Groundbreaking ceremonies were held recently for the new Mokapu Elementary School at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base.
Sen. Mazie Hirono was among those in attendance, according to a press release from her office.
"As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I'm focused on supporting not only our service members but their families as well," Hirono said in the press release. "I've consistently championed the Department of Defense's PSMI [Public Schools on Military Installations] program, which has delivered nearly $200 million for schools in Hawaii, including nearly $100 million for Mokapu Elementary. This new campus will serve nearly 1,000 students here at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, creating a better learning environment for students while also addressing noise and overcrowding issues at Mokapu."
The new school will replace the current campus, the press release noted. Approximately $96 million in federal funding was allocated for the project through the Department of Defense's PSMI program. The program was established in 2011; it provides funding to construct, renovate, repair, or expand public schools located on military installations in order to increase capacity and improve facility quality.
The program provided nearly $200 million for construction and renovation projects at schools in Hawaii, according to the press release. That number includes $26.5 million for Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School (formerly Hale Kula) and $70 million for Solomon Elementary School at Schofield Barracks Army Base.