Mayor’s Office Looking to Lease Old Maui High for $1 Per Year

Old Maui High School campus at Hamakuapoko. Photo by Ryan Piros – County of Maui.

By Maui Now Staff

The Mayor’s office is seeking public proposals from groups interested in utilizing the Old Maui High School campus in Hamakuapoko, and is offering the facility under a 20 year lease for $1 per year, county officials announced.

The Office of Economic Development issued an open Request For Proposal, seeking a group or organization interested in the lease.  In return, the County asks that the campus be used for a higher and better purpose than currently exists.

Proposed projects must fist within the parameters of approved uses that include: education, agriculture, and related support purposes, or social services.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said re-purposing the Old Maui High School is something that has been needed for a long time, noting that the county has spent several million dollars over the years just paying for basic maintenance.

Old Maui High School campus at Hamakuapoko. Photo by Ryan Piros – County of Maui.

“We decided to take the approach that the private sector might come up with some innovative ways to use this grand old campus if we made the lease attractive enough. We already have several inquiries, and we are looking forward to seeing what kinds of projects are proposed,” Mayor Arakawa said in a press release statement.

Office of Economic Development Director, Teena Rasmussen also commented saying, “The campus has serious infrastructure problems which will need to be addressed in the proposals.  There is no potable drinking water or adequate fire protection and a septic system will need to be installed. But none of these infrastructure needs are insurmountable. The county will work with the winning proposer to ensure a successful outcome.”

Old Maui High School campus at Hamakuapoko. Photo by Ryan Piros – County of Maui.

County officials say needs of the property have been clearly defined in multiple studies and are available at the Office of Economic Development at no charge to those interested in submitting a proposal.  A Master Plan commissioned by The Friends of Old Maui High School was also conducted and prepared by Chris Hart & Partners.

The deadline to submit a proposal is March 1, 2015.

Department officials say the winning proposal “must demonstrate the financial capability to not only carry out their business plan, but to also address the infrastructure issues.”

The campus is currently being managed by Friends of Old Maui High School, a group that has been keeping up with basic maintenance on the buildings and providing caretaker duties under an $80,000 annual grant issued by the Office of Economic Development.

Department officials say the campus recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, at which time alumni arrived from around the country to celebrate and reminisce about their days spent on the campus.