The Construction Management Association of America named the West Maui Temporary School Facility as its “2024 Project of the Year.”
The national award, presented to representatives from project partners Pono Aina Management, a subsidiary of Hui Huliau; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District; and general contractor Goodfellow Bros. during CMAA’s 2024 conference in San Francisco, recognizes exceptional construction and project management achievements.
Constructed in 95 days following the devastating August 2023 wildfires that destroyed Lāhainā’s historic King Kamehameha III Elementary School, the temporary facility transformed a 12-acre undeveloped site into a functional educational campus. The temporary school includes 30 classrooms, a dining facility, a learning resource center, administrative offices and a community center.
“The West Maui Temporary School Facility represents the very best in our field — it’s a story of hope, resilience and tireless commitment to the Lāhainā community,” Elizabeth McCarty, project manager with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, said in a news release. “In the face of unprecedented challenges, this team not only rose to the occasion but set new standards in construction management by delivering a high-quality facility with speed and efficiency.”
The project — which was also the winner in CMAA’s Education category for construction valued at over $50 million — uses a modular design, with 336 flex units sourced from Hawai‘i, Los Angeles and Washington state. Customized both on-site and in California to expedite construction, the use of local suppliers and incorporation of adaptive planning helped maintain the project’s timeline.
“Our team worked through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, knowing how important this project was for Lāhainā,” said Bo McKuin, regional vice president at Goodfellow Bros., in the release. “We were committed to creating a facility that the community would be proud of and seeing that recognized nationally is incredibly meaningful.”
“We are deeply honored to see the Maui Temporary School project receive this recognition,” added Pono Aina Management’s Troy Crews in the release. “This award speaks to the extraordinary dedication of each partner who came together with one common mission: to provide Lāhainā’s children a safe space to continue their education.
“Every day on this project was a step towards rebuilding the heart of our community.”
