East Kapolei Elementary School (EKES)

East Kapolei Elementary is a purpose-built campus designed to nurture the unique needs of early learners—balancing structured instruction with the freedom to explore, discover, and grow. Rooted in student-centric design, the school fosters curiosity through dynamic learning environments and culturally inspired architecture.

Commissioned by the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Ferraro Choi led the full design effort for this new elementary school serving the expanding East Kapolei and ʻEwa Beach communities. Situated on a 12-acre site within the Ho‘opili development, the 145,000-square-foot campus will welcome approximately 750 students from Pre-K through Grade 5.

The school’s five buildings are arranged around a central park, featuring a performance lawn, playgrounds, native landscaping, a teaching garden, and outdoor learning spaces. Each building tells a story—developed through cultural research and expressed through thematic color palettes and custom graphics that reflect its location and purpose.

Guided by 21st-century learning principles, the campus offers flexible learning nodes, including a vibrant Learning Commons with a traditional reading room, tiered seating, cozy nooks, and dedicated spaces for media, fabrication, and collaborative instruction. Grade-level neighborhoods are anchored by their own learning commons, designed to support both large-group and breakout learning experiences.

Sustainability is central to the design. The school targets LEED v4 Silver certification, with potential for Gold through renewable energy integration. Passive design strategies and high-efficiency mechanical systems reduce energy consumption, while daylighting and dedicated HVAC systems enhance comfort in every instructional space. The campus also encourages walking and biking from the surrounding Ho‘opili neighborhood.

Ferraro Choi provided comprehensive services, including entitlement processing, programming, site planning, architectural design, and construction documentation—creating a learning environment where Hawai‘i’s keiki can thrive.