Funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex passed intact through key Senate committees on Wednesday. ADVERTISING Funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex passed intact through key Senate committees on Wednesday. The $55 million needed to round out the $90 million price
Funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex passed intact through key Senate committees on Wednesday.
The $55 million needed to round out the $90 million price tag for the complex was approved by the Ways and Means and Judiciary committees. While there are still steps ahead for the legislation, including a full vote by the House and Senate, it was encouraging news that neither committee was at odds over the amount, said Kealakekua attorney Robert Kim on behalf of the West Hawaii Bar Association.
“However, we can’t let down our guard yet,” Kim said.
Kim said the bar association was thankful to Ways and Means Chairwoman Jill Tokuda and Judicary Chairman Gilbert Keith-Agaran for recognizing the need for the funds to replace aging and unsuitable West Hawaii courthouses. Earlier this session, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald said the new complex was his top priority.
The preliminary design for the project includes five courtrooms, conference rooms, law library, a self-help center and 300 parking spaces on the 10-acre parcel mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Makala Boulevard. The bidding process is scheduled for the end of this year, with groundbreaking set for the fall of 2016 and completion targeted for spring of 2019.
