HONOLULU — Kauai representatives secured over $141 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. “I am excited for all of the projects because it goes toward job creation, improving our infrastructure and schools and our
HONOLULU — Kauai representatives secured over $141 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
“I am excited for all of the projects because it goes toward job creation, improving our infrastructure and schools and our overall quality of life here on Kauai and the state of Hawaii,” said Rep. Derek Kawakami.
This is one of highest CIP budgets Kauai has seen in recent years, said Rep. Jimmy Tokioka.
“In the last 10 years, Kauai has done very well with CIP budgets,” he said Monday.
Highway, airport and classroom improvements are included in the list of nearly 40 projects approved on Kauai. Kawakami said he’s most excited to see money allocated to building improvements.
“I am especially excited about the $100 million that will go toward cooling down of our classrooms throughout Hawaii as well as money going toward the building and construction of additional affordable housing,” he said.
Kauai representatives also secured $4.7 million for nonprofits including Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc., the Lawai International Center, the Kauai Economic Board, Hoomana, Supporting the Language of Kauai, Inc. and Moloaa Well and Post-Harvest Facility.
“Although the council faults us for not lifting the cap on the Transient Accommodations Tax, I believe that the Legislature can support the county by bringing home specific CIP and Grant-In-Aid funding, which amounts to more than the county would obtain in TAT,” said Rep. Dee Morikawa.
As the representative for Niihau, Lehua, Waimea and Koloa, Morikawa said her priorities were to secure funding for the $2.8 million Waimea Canyon Middle School play court.
“Our middle school children need a facility out of the sun where they can play and have events,” she said.
Her other priorities were the Kauai Veteran’s pavilion, the Menehune Ditch and Waimea River Crossing.
The funding for those projects was $400,000, $200,000 and $500,000 respectively, according to a press release.
The $2 million of improvements to the culinary arts program and international kitchen at Kauai Community College is the most exciting, Tokioka said.
“The chef has been a pillar in the culinary community, and has taught so many students who have been able to work at restaurants on Kauai,” he said. “Helping them to get the funding for the kitchen will only broaden the foods student will learn.”
The $5 million allocated to the Kauai Creative Technology Center and the $500,000 to the Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center pleased Kauai County Councilmember KipuKai Kuali’i.
“I’m also excited about any infrastructure investment funding that could help with job creation and economic development,” Kuali’i added.
He cited the Motorola 800 MHZ upgrade, the sheltered bus stops, the Hanapepe/Eleele Transmission Waterline, the Moloaa Well and Post Harvest Facility and the Kauai Veterans Cemetery improvements as projects that will stimulate the economy.
It took the entire session to finalize the CIP budget, Kawakami said.
“The House has the first opportunity to work on the budget and it then crosses over to the Senate. Based on changes that the Senate makes to the House draft of the budget, negotiation between the two chambers begin,” he said. “The next step is for the administration to review the work that the Legislature has done and the governor starts on the decision making process to either release funds for projects or not to release the funds.”
Because the priorities of the individual department heads and the House may differ, representatives check in with the agencies to make sure everyone is on the same page, Kawakami said.
“We want to ensure that we are appropriating resources towards high priority projects to ensure responsible spending and improving our communities the best we can,” he said.
A date for the funds to be released has not been set.
“It could be two months, or it could be three years,” Tokioka said.
Under the state budget passed by the Legislature, Kauai representatives secured more than $141 million in CIP funding for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for projects across Kauai County.
Funding includes:
— $23 million for Kuhio Highway improvements from Hanamaulu to Kapaa
— $20 million for Lihue Airport airfield improvements
— $15 million for replacement of Wainiha bridges along Kuhio Highway
— $15 million for design and construction of new housing and support offices for Kauai Correctional Community Center
— $10.6 million for Kuhio Highway improvements in vicinity of KCCC and Wailua Golf Course
— $8.8 million for ticket lobby and hold room improvements at Lihue Airport
— $5 million for improvements to the Kekaha Irrigation System
— $5 million for design and construction for an adolescent treatment an healing center
— $4.4 million for land acquisition, design and construction of Hanapepe/Eleele transmission waterline improvements
— $4.3 million for guardrail and shoulder improvements on state highways on Kauai
— $3.7 million for improvements at Piers 2 and 3 at Nawiliwili Harbor
— $3.4 million for bridge rehabilitation along Kaumualii Highway
— $3 million for land acquisition, design and construction for Moloaa Well and post-harvest facility project
— $3 million for water storage infrastructure to increase water flow for fire suppression for Wilcox Elementary School, Wilcox Hospital and business and residences in the area.
— $2.8 million for covered playground at Waimea Canyon Middle School
— $2.1 million for Phase III upgrade of public safety communications infrastructure
— $2 million for improvements to Kauai Community College’s Culinary Arts program
— $1.6 million for plans and design for Hanahanapuni Firing Range
— $1 million for lump sum CIP for Kauai Community Correctional Center
— $1.5 million for Phase III construction of sheltered bus stops along state highways and collections roads
— $1.5 million for Lihue Airport master plan update
— $1.35 million for improvements to Kaumualii Highway
— $850,000 for rehabilitation of Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko bridges along Kuhio Highway
— $750,000 for design and construction for Lihue/Kapaa Water System Homesteads well No. 4
— $750,000 for rehabilitation of Kapaia Stream bridge along Kuhio Highway
— $700,000 for improvements to the communal hall at Kauai Veterans Cemetery
— $514,000 for construction and installation of photo voltaic systems at eight locations for Kauai Economic Opportunity
— $500,000 for improvements to Waiakea Canal Boat Ramp
— $500,000 for plans and construction of the new Kauai Creative Technology Center, a film industry job training and workforce development hub (Kauai Economic Development Board)
— $500,000 for new concrete ford crossing at Waimea River Crossing
— $425,000 for Ahukini Landfill restoration at Lihue Airport
— $400,000 to renovate Kauai Veterans Cemetery pavilion in Hanapepe
— $298,000 for design for terminal sliding and skylight improvement at Lihue Airport
— $200,000 for Peekauai Ditch maintenance
— $200,000 to repair and improve playground equipment and padding of playground floor for Wilcox Elementary School
— $150,000 for slope stabilization at Lumahai Hillside along Kuhio Highway
— $121,000 for Mailihuna Road intersection improvements along Kuhio Highway and Kapaa Stream bridge rehabilitation
— $88,000 for renovations for the training center facility, Hoomana
— $50,000 for multi-purpose community facility for Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School
In addition to the executive budget CIP funding, appropriations for Grants-In-Aid CIP were also awarded to organizations for the benefit of the Kauai community:
— $3.05 million for Moloaa Well and Post-Harvest Facility to acquire land, design and build a water well.
— $514,000 for Kauai Economic Opportunity Inc. to install photo voltaic systems at eight locations. – $500,000 to Aha Hui E Kala to build an education center at the Lawai International Center.
— $500,000 for Kauai Economic Development Board to plan and build the new Kauai Creative Technology Center for film industry job training and workforce development.
— $88,000 for Hoomana to renovate its training center.
— $50,000 for Supporting the Language of Kauai Inc. to design and build a multi-purpose community facility for Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School.
