$172M Secured for Maui Capital Improvement Projects in State Budget

Port of Kahului, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

An estimated $172 million in Capital Improvement Project funds has been secured for various projects in Maui County under the state budget passed by the legislature this week.

The largest single item was a $38 million appropriation for expansion and improvements to Kahului Harbor.  Of that, $17 million will go toward land acquisition and improvements to the acquired parcel; and $21 million has been allocated for improvements to existing facilities under the biennium budget.

“During a period when the construction industry is doing well, it behooves the state to move prudently regarding capital improvement projects—taking care not to unintentionally drive up the cost of labor and materials by over stimulating the industry with unnecessary or untimely CIP projects,” said House Speaker Joseph M. Souki of Maui in a press release announcement.

Speaker Souki, who represents Kahakuloa, Waiheʻe, Waiehu, Puʻuohala, Wailuku and Waikapū continued saying, “Having said that, there is also a balance we must seek to ensure that we do fund needed projects to maintain state services and ensure our quality of life on Maui.

“I am grateful to my Maui colleagues—Rep. Justin Woodson, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Kaniela Ing, Rep. Lynn DeCoite, and especially to our CIP Subcommittee Chair, Kyle Yamashita—who all worked collaboratively to secure these priorities for all of Maui County.”

House lawmakers outlined highlights of the Maui appropriations in the budget which include the following:

Education:

• $1 million for the design, construction and equipment for track and field at King Kekaulike High School
• $500,000 for a water filtration system at Kula Elementary School
• $10 million for the construction of a new 8 classroom building at Lahainaluna High School
• $2 million for design and construction of a covered play court at Makawao Elementary School
• $2 million to renovate and expand band/choir building at Maui High School
• $2.7 million for construction of weight training and wrestling rooms at Maui High School
• $215,000 to replace and expand the gymnasium floor at Maui High School
• $362,000 for landscaping at Pukalani Elementary School
• $900,000 design and construction for a new administration building at Waiheʻe Elementary School

Airports:

• $3.3 million for replacement of the sewage lift/pump station at Kahului Aiport
• $7.5 million for the renovations of restrooms at Kahului Airport
• $8.8 million for the design and construction of various projects at Kahului Airport including a holdroom, security pass, ID office improvements, and a new conference room
• $33.579 million for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station and other related improvements at Hāna Airport

Harbors:

• $38 million expansion and improvements to Kahului Harbor
• $2.25 million for emergency dredging and replacement of buoys at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor

Highways:

• $1.8 million to widen a portion of Haleakalā Highway from one lanes to two lanes
• $4 million for safety improvements to Hāna Highway along Route 360, from Huelo to Hāna
• $895,000 for roadway widening and realignment on Hāna Highway in the vicinity of mile post 28.1
• $4.6 million for the design and construction to mitigate rockfalls and potential landslides along the slopes of Route 360 on Hāna Highway
• $1.05 million for the beautification of the main corridor between Kahului and Wailuku along the Hāna Highway
• $8.5 million for the next phase of the Lahaina bypass road construction
• $300,000 for a Pāʻia bypass traffic alternative

Health:

• $2,000,000 to replace chillers and AC equipment at Maui Memorial Hospital
• $400,000 for the purchase of clinical equipment at Maui Memorial Hospital
• $1,000,000 for renovations and repairs at Maui Memorial Hospital
• $2,592,000 for plumping and fire safety upgrades at Maui Memorial Hospital
• $500,000 to improve energy efficiency at Kula Hospital
• $400,000 for air conditioner improvements at Kula Hospital
• $2,000,000 for exterior and ward room repairs at Kula Hospital
• $500,000 to Hāna Health for the construction of new facilities (Grant-in-Aid)

Other:

• $6 million for construction of a regional park for central Maui
• $4 million for construction of a Maui office and annex building to support various state departmental divisions and programs
• $500,000 for plans and designs for a Kahoʻolawe education center in South Maui
• $2 million for improvement to Maui Raceway Park
• $650,000 for the design of Kahului Baseyard improvements
• $300,000 to Heritage Hall, Inc. for the construction of incorporated facilities in Pāʻia (Grant-in-Aid)
• $500,000 to Maui Youth and Family Services, Inc. for the construction of a new administration facility (Grant-in-Aid)

Funding highlights for Molokaʻi:

• $3.5 million for renovation of the gym/emergency shelter at Molokaʻi High School
• $3.5 million to replace the Makakupaʻia Stream Bridge along Kamehameha V Highway
• $1.2 million for the design and construction for improvements to the Molokaʻi irrigation system
• $3.2 million for improvements to Molokaʻi Airport
• $500,000 to Kalamaula Homesteaders Association for the redevelopment of Kiowea Park facilities (Grant-in-Aid)

Funding highlights for Lānaʻi:

• $1.5 million for construction of airport road and other improvements to Lānaʻi Airport
• $1,000,000 for plumping and facility improvements at Lānaʻi Community Hospital