UH West Oahu campus deal OK'd
UH regents approve the sale of state land to build the first phase
The financial pieces are in place for construction of a new Kapolei campus for the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
At its monthly meeting last week, the Board of Regents approved a purchase and sales agreement between the University of Hawaii and Hunt Building Corp. The agreement was expected as part of the development of the West Oahu campus in Kapolei, according to university officials.
It allows for the sale of about 298 acres of adjoining state land for about $100 million, to be used to build the first phase of the campus.
The Legislature has approved $35 million to build infrastructure, bringing the total construction cost to $135 million.
The first phase will consist of four buildings: classrooms and administration, library, student services and a power plant.
For 31 years, UH-West Oahu has survived in wooden portable buildings at Leeward Community College. It consists of the junior and senior years of a four-year program, with students taking their first two years in community colleges.
The new buildings are expected to be complete in time for classes in fall 2009.
The first phase of the campus will be able to serve about 1,520 students. UH-West Oahu currently has 858 students.
This fall the campus will accept its first freshmen, who will attend classes at night in leased classroom space at Island Pacific Academy in Kapolei.
If demand grows and more construction money can be found, the school will expand on its 202-acre site to a campus that could support up to 7,500 students and 1,000 faculty and staff. Building the full campus is estimated to cost an additional $215 million.