Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project, Kona side rockfall repair, and Hawai’i Belt Road drainage work near Hakalau on the list

Media release from the Office of the Hawaii Governor

HONOLULU, Hawaii: Having identified more projects that will help stimulate the economy and benefit our communities, Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $48.9 million for additional Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) statewide. This brings the total amount of funds released by the Governor, since December, to more than $157.8 million for various CIPs that were appropriated by the legislature.

“It is essential that we continue the steady economic momentum achieved since last year,” Governor Abercrombie said. “I would like to thank the state Legislature for remaining committed to an aggressive budget schedule for these important repair and maintenance construction projects that, with their help, were identified to help further stimulate the economy, create jobs and invest in the people of Hawai’i.”

Education & Libraries

• $15,000,000 – High School Science Facilities, statewide – Design, construction, equipment and works of art for priority Race to the Top projects, Zones of School Innovation facility improvements (Hawai’i Island), and schools with high deficiencies in science facilities
• $3,282,800 – Public Libraries, statewide – Design, construction, works of art and improvements, including roof replacement, air conditioning replacement, electrical upgrades, flooring, doors, fencing and parking lot work
• $1,075,000 – New Nanakuli Public Library, O’ahu – Design for new library to serve communities of Nanakuli and Ma’ili
• $1,000,000 – School Hazardous Materials Removal, statewide – Work to ensure various state schools are up-to-date with current federal standards
• $475,000 – ‘Aiea Public Library, O’ahu – Additional construction for a replacement facility for ‘Aiea Public Library on the site of the former Aiea Sugar Mill

Public Safety

• $350,000 – Department of Public Safety, statewide – Renovations and improvements to various state facilities

Water Irrigation & Agriculture

• $3,200,000 – Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project, Hawai’i Island – Land acquisition, design and construction to repair the flumes, ditches, reservoirs and tunnels for the Lower Hamakua Ditch irrigation system
• $1,500,000 – Upcountry Maui Watershed – Design and construction to install a new pipeline system for the watershed
• $110,000 – Kahuku Agricultural Park, O’ahu – Construction to mitigate a sink hole, install a new vandal proof door on the pump house building, and wall-mounted security lighting at the park

Transportation

• $13,000,000 – Honolulu International Airport, O’ahu – Design funds for the consolidated car rental facility at the airport
• $357,800 – Emergency Earthquake Rockfall Repairs, Unit 2, Hawai’i Island – Construction for permanent repairs at seven separate sites along Mamalahoa Highway and Kawaihae Road/Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway that were damaged by the October 15, 2006, earthquake
• $210,000 – Hawai’i Belt Road Drainage, Hawai’i Island – Land, design and construction for drainage improvements to minimize flooding on Hawai’i Belt Road near Hakalau Bridge

Hospitals

• $659,332 – Hawai’i Health Systems Corporation, statewide – Construction and miscellaneous items to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant at Kona Community Hospital
• $300,000 – Hawai’i State Hospital, Guensberg Building – Air conditioning improvements

Other Projects

• $7,000,000 – Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Loans, statewide – Loans to eligible developers of affordable rental housing projects targeted at households at or below 60 percent of the area medium income
• $1,230,000 – Information and Communication Services Division, statewide – Planning for three radio sites for repairs, upgrades and expansion of critical communications backbone systems, including the statewide Anuenue and Hawaiian Microwave systems and the windward, North Shore and central O’ahu radio sites
• $200,000 – Waimano Ridge Feasibility Study for Staff Relocation, O’ahu – Fund assessment of existing structures at Waimano Ridge as a possible site for the relocation of 325 state Department of Health staff from the Army and Air Forces Exchange Services (AAFES) building and Ala Moana Health Center