Pending Budget Contains $35M More for New Kona Courthouse

The state Judiciary will receive a major portion of the funding it is seeking for a new Kona courthouse.

Members of a House-Senate conference committee today earmarked $35 million in next year’s budget toward the project, a Judiciary press release said.

Combined with other funding already in place, approval of the proposed Judiciary budget next week will mean a total of $44 million will have been secured for a West Hawaii courthouse complex.

The courthouse is expected to cost $90, and the remainder of the funding will be sought during the 2015 session, Judiciary officials said.

“We appreciate the support of the conference committee for this vitally important project,” said Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.

“This courthouse will ensure that the judiciary can fulfill its mission of providing justice for the West Hawaii community in a secure and efficient venue.”

State Judiciary officials have long noted the need to consolidate Kona court proceedings which are currently held in three different locations. Officials said those venues were not originally designed for court operations and present a myriad of logistical and security challenges.

The new courthouse is slated for a 10-acre parcel located across Makala Boulevard from the Makalapua Center on the north side of Kailua-Kona.