Upcountry Maui Watershed Gets Portion of CIP Stimulus Funds

Upcountry, Maui water storage. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

An estimated $1.5 million was released today for the design and construction of a new pipeline system for the Upcountry Maui Watershed.

The Maui project funds were part of a larger $48.9 million appropriation for Capital Improvement Projects across the state.

Another project included on the list was a $357,800 allocation for emergency rockfall repairs along Big Island roadways damaged in the October 15, 2006, earthquake.

On O’ahu, more than $1.2 million was released for radio site repairs to upgrade the communications backbone of radio systems in windward, North Shore and central O’ahu.

“It is essential that we continue the steady economic momentum achieved since last year,” said Governor Abercrombie upon release of the funds today.

“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… were identified to help further stimulate the economy, create jobs and invest in the people of Hawai’i,” he said.

This brings to $157.8 million, the total amount of funds released by the Governor for CIP projects appropriated by the legislature.

A complete list of funds released and the projects identified include the following:

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% 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

***Supporting information courtesy State of Hawai’i, Office of the Governor.