New Elementary School to Be Built in Kapolei

One of Oahu's fastest growing communities will welcome a new elementary school next

From left to right: Chair Donald Horner, Board of Education, assistant superintendent Raymond L'Heureux, Department of Education, principal Laureen Dunn, Kapolei II Elementary, Rep. Ty Cullen, Sen. Mike Gabbard, Rep. Sharon Har, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, complex area superintendent Heidi Armstrong, Department of Education, City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, Sharon Thom, Kiewit senior vice president, Alika Fujimoto, Kiewit project manager, Bob Bruhl, D.R. Horton Hawaii president, Damon Gray, Kiewit project manager.

year.  The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE), Kiewit Building Group, Inc., and D.R. Horton Hawaii today held a groundbreaking ceremony for what will be a Kapolei II Elementary. An official school name will be selected with the help of the Kapolei community upon completion of its construction, which is projected to be in April 2015.

 

"Building a new school is much more than creating classroom learning opportunities for children. This is about building a school community where we all have a shared responsibility," said DOE schools superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.  "We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners who are committed to serving the needs of our students in Kapolei. Thank you for your support."

 

Last year's legislature appropriated $40 million dollars for the construction of Kapolei II Elementary. Gov. Abercrombie released the project funding to the DOE in June 2013.

 

"Kapolei is seeing tremendous population growth and today's groundbreaking symbolizes an investment in our keiki and our economy," said Gov. Abercrombie.

 

Kapolei II Elementary is expected to serve 750 students in pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, when it opens in fall 2015. The 78,404-square-foot school will be located between Kunehi Street and Fort Barrette Road. The school campus will be comprised of seven buildings surrounding a central 

courtyard including a library, cafeteria and a dedicated arts and science building. The campus will feature air-conditioned classrooms, learning gardens, playfields and a wireless network throughout all buildings. D.R. Horton Hawaii provided the land for the project.

 

"D.R. Horton Hawaii is proud to grant this land for this new elementary school, which will be an integral part of our Mehana community and a huge benefit to the families of Kapolei," said Bob Bruhl of D.R. Horton Hawaii. "We are looking forward to working with the Department of Education on future projects, including our 94-acre land grant for emerging educational facilities in our master-planned community of Hoopili."

Rendering of the future Kapolei II Elementary School.

 

The project will be designed and built according to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Schools 2009 standards. In addition to LEED Silver Certification, the school will have onsite bio-retention and native landscaping. Multiple drop-off entries for parents and school buses as well as expansion areas for increased enrollment if needed have also been incorporated into the plan.

 

"Kapolei II Elementary represents increased access to a 21st century learning environment that will be valued by the Kapolei community," said Sharon Thom, senior vice president, Kiewit Building Group, Inc. "We're honored to be a part of the team bringing the Department of Education's plans to reality for the keiki of West Oahu."