Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Chaminade Life > Kalaepohaku’s Ever-Changing Face

Kalaepohaku’s Ever-Changing Face

Ramon Lopez, Staff Writer

News arose a few weeks ago in an article published in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin about the “Future Campus Plan” for Chaminade University of Honolulu, Saint Louis High School and the Marianist Center of Hawaii.

The article, detailing the “facelift” that Chaminade and Saint Louis would be receiving once approval comes from the City & County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, is an ongoing process that has been re-shaping and re-facing the Kalaepohaku hillside for the past 10 years.

Future projects that are proposed through a Plan Review Use (PRU) — a master plan-level permit that will cover projects through 2015 — pertain to both Saint Louis and Chaminade, some of which include and are of highest priority:

Once the permit is granted by the city, fundraising will begin. The cost of the project is estimated to be between $60 to $80 million.

This is the first time that CUH, the Marianist Center and Saint Louis are working together to prepare a single master plan permit for the campus grounds. This allows for a better-coordinated effort from all three institutions with regards to campus-related projects and understanding of any future developments for the surrounding community and public agencies.

Even though the three parties are working together, each has their own individual objectives that fall under the master plan.

For Chaminade, the construction of the three residence halls will enable an estimated 40 percent of its undergraduate students to live on campus, an increase from 21 percent today —that’s an increase of 280 beds. By doing this, Chaminade will continue its transition from a commuter-based university to a residential university.

The Marianist Center aims to increase the number of available parking stalls on campus from 703 to 873 permanent stalls. The construction of a central parking structure, conveniently located in the middle of campus, will result in the removal of parking spaces around the oval. This will add a secondary lane that will make it easier for vehicles to enter and exit the campus grounds, along with a third lane, which will be for passenger drop-offs only.

Building a new Athletic Field House — the Saint Louis objective — will provide for the first time an integrated facility where athletic and school functions can be hosted on campus. (I might add that the facility will be air-conditioned.)

As simple as this all sounds, the process of getting the projects underway is far from it. Once approval is given, fundraising begins, and after that, detailed designs of the facilities are developed. Then building plan approvals follow, with construction of the facilities is initiated and ultimately completed by each institutions.

But wait — what about the neighbors?

Knowing that the campus grounds are nestled by a neighboring community, all the right steps will be taken to make sure no issues surface while the projects are underway. For example, the proposed residence halls were designed to make sure that the ocean and Diamond Head views from the surrounding neighbors would not be obstructed. The halls will also maintain a 160- to 200-foot distance from the mauka property line to ensure neighbors have reduced noise levels.

The community was already presented with the proper details for future projects in order to receive input or any comments or concerns that the community may have— for example, if a building obstructs the view of homes located behind campus grounds. The institutions worked very closely with the community to ensure that the master plan may successfully be implemented so as to not cause any potential issues with the hillside community.

The three major projects are expected to be completed by or be underway by 2015.