KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – On Wednesday, The Hawaii County Council voted in support of a resolution funding the proposed Kona Judiciary building at the state legislature.

The local lawmakers said the effort at the state legislature to secure the remaining balance of $55 million to complete the project is sorely needed.

Rendering of the planned Kona Judiciary Complex courtesy the Hawaii State Judiciary.

RESOLUTION NO. 64 15

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE HAWAI‘I STATE JUDICIARY IN SEEKING AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF THE KONA JUDICIARY COMPLEX.

WHEREAS, the State court operations in Kona are presently carried out in three separate facilities: (1) the District and Circuit Courts are located in Kealakekua in the former Kona Hospital building, which was built in 193 9; (2) the Drug Court, also in Kealakekua, is housed in a leased facility several blocks from the District and Circuit Courts; and (3) the Family Court is situated eight miles from Kealakekua in a leased office building; and

WHEREAS, the conditions and accommodations of the Kona court facilities are grossly inadequate to service the needs of a growing West Hawai‘i community; and WHEREAS, recognizing the need to address this situation, the Hawai‘i State Legislature, in 2014, appropriated $35 million toward the projected $90 million construction costs for the Kona Judiciary Complex project; and

WHEREAS, an appropriation during this legislative session for the remaining balance of $55 million is being sought by the Hawai‘i State Judiciary in order to ensure the completion of this project; and

WHEREAS, this Council recognizes the importance of having a new Judiciary Complex built in Kona, not only for the benefit of the West Hawai‘i community, but for all residents of our island; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that it applauds the Hawai‘i State Legislature in recognizing the importance of building a new Judiciary Complex in Kona and fully supports the efforts of the Hawai‘i State Judiciary in seeking an appropriation for the remaining balance of $55 million, which is crucial for the completion of the project.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable Mayor William P. Kenoi; the Honorable Governor David Y. Ige; the Honorable Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald; the Honorable Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Senate President; the Honorable Representative Joseph M. Souki, Speaker of the House; the Honorable Senator Jill N. Tokuda, Chair, Ways and Means Committee; the Honorable Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Aragan, Chair, Judiciary and Labor Committee; the Honorable Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair, Finance Committee; the Honorable Representative Karl Rhoads, Chair, Judiciary Committee; the Honorable Senator Lorraine R. Inouye; the Honorable Senator Gilbert Kahele; the Honorable Senator Russell E. Ruderman; the Honorable Senator Josh Green; the Honorable Representative Mark M. Nakashima; the Honorable Representative Clift Tsuji; the Honorable Representative Richard H.K. Onishi; the Honorable Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura; the Honorable Representative Richard P. Creagan; the Honorable Representative Nicole E. Lowen; and the Honorable Representative Cindy Evans.Res. 64-15, Hawaii County Council