Hawai'i School Facilities Authority
HISFA
Why The SFA was Created
Background
What is the SFA
The Hawai'i School Facilities Authority (HISFA) is a state agency established in 2020-21 and authorized in 2022-23 to build (1) Preschools, (2) School Modernization Central Maui and (3) Workforce Housing.
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Historically in Hawai'i planning, design and construction of public schools were shared between the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS). Those functions were consolidated in the DOE for accountability by Act 51 Reinventing Education Act of 2004.
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The idea for a separate HISFA evolved from efforts by legislators dating back to 2013 with the passage of Act 155, a pilot program for the DOE to redevelop three public school land sites in public-private partnerships (P3s) to generate revenue for education. No sites were started by the DOE.
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Further changes are underway. Act 72 (2020) established the HISFA. Act 271 (2021) clarified HISFA powers and responsibilities. Act 61 (2023) authorized the HISFA board to appoint the executive director.
Preschools
HISFA has doubled access to public PreK with 44 new classrooms opened August 2024 after opening 11 classrooms August 2023!
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In partnership with Lieutenant Governor Office Ready Keiki Initiative and the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), the Hawaii School Facilities Authority (SFA) is assisting the Hawaii State efforts in expanding the number of pre-kindergarten programs to 405 by 2032 (goal as of September 2023). The HISFA is committed to achieving this goal through three development pathways:
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Pathway 1: Converting underutilized classrooms on existing public school sites.
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Pathway 2: Renovating underutilized state-owned facilities like libraries or office buildings into dedicated pre-kindergarten facilities (‘Pre-kindergarten Learning Hubs’).
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Pathway 3: Constructing new pre-kindergarten facilities.
Central Maui
Central Maui is set to receive additional classroom capacity to help alleviate overcrowded school facilities and meet the increasing demand for student enrollment. The situation has worsened following the devastating Lahaina wildfire, which displaced thousands of families from West Maui, forcing them to seek housing across the state and further straining the already limited school capacity. SFA is working to address these anticipated capacity issues and improve the existing utilization of underutilized school capacity. ​
Workforce Housing
Recruiting and Retaining Teachers Through Workforce Housing
The Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) is the largest department in the State of Hawaii, comprising 258 schools, 37 charter schools, and over 25,000 employees. According to the DOE’s Employment Report for the 2022-2023 school year, more than 835 teachers resigned, with 374 of them citing relocation out of Hawaii as the reason for their departure.
Legislators have recognized that educator salaries, which lag behind the national average, combined with Hawaii’s high cost of living, significantly contribute to the shortage of licensed educators. To address this issue, legislators have identified two key strategies: financial incentives and affordable housing for teachers. Under Act 172, SLH 2023, the Hawaii School Facilities Authority has been assigned the responsibility of implementing the latter to help the state achieve its goal of addressing the educator shortage and improving the recruitment and retention of teachers and staff.