King Kamehameha III Elementary School was reduced to rubble in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina town. Officials are looking for a suitable place to rebuild the school.

The Hawai’i Department of Education is seeking community input for a new proposed site up to 16 acres from landowner Kamehameha Schools in Ku’ia, Lahaina, that could serve as the permanent home for rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which was damaged in the Aug. 8 wildfires.

According to the state Department of Education, rebuilding at the original Front Street campus has proven unfeasible due to factors beyond the department’s control, including the discovery of iwi kupuna, the parcel being too small for rebuilding and environmental development requirements.

The department is in the process of returning the land to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the County of Maui.

Two other sites that were presented at community meetings over the summer were not preferred by stakeholders and also presented challenges for rebuilding.

The community meeting is meant to gather feedback on the proposed site to rebuild King Kamehameha III Elementary. The meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 in the cafeteria at King Kamehameha III Elementary School’s temporary site at Pulelehua, 100 Akahele St., in Lahaina.

Interested community attendees are encouraged to complete the pre-registration form at bit.ly/KKIII-site.