Maui Projects Included in CIP Funding Release

Aerial approach to Kahului Airport runway. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Governor Neil Abercrombie released more than $44 million for various capital improvement projects across the state, including $3.3 million for the imaging department at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

There’s also a more than $8 million appropriation for additional design and structural improvements to Runway 2-20 at the Kahului Airport.

Two highway projects on Maui will get a combined half million dollars for additional construction work. This includes funds which have been released for the widening of Ohukai Road on its approach to the Piilani Highway in South Maui; and for rockfall mitigation work along the Hana Highway in East Maui.

The funding appropriations are for CIPs at public schools, health facilities, transportation and infrastructure projects across the state.

“Since the start of 2012, my administration has released more than $885.8 million for CIPs, including these newly released funds, as a part of an economic strategy to address priority work while stimulating the economy and generating job opportunities for residents,” said Governor Abercrombie. “We’ve made significant progress. Our local economy is back on track. Credit rating agencies have taken notice. And, the state’s unemployment rate has continued to improve, falling in October to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.5% – a pre-recession level.”

Allotment of funds for the following projects has been approved by the governor:

Education

• $3,500,000 – Various schools, statewide: Design, construction and required works of art for modifications at various schools to meet ADA accessibility guidelines; project will provide 1) student, staff and public accessibility to programs and/or facilities as required by the ADA for Waianae High School; and 2) accessibility to areas of school campuses that are typically visited by the public for Baldwin High School, Makaha Elementary School, and Aliamanu Middle School
• $2,500,000 – Aikahi and Wahiawa Elementary Schools, Oahu: Improvements to drainage at Aikahi Elementary, and creation of student drop off area and additional parking at Wahiawa Elementary School
• $2,000,000 – Pookela Special Day Program, statewide: Design, construction, equipment and required works of art for four special education portable classrooms for the Pookela Special Day Program for autistic and developmentally disabled students
• $1,600,000 – Kohala High School, Hawaii Island: Design of a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) building, including ground/site improvements, equipment and appurtenances
• $800,000 – Waipahu Intermediate School, Oahu: Design funds to provide a new eight-classroom building that will address STEM/multi-media needs

Health

• $3,300,000 – Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui:  Design, construction and equipment for renovation of Imaging Department’s treatment rooms, physicians’ offices, patient care and public areas, and to accommodate new and replacement imaging equipment; improvements will maintain patient privacy and improve patient care
• $328,000 – Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, Kauai: Design and construction for work on walls and floors in the nursing units

Transportation

Airports

• $8,010,000 – Kahului Airport, Maui: Additional design costs for the structural improvements and long-term rehabilitation to Runway 2-20
• $1,200,000 – Honolulu International Airport, Oahu:  Construction to upgrade the radio communication infrastructure and antenna system, remove and replace the existing dispatcher console and install a new Wireless Broadcast Emergency Public Address system
• $600,000 – Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawaii Island: Design for re-roofing of terminal buildings to prevent re-occurring leaks throughout the terminal
• $350,000 – Kahului Airport, Maui: Additional design funds to reconstruct the Taxiway A apron
• $200,000 – Kalaeloa Airport, Oahu: Construction to upgrade the radio communication infrastructure, antenna system, remove and replace the existing dispatcher console, and install a new Wireless Broadcast Emergency Public Address system

Highways

• $4,510,000 – Kaneohe Bay Drive, Oahu: Construction for rehabilitation of Kaneohe Bay Drive between Kamehameha Highway and Nanamoana Street to address the deterioration of the roadway; improvements will include reconstructing weakened pavement areas and shoulders, constructing new curbs, gutters, sidewalks and curb ramps, upgrading drainage facilities, and replacing and installing guardrails
• $1,160,000 (and $8,865,000 federal funds) – Hawaii Belt Road, Hawaii Island: Safety improvements near/at Laupahoehoe and Kaawalii Gulches to improve roadway drainage in the area and construct a friction overlay surface to minimize hydroplaning
• $306,000 – Piilani Highway, Maui: Additional construction to widen Ohukai Road on both approaches to highway; project will include constructing left turn storage lanes and relocating existing street lights, guardrails and wheelchair ramps
• $253,000 – Hana Highway, Maui: Additional construction for Phase 2 of the project to remove overhanging, protruding and unstable rocks from the slopes above highway to prevent rockfall
• $200,000 (and $800,000 federal funds): Intelligent Transportation System, statewide – Planning for the development of an approved regional architecture phase of an envisioned Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for the Kauai, Maui and Hawaii highway districts
• $130,000 – Kohala Mountain Road, Hawaii Island: Additional design for road drainage improvements at mileposts 10.61, 12.88, 13.47, and 13.98; this project will install larger culverts to increase drainage capacity with headwalls constructed farther from the edge of the travelway
• $100,000 – Volcano Road, Hawaii Island: Additional construction in the vicinity of Kulani Road for installation of left-turn lanes, improvements and/or adjustments to the drainage system, streetlights and guardrails to current standards
• $96,000 (and $864,000 federal funds) – Honoapiilani Highway, Maui: Construction to upgrade highway lighting and improve traffic safety on highway at Kaanapali Parkway and Halelo Street
• $37,700 (and $339,300 federal funds): Various locations, Oahu – Design for guardrail and shoulder improvements at various locations throughout Oahu to current design standards

Harbors

• $500,000 – Honolulu Harbor Environmental and Development Services, Oahu: Planning for environmental and development services for a new Kapalama Container Facility to support expanding maritime activities in the harbor

Other

• $7,122,411 – DAGS CIP project positions: Public Works Division project-funded staff positions for fiscal year 2013
• $1,789,334 – Hawaii Community Development Authority Community Development Districts, Oahu: 19 project-funded staff positions for fiscal year 2013
• $1,000,000 – Capital District Master Plan, Oahu: Planning to develop, implement and populate a space needs and building management information database, update the State Capital District Master Plan, and provide alternatives for civic center facilities at Department of Accounting and General Services-managed and new properties; work includes surveys of state office buildings and ancillary facilities in the Capital District and plans for future disposition of the Kinau Hale and Queen Liliuokalani buildings
• $1,000,000 – Correctional facilities, statewide: Planning for the orderly development of correctional facilities, including assessment of all Department of Public Safety correctional facilities to determine whether to renovate or construct new facilities for the future
• $650,000 – Honokohau Small Boat Harbor Improvements, Phase II, Hawaii Island: Creation of paved parking areas and roadways on the north side of the harbor, as well as water system and drainage improvements
• $500,000 – State Water Projects Plan Update, statewide: Updating of the State Water Projects Plan, which is a component of the Hawaii Water Plan mandated by the State Water Code, Chapter 174C, HRS, and conducting related studies specifically for the North Kona area of Hawaii Island (The State Water Projects Plan was last updated in 2003. Given the increase in both private and government developments and the water resource challenges that exist due to the complex geology and hydrology in West Hawaii, the need to update the plan and conduct necessary studies will be critical to identifying and meeting projected water demands.)
• $300,000 – Birkhimer Tunnel, Oahu: Additional construction to provide for the replacement of an emergency generator, structural modifications, and other related work
• $20,000 – Bond Memorial Public Library, Hawaii Island: Planning for a Phase 1 environmental site assessment prior to returning library site to the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the library is no longer in operation since the opening of the new North Kohala Public Library