Hawaii’s congressional delegation today announced that the US Department of Defense is awarding $26.6 million to Hale Kula Elementary School. The Hawaii Department of Education has pledged to award the school an addition $6.6 million. The funding amounts to $33.2 million.

The school is located on-base at Schofield Barracks. Ninety-eight percent of its students are military dependents.

The funds come from a federal grant designated for schools on military bases across the country. The grant’s administered by the DOD through the Office of Economic Adjustment.  The grants go toward schools with the most serious capacity or facility deficiencies as determined by a priority list, according to a DOD press release.

The money will be used to upgrade facilities and expand the school to address student overcrowding. It will fund the construction of several new buildings, including an administrative building, a library and a student center, according to DOE spokeswoman Dara Young. 

Hale Kula was one of four Hawaii schools that would qualify for the grant. 

Courtesy of Jan Iwase

— Alia Wong