Legislature allots more than $100 million for county CIP

The Maui News
Monday, May 09, 2005

By MATTHEW BURGER, Staff Writer

HONOLULU – Maui County is in line to get more than $100 million in capital improvement funds in the state budget that passed last week, including more than $30 million for various airports projects and $23 million for projects at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

"Maui's team did very well this year," said Sen. J. Kalani English, a Democrat representing Upcountry, East Maui, Molokai and Lanai. "I am really pleased that the money committees remembered us."

Among the larger items are $12 million for the next phase of the widening of Haleakala Highway, more than $10 million for Baldwin High School's library expansion and $23.5 million for improvements and a parking structure at the hospital, according to lawmakers.

Kahului Airport is set to get more than $30 million for various projects – mainly $18 million for the airport access road that will run on the Kihei side of the Maui Marketplace, bypassing Dairy Road, and connect with the airport. There will also be $10.3 million for runway safety improvements and $1 million in improvements to the heliport.

"Maui really got a lot this year," said freshman Rep. D. Mele Carroll, a Democrat who represents East Maui, Molokai and Lanai. She credited fellow Maui lawmakers for helping make that possible.

In East Maui, $1.5 million will go toward infrastructure planning for an affordable housing project in Hana. English said the original request for the project had been for $5.6 million, but the House cut funding to $1 million.

"In conference (committee), I was able to get more," he said. "We were very fortunate to get what we did with the financial situation; very few items got funded."

Phase two of improvements to Molokai General Hospital will receive $1.6 million, English said. The money will be given upfront to expedite the project. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is also doing a two-to-one match on funding for the project, he added.

English's district also will see $4.7 million in rockfall mitigation efforts along Hana Highway, from Huelo to Hana, which he said needs to continue yearly.

"If we go to deferred maintenance, we have to pay a lot more later," he said.

Democratic Sen. Roz Baker, who serves residents of West and South Maui, said that $750,000 for a helipad at Maui Memorial Medical Center "was a big one for the Maui senators and health committee."

The funding "makes sure that money for the helicopter service is provisoed in the budget," she said. "And that the county matches the funds."

She also announced $2 million for renovations at Kihei Elementary School.

"They were next on the list," she said.

Baker said the state budget includes $250,000 for a new portable at Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina. Last year, a building on the campus was condemned, resulting in a sudden shortage of classroom space.

"The principal told us that 'we need a place for the kids next

fall,' " she said, adding that because the school is in the historic district, replacing the old building would have been complicated.

She also said $300,000 has been set aside for planning for a new elementary school in West Maui, possibly at the proposed site of Maui Land & Pineapple Co.'s Pulelehua project in Honokowai.

Baker said a lot of growth on the west side is occurring in that area and, therefore, "we want to get a school on that end."

"The idea is to get the school where the kids are, so they don't have to be bused into town," she said.

Baker also pointed out that $833,000 was headed to Lahainaluna High School to expand the cafeteria because "not everybody can eat at the same time" and a completely new cafeteria would have been too expensive.

Also included in the budget, but not as capital improvement project, was $10,000 for Lahainaluna to help the school mark its 150th anniversary celebration, Baker said.

If they can spend a little less time worrying about fund-raising, "then they can really invite more of the community to get involved."

The state budget also includes $1 million for a planning study for a new harbor, which Baker said is "clearly something that needs to be done."

"Lahaina is crowded. Kahului is crowded. Where else can we go?" she asked. "Or are we just going to bite the bullet and figure out how to improve Kahului?"

Matthew Burger can be reached at mattburger@mauinews.com.>/p>

MAUI COUNTY CIP PROJECTS APPROVED BY LEGISLATURE

• Maui Memorial Hospital parking structure $22 million
• Kahului Airport access road $18 million
• Haleakala Highway widening $12 million
• Kahului Airport runway improvements $10.3 million
• Baldwin High School library expansion $10.3 million
• Maui Lani Elementary School $7 million
• Hana Highway rockfall mitigation $4.7 million
• MCC student center renovation $3.5 million
• Maui Community College science facility $3.4 million
• Ferry system improvements
• for Lanai, Molokai $3.3 million
• Kahului Airport fuel storage site preparation $2 million
• Kahului Airport perimeter road improvements: $1.7 million
• Molokai General Hospital expansion $1.6 million
• Hana affordable housing project $1.5 million
• Nisei Veterans Center $1.5 million
• Upcountry Maui watershed project $1.5 million
• Traffic operational improvements $1 million
• Hale Makua renovation $1 million
• Kahului Airport heliport improvements $1 million
• Planning study for new harbor $1 million
• Kahului Harbor improvements $1 million
• Kahului Boat Harbor additional dock $1 million
• Hana Highway improvements
• (Uakea to Road to Keawa Place) $765,000
• Hana Community Health Center indigent care $750,000
• Maui Memorial Medical Center
• roof improvements $750,000
• Maui Memorial Medical Center helipad $750,000
• Makawao Public Library expansion $744,000
• Maui Waena Intermediate School
• classroom building $623,000
• Hui No'eau Center land acquisition $500,000
• Kaumalapau Harbor improvements (Lanai) $500,000

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/print_version.aspx?id=8659

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