Kona International Airport improvements and an expansion of the Hawaii Community Correctional Center are among the big ticket items lawmakers approved for the Big Island this session. ADVERTISING Kona International Airport improvements and an expansion of the Hawaii Community Correctional
Kona International Airport improvements and an expansion of the Hawaii Community Correctional Center are among the big ticket items lawmakers approved for the Big Island this session.
In total, the state Legislature approved $389 million in capital projects for the island during the session that ended last week.
Funding, which covers fiscal years 2016 and 2017, still must be released by Gov. David Ige in order to be spent.
According to the budget bill, the $126 million in Kona airport improvements include an aircraft rescue and firefighting regional training facility, a federal inspection station, replacement of the perimeter fence, and improvements for a “general aviation subdivision.”
Another $21 million was approved for new inmate housing at HCCC in Hilo. The funding also covers a new support building and electronic and security upgrades for the overcrowded jail.
Toni Schwartz, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, said the facility had 389 inmates Monday, far above its capacity of 226.
“It’s one of the worst ones in the state” for overcrowding, she said.
As a result, some cells are triple or quadruple bunked, Schwartz said.
It’s not yet clear how many more beds the new building would provide. That project remains in the planning stages, she said.
“It will help to alleviate some of it,” Schwartz said. “It’s not going to solve the overcrowding.”
Lawmakers also approved $55 million for construction of the Kona Judiciary complex.
A state Judiciary spokesman said that’s the same amount as last year. No additional funds were added.
Other big budget items include $33.5 million for Keaukaha Military Reservation, including renovations and a new maintenance shop, $15 million for an alternate route to Highway 130 in Puna, and $12.5 million for a new classroom building at Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School.
State Rep. Joy San Buenaventura said alternate route funding also was in the budget last year.
An additional $2.9 million is included for widening the highway.
San Buenaventura, D-Puna, said she had requested the alternate route funds be given to Hawaii County to spend in order to expedite the project. But other lawmakers preferred to leave the project in the hands of the state Department of Transportation.
“At least they allocated the money,” she said. “Now we got to get the governor and Department of Transportation on the same page.”
State Sen. Russell Ruderman, D-Puna, Ka‘u, was less than confident the DOT would spend the funds.
“They don’t seem very excited on building an alternate route for us,” he said.
A DOT spokesman was unavailable for comment.
The highway remains the only route into lower Puna, one of the fastest growing areas in the state.
Other noteworthy budget items include $1.5 million for a biofuel and animal feed conversion facility in Keaau, $660,000 to extend Daniel K. Inouye Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and $500,000 for a feasibility study for building a university hospital in Kona.
Lawmakers also approved $8.5 million in grants-in-aid projects for Big Island nonprofit organizations.
Those projects include $1.2 million for a community food kitchen at Kona Pacific Public Charter School, $1 million for a Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce education facility, and $1 million for a Panaewa Community Alliance health facility.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
