HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii lawmaker is pushing for an addition to the State Capitol building that he says will help attract more tourists.
Rep. Romy Cachola has introduced a bill that would put dancing fountains, bright lights and music outside the Capitol, KHON-TV reported (https://bit.ly/1PiZNm9).
Cachola said the dancing fountains would be similar to those at the Bellagio hotel and casino in Las Vegas, but smaller. He got his ideas for the project after visiting another hotel in the Philippines, his hometown.
“Nighttime, the place in the Philippines is full of people coming in, and they have music. We can play Hawaiian music,” he said.
The proposal calls for the fountains to be installed in the pond that surrounds the Capitol building, which Cachola said will help keep the pond clean and save the state money.
The pond has had problems over the years with algae buildup because the water does not circulate. The state said it spends $68,000 a year on cleaning services.
Cachola said installing the fountains would eliminate those costs and would be less than other proposals brought forward to fix the pond.
“They’re talking about $15 million and I said, we can spend less than that,” Cachola said. He estimated the fountains project would costs millions of dollars, “but not $15 million, I’m pretty sure of that.”
Cachola’s proposal has faced opposition from Sen. Sam Slom, who called it a waste of time and money.
“There are better things we can do with our money and our time as far as that being a tourist draw. ‘Oh Mabel, we go State Capitol and see the choreography.’ I don’t think so,” Slom said.
