MEDIA RELEASE
The House of Representatives has passed the House draft of the state budget bill including over $204,071,000 in capital improvement projects (CIP) for the Big Island for fiscal year 2010-2011.
When combined with the $225,267,000 in CIP funds approved in fiscal year 2009-2010, the first year of the biennium, the total amount for Hawaii Island projects is over $429 million.
Fiscal Year 2010-2011
Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project — 1,500,000
Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project — 1,800,000
Waimea Hydropower Plant — 1,000,000
Waimea Transfer Ditch Improvements — 2,000,000
Hilo High School — 8,000,000
Holualoa Elementary School — 220,000
Waiakea High School — 2,700,000
Waiakeawaena Elementary School — 450,000
Lai Opua Community Center — 1,526,000
Kona Community Hospital — 750,000
West Hawaii Community Health Center — 180,000
North Kohala District Court Roof and Eave — 300,000
Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School — 18,100,000
North Kona Well — 1,300,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, ARFF — 1,000,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Noise — 100,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Terminal — 40,000,000
Hilo Harbor Improvements — 10,000,000
HMP-Pier 4 Interisland Cargo Terminal, Hilo — 48,000,000
HMP-Pier 4 Kawaihae Harbor — 5,000,000
Hawaii Belt Road, Pahoehoe Stream Bridge — 596,000
Hawaii Belt Road, Pahoehoe Stream Bridge — 149,000
Kawaihae Road Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 12,000,000
Kawaihae Road Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 3,000,000
Keaau Pahoa Road, Keaau to Pahoa — 2,640,000
Keaau Pahoa Road, Keeau to Pahoa — 660,000
Keaau-Pahoa Road, Keaau Bypass to Shower Dr. — 4,800,000
Keaau-Pahoa Road, Keaau Bypass to Shower Dr. — 1,200,000
Kuakini Hwy Drainage, Kamehameha III Road — 1,100,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Kawa — 1,200,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Kawa — 300,000
Puna Makai Alternative Route — 1,500,000
UHH, Hawaiian Language Bldg, Phase I — 31,000,000
TOTAL — $204,071,000
“We need to insure that the Senate agrees with the House appropriations for this year, as well as join with us to urge the Governor to release last year’s appropriations,†said Rep. Jerry Chang (District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha).
“During these tough times, we are very fortunate to have included in the House budget, funds for our higher education institutions, as well as our schools in the Hilo district,” Chang said. “I’m pleased that we were able to secure $31 million for the UH Hilo Hawaiian Language Building, and $10 million for our Big Island Community College campuses to renovate the East Hawaii campus and new West Hawaii – Hawaii Education Center. There is also $8 million for a new Hilo High gym this year, and $8 million for the Keaukaha cafetorium included in last year’s budget.”
“There is high demand for accessible and adequate public services in West Hawaii,†said Rep. Cindy Evans (District 7 – North Kona, South Kohala.) “I’m pleased there are monies to meet our needs for access to healthcare, improved roads, efficiencies at Kona airport, updating Kawaihae commercial and recreational harbors, and development of water resources.â€
“The latest Council on Revenues forecast for the present fiscal year is optimistic, however I believe the legislature will continue to be cautious while crafting the budget,†said Rep. Clift Tsuji (District 3 – South Hilo, Panaewa, Puna, Keaau, Kurtistown.) “I am pleased to note that there are funds for Waiakea High School’s partially completed all-weather track complex. I also appreciate the moneys for improvements to Hilo’s Harbor and Airport as these ports are a vital lifeline for the island’s economy, especially the agriculture industry. In addition, appropriations for projects to the Keaau-Pahoa Road are so important to ensure safer driving conditions on one of the district’s heaviest traffic corridors. The Big Island delegation continues to work to make these projects a reality.â€
There is still CIP money from last year’s budget that requires the Governor‘s immediate attention to prevent lapsing,†Tsuji said. “This includes a Kupulau Road extension that will alleviate traffic congestion for Waiakea Uka residents.â€
The following is a list of appropriations for the current fiscal year, approved by the legislature in 2009. Big Island lawmakers are waiting for the funds to be released by the Governor’s Office.
Fiscal Year 2009-2010
Waimea Hydropower Plant — 350,000
Waimea Transfer Ditch Improvements — 200,000
Hilo High School — 1,000,000
Keaukaha Elementary School — 8,000,000
Waiakea High School — 300,000
Water System, Lalamilo, Waimea — 6,000,000
Arc of Hilo — 550,000
Hospice of Hilo — 750,000
Kona Judiciary Complex — 550,000
Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council — 120,000
Kawaihae Harbor, South Basin — 280,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, ARFF — 7,885,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Support — 500,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Terminal — 60,000,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Security — 2,329,000
Kona International Airport at Keahole, Security — 618,000
Hilo Harbor Improvements — 1,700,000
HMP-Pier 4 Terminal Improvements, Kawaihae — 16,250,000
HMP-Pier 4 Kawaihae Harbor — 36,000,000
Akoni Pule Hwy, Widening Aamakao Gulch — 520,000
Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kealakehe to Palani Rd — 15,000,000
Kawaihae Rd Bypass, Waimea to Kawaihae — 1,250,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keaau to Shower Dr. — 10,400,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keaau to Shower Dr. — 2,600,000
Keaau-Pahoa Rd Shoulder, Keeau to Shower Dr. — 860,000
Kuakini Hwy Drainage, Kamehameha III Rd — 2,250,000
Kupulau Rd Extension — 2,750,000
Mamalahoa Hwy Drainage, Puuwaawaa Ranch — 600,000
Rockfall Protection — 22,520,000
Rockfall Protection — 5,630,000
Street light installations — 105,000
Traffic Improvements at Intersections — 900,000
UHH, Hawaiian Language Bldg, Phase I — 1,000,000
UHH, College of Pharmacy — 5,500,000
HAW, East Hawaii Manono Campus — 10,000,000
TOTAL — $225,267,000
“I am extremely pleased that our community has received $1,526,000 of capital improvement project (CIP) funding for Laiopua 2020,†said Rep. Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau.) “The funding will support architectural planning and design of approximately 130,000 square feet of community facilities built on vacant land owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). The project will extend over 26.75 acres. It is located in the Villages of Laiopua within the Kealakehe ahupua’a. It is a Community Center that will support the greater West Hawaii region. Laiopua 2020 wants to be a puuhonua (area of safety and peace) for our community.â€
“I am pleased that $1.5 million is in the budget for the Puna Makai Alternative Highway,†said Rep. Faye Hanohano (District 4 – Puna, Pahoa, Hawaiian Acres, Kalapana.) “This alternate route is needed to relieve congestion and facilitate safe movement for the evacuation of residents and visitors in the event of natural disaster such as tsunami, volcanic eruption flow, and wildfire.â€
“While everyone is suffering in this economy, the safety of our citizens is of the utmost concern,†said Rep. Mark Nakashima (District 1 – North Kohala, South Kohala, Hamakua, North Hilo, South Hilo.) “The benefits of the Papaikou Traffic Safety Project, which will improve highway conditions and signage, far outweigh its monetary cost.â€
“The House draft of the budget includes funding for Ka’u and the surrounding communities to finally have a disaster relief shelter,†said Rep. Robert Herkes (District 5 – Puna, Kau, South Kona, North Kona.) “Hawaii is the only state that is impacted by every major natural disaster, and Ka’u has the potential of being impacted by them all. This funding replaces the old Ka’u High School gym with a new gym built to FEMA disaster shelter standards. Our rural area residents and students will now have a safe refuge should any natural disaster occur.â€
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