Page 3 - MidWeek Windward - January 18, 2023

Mōkapu Elementary School at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i launched a major renovation project on Jan. 4 to construct new administra- tion, library and classroom buildings; a cafeteria; learn- ing courtyard and parking areas. It is focused on trans- forming the existing campus and providing modern facili- ties designed to serve nearly 1,000 students.
schools located on military bases and we appreciate their support.”
us to build a modern, reno- vated Mōkapu Elementary,” states MCBH commanding officer Col. Speros Koump- arakis. “Providing a quality education to our school-age dependents remains a top priority, and the new facility will match the high quality of our administration and facul- ty who care for our military impacted students aboard the base.”
JANUARY 18, 2023 3
Mōkapu Elementary School’s Major Renovations Are Fueled By Federal Grant
Officials take part in a groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 4 at Mōkapu Elementary School in Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i to celebrate a major renovation project for the Windward campus. PHOTO COURTESY HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
secure learning courtyard. The new facilities will be constructed on an open sec- tion of the 14.2-acre campus, which currently contains open playfields, a running track and play courts. During construction, existing facil- ities will remain open for use. When construction is complete, classroom opera- tions will move into the new buildings and work will then
“The Hawaiʻi Department of Education is very excited for this major improvement project at Mōkapu Elemen- tary that will provide state- of-the-art facilities for our students at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi,” states su- perintendent Keith Hayashi. “The Department of Defense is a tremendous partner in modernizing our public
The project received grants from the U.S. Depart- ment of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation that covered $116.5 million (or 80%) of the total $146 million proj- ect cost, with state funds to cover the remaining $29 mil- lion (or 20%). Construction is expected to take four years to complete.
“What could be more im- portant than supporting our military service members as supporting their families and their students?”
shift to demolish old build- ings and create new play courts and fields on their for- mer footprint.
Originally opened in 1960, Mōkapu Elementary is the only public elementary school located on MCBH, a U.S. Navy installation, and serves mainly military-dependent students from families with members serving in Marine units. In school year 2022-23, it currently serves 883 stu- dents from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.
“As one of the senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, we authorized the Public Schools Military Installa- tions program to send fed- eral money to support the schools for the children of our military families,” states U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono.
The project will construct a two-story administration/ library building; a two- and three-story classroom build- ing with 55 classrooms and support spaces; a cafetori- um; and covered play court buildings, all surrounding a
“Marine Corps Base Ha- waiʻi is extremely grateful for the support from the congressional delegation, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, as well as the funding from The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, which allows
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