Call it a big day at the state Capitol.
The House and Senate late Tuesday approved the additional $55 million in funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex, among more than $100 million dedicated to West Hawaii projects in the state budget for the next two years. The total also includes $2.5 million to design a federal inspections station at Kona International Airport, $1.2 million for a school and community commercial kitchen for Kona Pacific Public Charter School and $660,000 in state and federal funds to purchase land for the extension of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
The judiciary funding will allow the $90 million complex to move ahead on 10 acres near Makala Boulevard in North Kona. Bids on the project are set to open at the end of the year, with groundbreaking in fall 2016 and completion set for spring 2019.
The 143,000-square-foot facility will include five courtrooms, holding cells, conference rooms, a self-help center and law library.
Kona Sen. Josh Green applauded his colleagues for seeing a need “that has hounded us for 10 years.”
“This was top priority for the region for (Rep. Nicole) Lowen and I,” Green said. “It’s been a challenge because it’s a lot of money but it’s so important to West Hawaii and the island in general. It’s going to create a lot of jobs, and it’s just going to be a lot more convenient for justice to be dealt nearby.”
Courtrooms are currently scattered around Kealakekua, south of Kailua-Kona, in facilities that were not designed for the purpose they are now serving.
“This final funding represents a huge investment in West Hawaii,” Kona Rep. Nicole Lowen said. “It provides needed infrastructure for our growing community, a safe place for our justice system, and will create jobs and economic growth.”
The $26 billion two-year budget also includes $36 million in revenue bonds to be accompanied by $20 million in funds from the Federal Aviation Administration for an aircraft rescue firefighting training facility at Kona International Airport. Ground is scheduled to be broken in May 2016 on the center, which is designed to be used by multiple law enforcement and first response agencies.
State Department of Transportation officials say a draft environmental assessment for the 10-mile Daniel K. Inouye Highway extension will be completed this summer. The $100 million project is set for design next year.
The budget, which is still subject to a final vote by the House and Senate, also contains $330,000 for improvements to the research campus at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, and $300,000 for additional parking and other improvements at Kealakehe Elementary School.