$120M later, Kihei’s new high school is finished but students can’t attend
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Kulanihakoi High School in Kihei is all but finished.
But the long-awaited campus in Kihei won’t open — for years.
On Thursday, the state Land Use Commission was clear high school won’t welcome students until the state builds a grade-separated pedestrian crossing, like an overpass.
“It’s a crisis,” said Commission Chair Dan Giovanni.
“Damn, if we have a crisis on our hands, right here — right now.”
The news is a major disappointment for residents, who have been waiting for a high school in South Maui for more than a decade.
And parents say the debacle was preventable.
A decade ago, the Land Use Commission told the Education Department to build the crossing so students can get to school safely. Instead, the state built a two-lane roundabout to slow traffic down on Piilani Highway.
It had hoped the roundabout, along with other safety measures, would be sufficient.
The community says the situation is an embarrassment.
“When the DOE refuses to abide by that, they are jeopardizing the safety of our children,” Kihei Community Association President Mike Moran said.
“All it takes is one accident,” added second Vice Chair Lee Ohigashi.
Even the DOE is apologetic.
Curt Otaguro, Department of Education deputy superintendent of Operations, called the situation “bad.”
“This is an unfortunate situation that should have never happened. State projects sometimes get like that. This is probably one of the worst,” Otaguro said.
The DOE says Kulanihakoi is a $120 million high school.
It says an overpass could take five years to build and cost up to $20 million. That is money they don’t have.
The roundabout already had a $16 million price tag.
There are currently 38 students in Kulanihakoi High School’s freshman class who are at a temporary location until their school can legally open.
“I want to apologize to our students for putting them through this and disappointing them,” Otaguro said.
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