Sen. DeCoite announces nearly $100M secured in state budget for Maui Nui

Nearly $100 million in capital improvement projects and grant-in-aid appropriations were included for Maui Nui in the final version of the state budget that was voted on in conference committee earlier in the week.  

Assistant Majority Floor Leader Lynn DeCoite (District 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe), chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, made the announcement and outlined various funding appropriations included below:

CIP funding for Senate District 7 includes: 

• $37,771,000 for construction improvements to terminals, systems, and facilities at Kahului Airport (FY 24). 
• $20,000,000 for construction and expansion of Kula Agricultural Park in Upcountry Maui (FY 24). 
• $14,770,000 for plans, design, construction and equipment related to improvements, repairs, renovations, expansion, modernization, and upgrades to Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lānaʻi Community Hospital (FY24 and FY25). 
• $2,501,000 for construction related to soil remediation and other ground and site improvements at Kahului Airport. 
• $2,000,000 for improvements to the Molokaʻi Irrigation System. 
• $650,000 for upgrades and site improvements at the Hoʻolehua Veteran’s Cemetary (FY24 and FY25). 
• $540,000 for remediation of hazardous materials at the Kalaupapa Settlement (FY24 and FY25). 
• $400,000 for construction related to washouts at gulch crossings on the Kula Forest Trail. 

In addition to the over $78 million in CIP funding that was included in the state budget, $17,800,000 was appropriated for improvement projects at various schools in the district.  

These projects include: 

• $7,000,000 for the design of a multipurpose building with a kitchen and other infrastructure improvements at Kula Elementary School. 
• $6,510,000 for projects at Molokaʻi Complex Area Schools related to design, improvements, and maintenance projects at Kaunakai Elementary School, Kilohana Elementary School, Kualapuʻu Elementary Public Conversion Charter School, Maunaloa School, Molokaiʻ High School, and Molokaʻi Middle School.  
• $5,000,000 for projects at Lānaʻi High and Elementary School related to various upgrades and improvements, such as renovating the gym and floor, repairing the roof, providing housing for teachers, upgrading basketball and tennis courts and playfields, painting the exterior, installing a building compressor, improving the grounds and site, and other related enhancements. 
• $2,500,000 for repairs to building roofs and gymnasium floors at Lānaʻi High and Elementary School.  
• $2,000,000 for plans and designs of athletics and physical education facilities at Molokaʻi Middle School. 
• $1,300,000 for plans, designs and construction of a multipurpose athletic field at Hāna High & Elementary School.   

A combined $4,045,000 in grant-in-aid funding was awarded to the following organizations located in Senate District 7: 

• Aloha House, Inc – $250,000 
• Arc of Maui County – $345,000 
• Hāna Health – $500,000 
• J. Walter Cameron Center – $700,000 
• Kimokeo Foundation – $50,000 
• Lānaʻi Community Health Center – $400,000 
• Boys and Girls Club of Maui – $300,000 
• Hale Mākua Health Services –  $140,000
• Hāliʻimaile Pineapple Company, Ltd – $90,000 
• Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts, Inc – $20,000 
• Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. – $400,000 
• Maui Family Young Men’s Christian Association – $200,000 
• Maui Humane Society – $150,000 
• Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Association – $500,000 

As a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senator DeCoite also played a crucial role in securing additional funding for: 

• $10,000,000 for food innovative centers statewide ($1,500,000 for Molokaʻi and $1,500,000 for Maui). 
• $6,165,000 for statewide axis deer mitigation. 
• $1,600,000 for EMS Molokaʻi ambulance and personnel. 
• $483,796 for Bovine TB mitigation efforts on Molokaʻi (2 positions and $255,792 in FY24 and $228,004 in FY25) 

“I am deeply grateful to Representative Kyle Yamashita, Senator Donovan Dela, and Senator Gil Keith-Agaran for their invaluable support in helping to secure the funding needed to address many of the concerns that Maui Nui residents face every day,” said Senator DeCoite in a news release. “Without a doubt, these funds will significantly contribute to our endeavors to enhance the standard of living for our constituents and their families.”