Senate OKs $230M for Maui, Includes $37.5M for Kihei High School

Before the close of the 2016 Legislative Session, state lawmakers approved the supplemental state budget that includes $230 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for various projects for the County of Maui. Significant appropriations have been provided for schools, highways and affordable housing on Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi.

“Funding to alleviate traffic congestion and for improved health services will do so much to improve the quality of life for residents of Maui,” said Sen. Rosalyn Baker (Dist. 6 – South and West Maui). “I’m especially pleased with the support for the construction and improvement of Maui’s schools, particularly the funding for air conditioning at Lahainaluna High and for a new high school in Kīhei, which is greatly needed for the families in this area.”

“I’m pleased my legislative colleagues recognized the needs of the Maui community, especially the renovations of Maui High’s band and choir building and athletic facilities,” said Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran (Dist. 5 – Wailuku, Waiheʻe, Kahului). “These investments in Maui’s schools, infrastructure, airports and harbors will go a long way in building a stronger island community.”

“These CIP funds will address a variety of concerns not only on Maui, but also Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi,” said Sen. J. Kalani English (Dist. 7 – Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe). “These communities will benefit from these projects not just for now, but for years to come.”

Notable CIP funding highlights for Maui include the following:

Piʻilani Highway (left) file photo by Wendy Osher; Kīhei High School EIS (right), Courtesy image.

Education:

• $37.5 million for design and construction for new high school in Kīhei
• $770,000 for air conditioning and improvements at Lahainaluna High school
• $1.95 million for improvements at Maui High School
• $600,000 for amphitheater improvements for King Kekaulike High School
• $1.4 million for plans and design for a classroom building at Pā‘ia Elementary School
• $4.7 million for plans, design and construction to expand the Moloka‘i Public Library
• $3.4 million for improvements for Baldwin High School

Rental Car Facility and Access Road Water Feature. Project renderings of the Kahului Airport Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. Photo by Wendy Osher. (4.15.16)

Airports:

• $21 million for improvements at Kahului Airport
• $12.3 million for improvements for Hāna Airport
• $3 million for runway improvements for Moloka‘i Airport
• $5.2 million for improvements for Lāna‘i Airport

Highways:

• $7 million for design and construction to mitigate rockfalls and potential landslide areas along Hāna Highway
• $5 million for construction for a new alignment of Honoapiʻilani Highway from Lahainaluna Road to the vicinity of Launiupoko
• $3.5 million for improvements along Makakuapaʻia Stream Bridge on Moloka‘i
• $1 million for improvements on state highways throughout Maui
• $250,000 for plans, design, and construction of a crosswalk in Haʻikū on Hāna Highway
• $2 million for traffic signal improvements on Pi‘ilani Highway at Kūlanihāko‘i Street

Kahului Harbor 7 a.m. 9/17/15. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Harbors:

• $10.5 million for improvements for Kahului Harbor
• $800,000 for improvements at Kīhei Boat Ramp
• $3.7 million for plans, design and construction for dredging at Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor
• $500,000 for improvements for Līpoa Point at Honolua Bay

Infrastructure:

• $3.5 million for improvements to the Moloka‘i irrigation system
• $4.5 million for plan, design, and construction for irrigation and water delivery system for East Maui

Veterans:

• $4 million for plans, design, and construction of a parking lot and installation of a septic tank for Moloka‘i Veterans Center

Health:

• $6 million for Maui Health Systems
• $656,000 for improvements for Kalaupapa Settlement

Community:

• $1 million for improvements for Maui Raceway Park

Kulamalu affordable rental groundbreaking, Dec. 10, 2015. Debra Lordan photo.

Grant-in-Aid Allocations:

In addition to the executive budget CIP funding, appropriations for Grants-In-Aid (GIA) were also awarded to organizations for the benefit of the Maui community:

• $1.5 million for design and construction for Hale Mahaʻolu senior affordable rental housing campus at the Kulamalu Town Center subdivision
• $1.3 million for plans, design, construction for redevelopment of the Kiowea Park Facilities for Kalamaula Homesteaders Association
• $1.7 million for design, construction and equipment for improvements and renovations of the Lanikeha Center and commercial kitchen for Molokaʻi Homestead Farmers Alliance
• $975,000 for design and construction for the restoration of old Kaupō School for a community center
• $600,000 for improvements for J. Walter Cameron Center

Maui region non-profit organizations were also awarded operating GIA including:

• $350,000 for Hale Makua Health Services
• $246,550 for Women Helping Women program services for Lāna‘i