House Approves $65 Million for New Kihei High School

Kaniela Ing, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

The state House Finance Committee approved a state budget on Friday that includes a $65,000,000 appropriation for the plans, design, and construction of a new high school in Kihei.

South Maui lawmaker, Rep. Kaniela Ing said that although land has been acquired by the state, and an environmental impact statement has been finalized, sufficient legislative funding has not moved forward until now.

Rep. Ing, who sits on the House Finance Committee, called the funding allocation “a huge milestone in getting this project off the ground.”

“I am extremely grateful to my fellow House Finance Committee members who prioritized the long-awaited educational needs of our keiki over projects that may have been closer to home for them,” said Rep. Ing.

Rep. Ing attributes the inclusion of Kihei High School in the House budget to the people of Maui who submitted extensive testimony on behalf of the project. “We were successful only because of massive community support. We owe this huge milestone to everyone on Maui who submitted testimony and rallied around the cause.”

According to Rep. Ing the House allocation is exactly half of the $130 million needed to complete the project, and the Senate can supplement that amount. “Even if no money is added, $65,000,000 is much more than enough to get the tractors out and dust fences up by next Fall,” said Rep. Ing.

The draft version of the budget now heads to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further review and action.

Stack of testimony for Kihei High School. Courtesy photo.