Work recently began on Kealakehe Elementary School’s new $16 million classroom building that state education officials said will expand learning space, better serve the growing
student population, and connect the Kailua-Kona school’s upper and lower campuses.

The two-story, 13,000-
square-foot building will add four classrooms, special
education spaces, an outdoor classroom, a covered learning lanai, faculty workroom, offices and storage, according to the state Department of Education.

Two pedestrian bridges will link the structure to existing buildings, allowing students and staff to move safely across the sloped campus, officials said.

The building was designed by Urban Works Inc., with construction management provided by the West Hawaii District Office under the state Department of
Accounting and General Services.

Nan Inc. has begun construction, with completion anticipated in September 2027.

“This building has been a bridge, literally and figuratively, connecting the school, partners and our students’ education,” Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a news release. “From the support of the new DAGS district office to the designers who offered a solution that met school needs within site constraints, we are looking forward to this new building connecting the upper and lower campuses and elevating the learning environments for students, teachers and staff.”

To create a welcoming
environment for young learners, “the design blends neutral tones with the natural landscape, accented by the copper roofing and pops of color in building outcroppings. The intentional use of Hardie clapboard siding on the exterior is reminiscent of residential material and gives the structure a homey look and feel,” DOE officials said in the news release.

“Our school community has been waiting in anticipation for our new building,” Kealakehe Elementary Principal Wendy Daniel said. “We are excited for this new building to support our increasing student population and lay the foundation for future generations of Warriors to learn and grow.”

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii lawmakers are raising questions about the timeline of Attorney General Anne Lopez’s investigation into a legislator who was recorded taking $35,000 in an FBI operation.

There is conflicting information being publicly released about the case’s completion.

Two representatives, Rep. Della Au Belatti and Rep. Kanani Souza, sent a letter to Gov. Josh Green asking him to clarify comments he made regarding the schedule when he appeared on Hawaii News Now’s Spotlight Now show in late January.

Green said he thought the case could realistically be completed by spring.

“I don’t see why — with the evidence that they’re getting from the federal government — they wouldn’t have a gigantic head start,” Green said. “I assume they’re going to have to do some interviews with anybody who is being accused of acting in a terrible way. But that interview or interviews should be quick.”

That would be during the legislative session and could be helpful for bills dealing with campaign finance reform.

View the letter from Reps. Belatti and Souza:

Lawmakers given a different timeline

However, the letter pointed out that Lopez does not appear to share the governor’s goal. The representatives wrote that the attorney general “has informed House Speaker (Nadine) Nakamura that she expects to have the investigation completed by August 2026,” long after the session is over.

The representatives called that timeline troubling, especially since the person who took the money could still hold elected office.

The Aug. 8 primary election also means the information may not be public when voters go to the polls, and the unnamed person could be up for reelection.

“We want the investigation to be complete by the spring so that we can take action as the legislature before our session ends in May,” said Souza.

Belatti questioned the conflicting schedule: “Not having the answers to these questions and not being able to administratively deal with the impacts that this person may still have on the legislative process is very troubling.”

In a statement, the spokesperson for Attorney General Lopez said the attorney general did not tell anyone it would be August 2026.

The statement said, “The Attorney General did not communicate a specific date, or even month, for when the investigation would be completed.”

A statement on behalf of Nakamura did not answer HNN Investigates’ question about the August 2026 detail. It said, “The Speaker has not received any investigative details that would influence the investigation.” The statement continued that Nakamura “has urged the Attorney General to prioritize and expedite the review.”

A spokesperson for the governor did not respond to questions about the timeline either, but said in their statement, “This needs to be resolved for the good of our public trust,” and called the situation ”deeply concerning, and accountability is essential – no one gets a free pass.”

Second letter seeks legislative action details

A second letter from five representatives was sent to Nakamura on Feb. 2, asking for more details on a petition that called for the legislature to conduct its own investigation into the matter.

The representatives wanted to know when it would be presented to the House for review and what procedures and rules would apply.

“We need to understand the circumstances so we can better write legislation as well as hold this $35,000 person accountable,” Belatti said.

Souza said the delayed response creates additional concerns about transparency.

“Right now the lack of timely response and the lack of a timely report, even a preliminary report, makes this look even more like a cover-up,” Souza said.

View the second letter from lawmakers:

Bills related to campaign finance reform are currently moving through the Capitol.

The mystery lawmaker was called an “influential state legislator” by federal prosecutors in a court record connected to a bribery case that sent former state Rep. Ty Cullen and former state Sen. Kalani English to prison. Businessman Milton Choy was at the center of the scandal, and died while in federal prison serving a three-year sentence.

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