Maui House Delegation Targets $165 M for Maui CIP Projects

The single largest item included int he bill is $38 million for expansion and improvements to Kahului Harbor, including: $17 million toward land acquisition and improvements to the acquired parcel; and $21 million for improvements to existing facilities over a two year period. Port of Kahului, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui House delegation secured an estimated $165 million in Capital Improvement Project funds for various projects across Maui County as part of a budget bill that now advances to the state Senate for further consideration.

The single largest item included int he bill is $38 million for expansion and improvements to Kahului Harbor, including: $17 million toward land acquisition and improvements to the acquired parcel; and $21 million for improvements to existing facilities over a two year period.

Another large ticket item is a $25 million appropriation for a new food innovation building at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

“Even as we prudently allocate necessary monies for current state services and unfunded liabilities, we also need to continue to invest in our infrastructure by maintaining them and making the necessary improvements essential to allow those facilities to meet changing needs and to sustain our services and communities’ quality life,” said House Speaker Joe Souki of Maui in a statement.

Speaker Souki, who represents Kahakuloa, Waiheʻe, Waiehu, Puʻuohala, Wailuku and Waikapū continued saying, “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.”

Some CIP highlights for Maui County schools, parks, airports and harbors include the following list released by House lawmakers from Maui:

• $38 million expansion and improvements to Kahului Harbor
• $25 million for design and construction of a food innovation building at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
• $14.58 million for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station and other related improvements at Hāna Airport
• $10.8 million for renovation and improvements to Kahului Airport
• $9 million design and construction for a new administration building at Waiheʻe Elementary School
• $4.05 million to renovate and expand band and choir building at Maui High School
• $2.7 million for construction of weight training and wrestling rooms at Maui High School
• $2 million for design and construction of a covered play court at Makawao Elementary School
• $1 million for a water filtration system at Kula Elementary School
• $652,000 for landscaping at Pukalani Elementary School
• $280,000 for resurfacing of the existing play court at Kamaliʻi Elementary School
• $215,000 to replace and expand the gymnasium floor at Maui High School
• $2.25 million for emergency dredging and replacement of buoys at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor
• $5 million for construction of a regional park for Central Maui
• $2.99 million for upgrade of clinical patient monitoring systems and fire protection plumbing at Maui Memorial Medical Center
• $2 million for improvement to Maui Raceway Park
• $8.5 million for the next phase of the Lahaina bypass road construction
• $1.8 million to widen a portion of Haleakalā Highway from one lane to two
• $9.5 million for rockfall mitigation and improvements to Hāna Highway between Huelo and Hāna
• $1.05 million for the beautification of the main corridor between Kahului and Wailuku along the Hāna Highway
• $195,000 for Hāna Highway improvements in Nāhiku
• $300,000 for a Pāʻia bypass traffic alternative
• $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

Funding highlights for Molokaʻi:

• $9 million for construction of an aircraft rescue and firefighting station and other related improvements to the Kalaupapa Airport
• $3.5 million for renovation of the gym and emergency shelter at Molokaʻi High School
• $3.5 million to replace the Makakupaʻia Stream Bridge along Kamehameha V Highway
• $3.2 million for improvements to Molokaʻi Airport
• $1.2 million for the design and construction for improvements to the Molokaʻi irrigation system

Funding highlights for Lānaʻi:

• $1.5 million for construction of airport road and other improvements to Lānaʻi Airport
• $828,000 for reroofing and rewiring of fire alarm for Lānaʻi High and Elementary