.

The location is a half-mile from the Hawaiian homestead community of Paukūkalo, the location of two KS preschool classrooms, and two miles from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ homestead of Waiehu Kou – with four subdivisions and a large native Hawaiian community. Hawaiian agencies and organizations such as DHHL, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo o Maui, the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center and government offices are all within a mile of this location. Community events held in Wailuku on Market Street will provide Kamehameha Schools with an outlet for a venue to highlight our services and programs, and those of our partners and collaborators.

“We’d like to create a hale where all of our services and programs can be housed in a convenient one-stop center to serve our Hawaiian families,” said Venus Rosete-Medeiros, Regional Director for Maui County which also includes Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. “We envision this space to welcome and host keiki and ‘ohana, to be reasonable office space for a united KS presence, and a multi-purpose meeting space for day and evening community and education classes and engagement. This site will become a new gathering place and regional hub on Maui for the surrounding Native Hawaiian communities and our educational and community partners. ”

The KS Regional office will house 10-12 staff serving the Maui community in the following areas:

• One-stop shop for families needing support and resources for all of KS campus and non-campus programs, including assistance for financial aid and admissions.
• Community programs serving non-campus students during the summer and interim school breaks.
• ‘Āina Engagement – ‘Āina Ulu program office, and touchpoint for ‘āina-related issues for Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i.
• Career & Post High Counseling & Guidance – Providing workshops, counseling and internship opportunities for students.

The purchase price is not being disclosed. Renovation is expected to begin later this year.