Construction underway on Kīhei Space Force facility as South Maui leader calls for resource transparency

Construction is underway on the US Space Force’s new Secure Integration Support Laboratory (SISL) in Kīhei at Līpoa on Maui, formerly known as the Maui Research and Technology Park. The 56,000-square-foot, two-story facility has drawn both defense of its operational stability and community scrutiny regarding resource usage and impacts.

Defense and Military Perspective

According to news releases and statements from the US Space Force and US Air Force, the SISL facility is a standard military construction project designed to consolidate long-standing personnel and operations currently spread across four leased commercial locations on Maui into a single, federally owned site.

Military officials say that the administrative, research, and collaborative workspace will not function as a commercial data center. Officials emphasize that bringing staff into a permanent Department of Defense-owned building stabilizes long-term operational costs and upgrades working conditions for personnel who have supported island missions for decades.

Key details provided by the military include:

• Operational Independence: The facility operates independently from activities at the summit of Haleakalā, and its operations are not contingent on the AMOS STAR environmental and cultural review, according to the US Space Force.
• Resource Efficiency: Built to federal sustainability standards, the building is designed to operate within the typical power and water profile of a standard commercial office, utilizing closed-loop climate controls.
• Clean Energy Support: Computing operations utilize closed-loop cooling fluid systems, and the site plans to incorporate photovoltaic solar panels to support energy needs.

Community Concerns and Resource Demands

Maui County Council Member Tom Cook, who represents South Maui, recently addressed public commentary, reporting, and community questions surrounding the project following an August 2026 visit to the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC).

While recognizing the historic presence of space-tracking and computing operations on Maui—including the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron—Cook highlighted the public’s right to transparency regarding local resources.

Key points of discussion and concern include:

• Water and Energy Usage: Questions remain regarding the facility’s overall long-term resource demands, according to Cook.
• Environmental Assessment Findings: The draft Environmental Assessment published in May 2022 anticipates a long-term reduction in overall energy and water consumption across consolidated operations, but notes potential short-term increases in potable water use during early project stages.
• Lack of Specific Metrics: Cook says the 2022 assessment does not provide a detailed total water-consumption figure, prompting ongoing calls from residents for clear data on municipal infrastructure impacts.

Construction of the SISL facility reportedly began in late 2024.

On Aug. 7, 2026, Cook, accompanied by his executive assistant, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Makau, the latest high-performance computing system at Maui High Performance Computing Center. The invitation described Makau as a collaborative effort involving University of Hawaiʻi employees and the US Space Force, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to support missions in the Indo-Pacific region. Cook said he had the opportunity to hear about the center’s work and observe its computing facilities firsthand.

The Department of the Air Force and the US Space Force maintain that they remain committed to open dialogue and environmental stewardship as construction progresses.

*Maui Now’s Wendy Osher contributed to this report.