More Projects Cited From 2013 Legislative Session

Big Island members of the state Legislature say the island will benefit from more than $292 million in capital improvement projects secured during the past legislative session.

The projects include improvements to education, health and transportation facilities, according to a statement issued last week by Sens. Malama Solomon and Gil Kahele, and Rep. Mark Nakashima.

A majority of the Big Island’s CIP funding was earmarked for West Hawaii, as noted in a statement about $180 million worth of projects from Sen. Josh Green earlier this month.

Highlights of other projects outlined in the recent statement include:

Agriculture

• $6.6 million for irrigation projects, including $4.4 million for the Lower Hamakua Ditch watershed project and $2 million for the Waimea irrigation system

Defense

• $5.9 million for upgrades to the Army National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy

Education

• $1 million for improvements to athletic facilities at Honoka`a High School
• $5 million for a new nine-classroom science and technology building at Waimea Middle School
• $1.5 million for a play court at Waiakea Elementary School
• $450,000 for a new batting cage at Waiakea High School

Health

• $1 million toward construction of the new Hilo Adult Day Care facility
• $1.8 million for Hilo Medical Center’s Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program to address physician shortages

Human Services

• $643,000 for the Salvation Army’s Family Intervention Services

Transportation

• $43.4 million for facilities at Hilo International Airport including a new air-rescue and fire-fighting facility and reconstruction of Runway 3-21
• $3 million for improvements to the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Museum at Kona International Airport
• $1 million for modifications at Hilo Harbor
• $7.5 million for realignment and widening of the Akoni Pule highway that connects North and South Kohala
• $4 million for rockfall protection and drainage improvements on Highway 19 at Papa`aloa
• $6.25 million for widening and realignment of Puainako Street to connect to the new extension
• $1 million for improvements to the intersection and sidewalk of Mamane Street in Honoka`a

University of Hawaii at Hilo

• $2 million for improvements to the Office of Mauna Kea Management

County of Hawaii

• $2.5 million, to be matched by county funds, for a Waimea regional park

Miscellaneous

• $1.5 million for improvements to the Kahilu Theater in Waimea