UHH Will Receive Portion of $58.5 Million

Governor Neil Abercrombie released $58.5 million the University of Hawai’i System for capital improvement projects at various campuses, including University of Hawai’i Hilo.

“Our university and college facilities must provide students and faculty with a foundation for success in higher education,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “In order for UH to fulfill its education mission, we must invest in the system’s physical infrastructure.”

Fifty million of the $58.5 million will go to system wide Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance. This includes planning, design, and construction funds to address the backlog of repair and maintenance.

UH-Hilo will receive $3,456,000 of the $50 million. Other campuses that will receive funds for Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance are UH Manoa, UH West Oahu, and UH Community Colleges.

It has been estimated that the University system has a $402 million project backlog for reroofing, renovations, resurfacing, mechanical/electrical systems, repainting, and other improvements.

An additional $8 million will go to Leeward Community College for renovations to the theatre that was built in 1974 and has had no major renovations since.

The last $500,000 will be allocated to Kapiolani Community College for the second phase of the Kopiko Classrooms and Courtyard. The funds will be used to renovate Wing B, which was built in 1994 and houses three classrooms that are used by the nursing program.