HONOLULU (KHON2) — The deadline to comment on the future of a prime spot in Manoa is Friday. Two of the three tenants are set to leave, but University Lab School wants supporters to speak up before a final decision.
This 15-acre parcel in Manoa is home to the UH Manoa Children’s Center, UH’s College of Education, and University Lab School. With the Children’s Center and College of Ed scheduled to move, state lawmakers called on a feasibility study to see what, if anything, should be developed there.
That has some ULS parents concerned.
“We want to continue to be there and continue to grow,” said Jason Swanson, University Lab School parent. “So our question is, are we being heard, and how are we being incorporated in the long-term plan?”
University Lab School was founded in 1896, tied to UH since 1931, but separated in 2001 and became a state charter school serving about 450 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
“To me, their official position is, we’re not telling the lab school they have to close, but yet, you have on conversation publicly about including the lab school in the redevelopment,” said Mike Meyers, University Lab School parent. “So as a parent, you draw your own conclusions in that absence of information.”
UH says it’s been providing updates to the Manoa neighborhood board as far back as last October. And has been reaching out to its community regularly.
The school wanted to be clear – there’s nothing set in stone about the future of this site. There are no plans, there’s no money, there’s nothing. That’s exactly what this study is trying to figure out.
A couple of other things – they say if there’s any redevelopment in here, it’s likely more than a decade out from starting. And also, there’s no guarantee that the school and the state will actually proceed with what the study recommends.
To get input, a firm contracted by UH launched a website on Aug. 20 and is collecting input from the community on options, which could include workforce housing, recreational or commercial use.
The survey period ends Friday, Sept. 5. To go to the survey website, click here.
“Couple weeks isn’t enough time to get all the interested stakeholders on the same page as far as making comments,” said Meyers. “So people are still finding out about the survey today, and the deadline is tomorrow.”
“I really want people to vocalize support for the lab school,” said Swanson. “I think it’s an institution that has a wonderful legacy that’s gone on for a long time. And there’s a lot of good that’s come from that small school.”