Māla Wharf, Maui Dams Included in CIP Funding

Māla Boat Ramp, photo courtesy State of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Governor.

By Wendy Osher

The Māla Boat Ramp on Maui is among a list of capital improvement projects identified for funding by the governor’s office.

The $200,000 state appropriation will enable the replacement of existing concrete loading docks and launch ramps at the facility.

Other related improvements are also planned including parking lot construction.

According to the governor’s office, the total project cost is $1,109,300–that includes $277,325 in state funds and $831,975 in federal funding.

DLNR officials have described the docks are “old and badly deteriorated.” According to information released by the agency, officials said portions of the ramp and facility need to be closed for a two-month period to allow for replacement before they become a safety hazard.

A meeting was held earlier this week to determine a mutually agreeable two month closure period. The closure dates still is yet to be determined.

Another Maui project included on the list was a $1,500,000 appropriation for the Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  The capital improvement grant will be used for repairs and improvements, primarily to Camp Maluhia, which is considered the largest Boy Scout camp in Hawaiʻi.

There is also a $66,720 allocation for the  Maui Community Correctional Center. State officials say the funds will provide additional construction support for replacement of the facility’s central boiler system.

In Upcounty Maui, the governor released $660,000 to the Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, Inc. The funding is for a capital improvement grant to complete Phase I of the Waiohuli Community Center.

The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement on Maui received a $120,000 allocation for lump sum improvements to DOCARE offices, and base-yard facilities on Maui. Funds will be used for the replacement of roofs and flooring as well as upgrades to electrical systems, according to state officials.

Wailua Reservoir on Kauaʻi, photo courtesy Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi.

A significant big-ticket item included in the funding release announcement was $6.5 million for the assessment of dams, as well as dam maintenance and remediation on both Kauaʻi and Maui.

The funding comes following the 2006 collapse of Ka Loko Reservoir Dam on Kauaʻi that resulted in the death of seven people, as it washed through both homes and farmland.

Since the incident, Hawaiʻi lawmakers have lobbied for funding authorization to improve state dam safety programs through training, technical assistance, inspection, and research.

The projects are part of a larger $41.2 million release from the governor’s office for capital improvement projects across the state. The projects range from technology upgrades to agricultural improvements and maintenance of health facilities.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the funding release will help to spur continued job growth and maintain a positive economic momentum.

“Since taking office, this administration has released more than $1.5 billion for capital improvement projects across the state, investing in priority improvement and upgrades that will directly benefit the people of Hawaiʻi,” said Abercrombie in a press release.

“These projects are contributing to Hawaiʻi’s improving employment and economic growth, predicted to outpace the national growth rate over the next year,” he said.

The governor released a complete list projects identified for funding allocation. The complete list in addition to items already mentioned above, is provided below:

Health/Hospitals

• $2,923,000 – Department of Health facilities, statewide:  Additional design and construction to fund re-roofing and an emergency generator connection at Kamāʻuleʻule Building on Maui, and re-roofing and improvements at the Waimano Ridge, Building 5, on Oʻahu, and other miscellaneous improvements.
• $2,200,000 – Kohala Hospital, Hawaiʻi Island: Design and construction for hospital renovations, including parking lot improvements, installation of an air conditioning system, replacement of doors and windows, and fire and safety upgrades.
• $1,303,000 – Department of Health facilities, statewide – Additional design and construction for office space and accessibility improvements at Halawa Vector Control Facility, building and site improvements at various DOH Oʻahu facilities (includes installation of perimeter barriers at Waimano Hale Complex to prevent vehicles from driving on the grass and behind buildings), construction of new sidewalks at Windward Health Center, and other building and site improvements.
• $452,330 – Hawaiʻi State Hospital, Oʻahu: Additional design and construction for the replacement of deteriorated doors and frames in 12 buildings, as well as the replacement of windows and frames in seven buildings on the property.
• $173,000 – Hawaiʻi State Hospital, Oʻahu: Design for the demolition of the Goddard Building; the building was built in 1950 and has not been in active use since 1990.
• $149,500 – Lēʻahi Hospital, Oʻahu: Completion of repair and renovation of various structures and buildings, including the lobby flooring, sewer line repairs, bathroom renovations, and various roof repairs.
• $104,500 – Department of Health, Waimano Ridge Feasibility Study for Army and Air Forces Exchange Services Building Staff Relocation, Oʻahu: Additional planning funds necessary for preparation of an environmental assessment at Waimano Ridge; the AAFES building was recently transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and DOH intends to transfer 325 employees to various facilities at Waimano Ridge and the Hālawa Vector facility;
• $20,000 – Lēʻahi Hospital, Oʻahu: Completion of remodeling of several antiquated laboratories that are no longer in use for alternate use as office space (Additional funds were requested to cover added construction costs).

Agriculture

• $3,600,000 – State Packing and Processing Facility, Oʻahu: Land acquisition to purchase agricultural lands and infrastructure owned by Castle and Cooke in Wahiawā; the Agribusiness Development Corporation is facilitating the acquisition of a total of 24 acres of land in conjunction with the ADC’s land acquisition of the Galbraith Estate Land (This project will involve acquiring the property and retrofitting the present Dole facilities to become the processing facility for farmers in the region).
• $1,000,000 – Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Plant, Hawaiʻi Island: Design and construction for improvements to the plant, which is a large processing facility owned by the state Department of Agriculture and operated by the Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Cooperative; improvements may include replacement of aging cooling chambers that are used to cool down and extend the shelf-life of Waimea-grown agricultural products before being shipped to market

Technology

Data Center Server Room, courtesy Office of the governor, State of Hawaiʻi.

• $3,692,200 – Statewide Financial System Enterprise Resource Planning, statewide: Planning of the first phase of the ERP project that will re-engineer and transform the statewide financial management processes; includes identifying the business requirements associated with a new integrated system to support the financial management activities within the state and develop the documents needed for procurement actions for an integrated financial management system.
• $2,725,000 – Information Technology/Information Resource Management Transformation Project, statewide: Program management and subject matter expertise to continue the state’s Chief Information Officer’s ability to manage and oversee the multiple programs and projects associated with state business and the IT/IRM Transformation process to include the Enterprise Resources Planning program.
• $1,930,500 – Enterprise Resource Planning Program, statewide: Enterprise architecture services to aid in the development and deployment of ERP by capturing detailed models of the current processes, technologies, and information exchanges in the organizations and/or business areas that will interface with proposed planning and provide other support services.
• $75,000 – Statewide Financial System Enterprise Resource Planning, statewide: Procurement of contract services for the State of Hawaiʻi’s new ERP solution for all organizations; the funds will be used to finalize the development of the request for proposal for the ERP system.
• $75,000 – High Technology Development Corporation Facility, Oʻahu: Preparation of a project development report and miscellaneous planning tasks for a new HTDC facility; the existing lease with the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Innovation Center expires in April 2015, and the PDR will clarify the long-term objectives and identify the infrastructure requirements needed before proceeding with the site selection.
• $65,344 – Uniform Chart of Accounts, statewide: Consultant services to work with the Uniform Chart of Accounts Ad Hoc Work Group to prepare a project plan incorporating critical success factors, risk and risk mitigation, and key milestones for the preparation of a UCOA structure for the State of Hawaiʻi.

Civil Defense

• $475,000 – State Civil Defense, Building 303, Oʻahu: Design and construction to replace/upgrade the existing air conditioning system and make accessibility improvements for Building 303 administrative office spaces; a structural assessment on Building 303 will be conducted prior to design to ensure that any improvements will be lasting and appropriate for this building.
• $256,566 – State Civil Defense, Birkhimer Tunnel, Oʻahu: Design and construction for plumbing improvements to the restrooms for staff and visitors.

Correctional Facilities

• $668,980 – Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center, Kauaʻi: Funding for an air conditioning system in the administration building; the current equipment is severely corroded and some of the structural supports have failed (The building provides space for the warden, secretary and case workers, and also houses 87 medium-security inmates)

Other

• $4,573,000 – Public Libraries, statewide: Design and construction at various public libraries; improvements include roof replacement, air conditioning replacement, foundation stabilization, termite tenting, painting, and flooring.
• $3,500,000 – Rockfall and Flood Mitigation, statewide: Design and construction for rockfall mitigation projects to address areas where boulders and rock outcroppings on state lands have fallen and caused damages or have a high potential for becoming dislodged and threatening public health and safety or property; includes Menehune Road and Hanapēpē on Kauaʻi and Kaluanui Stream, Wailupe Stream and Mokulēʻia on Oʻahu, as well as other areas statewide that are deemed necessary to address.
• $1,000,000 – Mana Drag Strip, Kauaʻi – Construction to repair the facilities on the site and remove and resurface the pavement at Kauaʻi Raceway Park, also known as Mana Drag Strip, located on state property (The track was last resurfaced in 1972)
• $610,000 – Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Oʻahu: Capital improvement grant to the Moanalua Gardens Foundation for construction for road improvements to the Kamana Nui Valley Road in Moanalua Valley; part of the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve, Kamana Nui Valley spans 3,700 acres and is classified as “restricted preservation property,” scattered with cultural artifacts and serving as a sanctuary for several endangered and rare forest bird species.
• $275,000 – Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems Facilities, Hawaiʻi Island: Planning and preparation for a project development report, site evaluation report, environmental assessment, and other miscellaneous planning tasks.
• $260,000 – Aloha Stadium, Oʻahu: Planning to assess optimal usage of the stadium property and facility; project scope includes data collection and solicitation of community input.
• $106,500 – Aiea Public Library, Oʻahu: Furniture and equipment acquisition for the new Aiea Public Library, which will serve the ʻAiea, Hālawa, Waiau, Pearlridge, Newtown and Royal Summit communities; this new library will replace the existing library and the present library staff will be brought over for its operations.

***Supporting information courtesy Office of the Governor State of Hawaiʻi.