LIHU‘E — The final version of the state budget bill, which was approved by two committees earlier this week, includes $145 million for Kaua‘i capital improvement projects focused on transportation, education, and health care.
The bill, formally known as House Bill 300, will go to the full Legislature next week before being sent to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
The largest capital improvement allocation for Kaua‘i is a $56 million investment in continued renovations of Lihu‘e Airport. The funding would be used to repair the airport base yard, renovate the parking lot, and acquire land behind the heliport — likely to be used for further parking lot expansion. The airport’s 675 stalls frequently fill up, which can result in missed flights for travelers.
Renovating Lihu‘e Airport — the only airport in the state that doesn’t comply with Federal Aviation Administration runway safety standards — has been a top priority for the Legislature in recent years.
The facility received the bulk of Kaua‘i capital improvement funding in the 2022 supplemental budget as well (the Legislature passes a budget every odd number year and a supplemental budget every even number year) with a $124 million investment in the facility.
Officials clarified the funding would not be used to expand gates at the airport, a plan considered by the previous administration that sparked a public outcry about over-tourism.
CIP funding
Senate President Ron Kouchi, who represents Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, described the Kaua‘i CIP allocation as “significant,” and gave credit to the rest of the Kaua‘i delegation for securing the funds.
“These capital improvement projects will make a considerable difference in enhancing the overall living standards for those who call the Garden Isle home,” said Kouchi.
State legislators play a role in deciding which projects are funded, advocating to get specific priorities in the CIP budget.
State Rep. Luke Evslin, who joined the Legislature mid-session after he was appointed by Gov. Josh Green, said he began meeting with community leaders to figure out which projects to prioritize on his second day on the job.
“Essentially, our role is to tell the CIP project managers some of the projects that we support,” he said.
One such project in Evslin’s eastside district was a $3 million parking lot renovation at King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School, which was identified as a priority in order to alleviate congestion when students are dropped off.
Rep. Dee Morikawa, who serves on the House Finance Committee and was one of the members representing the House during budget negotiations with the Senate, also highlighted funding for school improvements in her westside district.
“Of utmost importance in District 17, is the repair and replacement of the Waimea High School Baseball/Football field’s perimeter wall and fencing and the resurfacing of the tennis courts. Also, with very hot conditions at Kekaha School, we were able to get funding for a covered play court, which will help protect students’ health,” she said.
The Waimea High School improvements received $3.25 million, while the Kekaha Elementary project received $4.4 million.
Some other major educational investments include a $15 million project to install solar power on the Kaua‘i Community College rooftops and $7.2 million for a covered walkway at Kapa‘a High School.
Health care is another major priority, with $19 million going toward the redevelopment of the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the surrounding lands — a long-term project expected to cost a total of $400 million over the course of two to three decades.
The plan will eventually expand and renovate the hospital, which is the oldest in the state, while also constructing a new Kaua‘i Police Department substation, library and preschool, convenience store, pharmacy, open spaces, and 342 new units of rental housing.
Of the funding secured for the hospital in this year’s CIP budget, $14.9 million will go toward planning, designing, and building a new psychiatric unit, $4 million will go toward clinic and emergency department expansion and $1.3 million will fund infrastructure, planning and design.
In total, the CIP budget includes $2.9 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024 and $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2025, while the operating budget appropriates $11.3 billion in 2024 and $10.4 billion in 2025.
Other capital improvements include:$16 million for paved shoulders, guardrails, and other improvements to Waimea Canyon Drive.
• $125,000 for improvements and signage at the Hanapepe Chinese, Filipino, and Portuguese Cemetery
• $1.1 million for design and construction improvements to the upper and lower A‘ahoaka reservoirs
• $2 million for plans and design for 114 housing units at the Kapa‘a public housing project.
• $3 million for design, construction, and equipment modernization for the operating room at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital.
• $100,000 for infrastructure at Lehua Island
• $200,000 for Pua Loke base yard improvements
• $2.1 million for design and construction for moving sand from the East to the West of the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor breakwater
• $2 million for improving various lookouts at Waimea Canyon State Park
• $750,000 for the Department of Water to perform a revised environmental review of the proposed Kapaia waterline.
• $5 million for improvements to Nawiliwili Harbor.
• $250,000 for plans for student and faculty and staff housing at Kaua‘i Community College.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
