Design and engineering work for the long-promised $90 million Kona Judiciary Complex is under way with state Judiciary officials looking at a spring 2019 opening. Design and engineering work for the long-promised $90 million Kona Judiciary Complex is under way
Design and engineering work for the long-promised $90 million Kona Judiciary Complex is under way with state Judiciary officials looking at a spring 2019 opening.
Honolulu-based Architects Hawaii Ltd. was recently contracted to complete the architectural, engineering and design work, which is anticipated to last from January through June 2015, said Marsha Kitagawa, Judiciary spokeswoman. Eric Nishimoto, with the Department of Accounting and General Services, said the department does not have a final award amount because negotiations remain ongoing.
Once design work is finalized, the Judiciary expects it will take about eight months to put the project out to bid, acquire the necessary permits, and award and negotiate a contract, Kitagawa said. Construction should begin in March 2016 and wrap up by August 2018.
If all goes as planned, Kitagawa said occupancy is expected in March 2019. That follows about seven to eight months of moving facilities, installing furniture and installing, testing and commissioning equipment for operation.
The time frame given Thursday differs from a preliminary schedule released in March calling for the construction of the facility to be completed in 2017 with construction beginning in 2014. Kitagawa said the earlier schedule was preliminary and Thursday’s schedule is more concrete.
“It’s a reality coming through after so many years,” said West Hawaii Bar Association President Robert Kim. “The bottom line is: We will have a center within the decade.”
The complex will accommodate seven full-time judges and 220 employees, and judiciary officials anticipated it would meet West Hawaii’s needs beyond 2030. The selected site, located at the southwest corner of Ane Keohokalole Highway and Kealakehe Parkway, near the West Hawaii Civic Center, is state property.
Kim said the property’s ownership hasn’t yet been transferred from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Judiciary. Kitagawa said that SSFM International Inc. was selected to do the land acquisition work.
Kitagawa said the judiciary plans to ask the Legislature to appropriate the $90 million in general obligation bonds needed to construct and equip the facility during fiscal year 2014-15. She noted the cost of the facility has been reduced from the $95.65 million listed in the Judiciary’s Supplemental Budget 2011-2013 and Variance Report 2010-2012, which includes the branch’s six-year capital improvement project program.
Kim said the association is working closely with the Judiciary to lobby the Legislature and governor to release the capital improvement project funds in the future.
“Once the government has dedicated design funds, they’re not going to — barring another recession — hold it up,” he said. “We are all trying to shoot for within the decade.”
To date, some $12.65 million in general obligation bonds have been appropriated to the project for planning, design and engineering, according to the budget.
Seven sites made the final list to be considered for the complex. Currently, the judiciary has three courthouse locations in West Hawaii, with limited parking and cramped waiting areas for defendants, witnesses, family members, attorneys and court staff.
