KEALAKEHE — Kealakehe Elementary School has begun work on a $16 million classroom building that will expand learning space, better serve a growing student population, and physically connect the school’s upper and lower campuses.

The new two story, 13,000 square foot building will add four classrooms, special education spaces, an outdoor classroom, covered learning lanai, faculty workroom, offices and storage. Two pedestrian bridges will link the structure to existing buildings, allowing students and staff to move safely and seamlessly across the sloped campus.

The project was recently marked with a blessing ceremony. The building was designed by Urban Works, Inc., with construction management provided by the West Hawaiʻi District Office under the state Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS). Nan Inc. has begun construction, with completion anticipated in Sept. 2027.

“This building has been a bridge, literally and figuratively, connecting the school, partners and our students’ education,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “From the support of the new DAGS district office to the designers who offered a solution that met school needs within site constraints, we are looking forward to this new building connecting the upper and lower campus and elevating the learning environments for students, teachers and staff.” 

“We are grateful to the legislature and Governor Green for supporting the effort of creating a second district office on Hawaiʻi Island. Given the long travel times from Hilo to Kona, it was evident a second office was needed to properly service our schools and DAGS-managed facilities in West Hawaiʻi,” Keith Regan, comptroller and DAGS director, said. “It’s thanks to this support that we now have a highly skilled and motivated district engineer in place in West Hawaiʻi who has positively impacted our support of the DOE and our other operations.”

DAGS West Hawaiʻi District Office program manager Ramsi Mansour said the new office is prepared to support school construction and maintenance projects across West Hawaiʻi, beginning with Kealakehe Elementary.

“Our school community has been waiting in anticipation for our new building,” Kealakehe Elementary Principal Wendy Daniel. “We are excited for this new building to support our increasing student population and lay the foundation for future generations of Warriors to learn and grow.”

To create a welcoming environment for young learners, the design blends neutral tones with the natural landscape, accented by the copper roofing and pops of color in building outcroppings. The intentional use of Hardie clapboard siding on the exterior is reminiscent of residential material and gives the structure a homey look and feel. Large operable windows bring light and nature in. The second floor’s tall ceiling height of up to 15 feet and clerestory windows give additional feelings of light and air.