Kihei High School Moves Closer to Reality

By Wendy Osher

The proposed High School in Kihei is one step closer to reality as the State Department of Education moved forward in filing an Environmental Impact Statement preparation notice.

Image Courtesy: Group 70 International, and the Hawaii State Department of Health

The DOE plans to develop the South Maui High School on 77 acres of undeveloped land, mauka of the Piilani Highway and the Piilani Village Residential subdivision.  It is located between the Kulanihakoi and Waipuilani gulches and north of the Maui Research and Technology Park and the Elleair Golf Course.    The lands are currently owned by Kaonoulu Ranch and Haleakala Ranch.

Access to the proposed campus is planned via a new access road off the Piilani Highway.  The plan is to construct an extension of the existing Kulanihakoi Street to provide access to the campus.

According to the 78 page document, anticipated impacts include an increase in traffic volume, usage of water resources, and a rise in demand on public services and facilities.  The current project design supports the enrollment of up to 1,650 students in grades 9-12.  The majority of South Maui students currently commute to central Maui for high school, while 163 are enrolled at the area charter school.

The DOE cited population growth, geographical separation, and overcrowding of Central Maui schools, as reasons why a high school in South Maui is a necessity.

The applicant is currently pursuing a State Land Use District Boundary Amendment, an Amendment to the Kihei-Makena Community Plan, and Rezoning to entitle development of the proposed project.

The 30 day public comment period of the EISPN began on November 8, 2009.