Hawaii Community College held a kīpaepae ‘eli honua, or groundbreaking ceremony, today for its new Kona campus. 

Though the Palamanui campus has been in the planning phase for nine years, university and government years have wanted to build a permanent higher education campus in West Hawaii for more than two decades. West Hawaii is the only remaining major population center in the state without a permanent higher education facility, according to a press release.

Hawaii Community College hopes to move into the new facilities in 2015 — as long as everything goes as planned.

UH President MRC Greenwood called today’s groundbreaking a “long awaited dream come true.”

Local developer Palamanui LCC is providing major financial support for the campus, donating $9.7 million for construction, as well as $10 million in infrastructure improvements. The company — which reflects a partnership between Charles R. Schwab and Hunt Companies — is also building a mixed-use community on 725 acres adjacent to the campus.

UH has accepted a $25.5 million bid from F&H Construction for the first phases of construction, which include 24,000 square feet of learning space, according to the press release. The campus will also feature a photovoltaic system. 

Photos show Native Hawaiian groundbreaking rituals and, at bottom, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Greenwood and other major stakeholders. (Courtesy of University of Hawaii.)

— Alia Wong