ʻEWA BEACH — James Campbell High School broke ground today on a $25.3 million athletic complex facility, designed by Design Partners Incorporated. Contech Engineering, Inc. is starting construction on the project, which is estimated to be completed by Sept. 2026.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Hawai‘i State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi, area lawmakers including Sen. Kurt Fevella, Rep. David Alcos III, Rep. Julie Reyes Oda and Rep. Elijah Pierick, as well as Campbell High School student-athlete ambassadors and staff.
The new athletic facilities will include a boys and girls locker room building, office spaces, a weight room, pressbox, stadium lights, and bleachers to seat nearly 3,000 spectators.
Lt. Gov. Luke thanked Sen. Fevella and Principal Lee for their advocacy and commitment to improving Campbell’s athletic facilities, recalling the start of the effort nearly 10 years ago. “Sports are not just for athletes, it adds significant things to the student population and teaches things that are not taught in the classroom,” she said. “The fact that these individuals continue to fight to make sure that our students, our student athletes and the entire community continue to have a full student experience just makes me so inspired.”
Sen. Fevella, a Campbell alumnus and recognized champion of the project, emphasized the importance of this highly anticipated facility to the community — to have a modern athletic complex that reflects the school’s world-class athletes in addition to a space for families and the community to gather in support of Campbell athletics.
The project is the second phase of Campbell High’s overall athletic facilities renovation. The first phase, which was completed in the fall of 2023, included a new track and field.
Principal Jon Henry Lee expressed gratitude to supporters for the new athletic complex, acknowledging the past prioritization of funding resources toward classroom facilities. “I’m excited to see this day finally happen as we take a significant step toward properly supporting our student-athletes,” Lee said. “Today signifies a reciprocal level of commitment and dedication to our student-athletes…it’s a great day for Campbell High School.”
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi added. “This new project will provide Campbell High School with high-class athletic facilities to match the championship-level performance of our Saber Nation athletes.”
Evette Alacar, a Campbell High junior who participates in track and field and cross country, expressed her excitement for the new opportunities that the facilities will bring to student athletes. “I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our school and student-athletes as well as the community as it provides us with the opportunity to open up our athletics program,” she said. “Being able to have our own facility, to have a girls locker room, is going to be so beneficial… I’m really excited about this new addition.”
