Hawaiian Electric helps to power West Maui temporary school
Assisting with interconnecting more than 900 temporary housing units next
Release Date: 4/2/2024
KAHULUI, April 2, 2024 – In collaboration with federal and state agencies, Hawaiian Electric crews worked to interconnect and power the newly constructed temporary school King Kamehameha III Elementary campus that opened to students on April 1.
Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along with Goodfellow Brothers, Du-Watts Electric, and Aina Excavation, Hawaiian Electric teams planned, designed, and installed new electrical infrastructure that included three new utility poles, overhead conductors, and a pad-mounted transformer for underground electrical facilities that enabled the temporary school site to be energized with power on Feb. 5.
The electrical distribution work was completed within an aggressive and accelerated timeframe of three months. The temporary school comprises 336 modular units across 38 buildings, including classrooms, restrooms, a dining room, community space, administrative offices and learning resources areas.
To support the students starting school at this new campus, Hawaiian Electric recently donated $1,500 to the kumu (teachers) of Kula Kaiapuni o Lahaina. This K-12 Hawaiian Language Immersion school under the Hawaii Department of Education will also be at the temporary school site. Funds will be used for classroom supplies and learning materials as this marks the first time that these kumu and haumana (students) are in physical classrooms this school year.
Hawaiian Electric is currently working on plans to assist in the interconnection of several temporary housing sites of more than 900 housing units in West Maui.
