The state Wednesday released more than $55 million in capital improvement project funds for a variety of Big Island projects, including millions for a new housing unit at Hawaii Community Correctional Center and Konawaena High School for track and field improvements.
Some $5.79 million will go toward construction of a new medium security housing unit at Hawaii Community Correctional Center that will alleviate overcrowding at the Hilo jail.
The facility, built in 1975, currently has a design capacity of 206 beds and operational capacity of 226. As of Monday, the facility housed 278 persons, which is 123% of design capacity.
The project, expected to cost about $20.8 million, will provide an additional 140 beds and is slated to be complete in January 2023, according to a press release from Gov. David Ige’s office announcing the release of some $601.9 million for capital improvement projects across the state.
“We are building on the efforts of previous years to enhance and rejuvenate a wide range of public infrastructure that is necessary for the well-being and safety of Hawaii’s residents,” Ige said. “As we continue to confront the challenges of COVID-19, we want to ensure that Hawaii has the resources to fill critical needs, as well as support opportunities and conservation efforts.”
Konawaena High School will receive $6.3 million to finance design and construction for track and field improvements at the South Kona school that opened 100 years ago. The project will also include a synthetic field and replacement of synthetic track, storage facility for field maintenance equipment, track storage in addition to ground and site improvements.
Other funding includes:
• Three allocations of $6 million, $280,000 and $120,000 for a new community center, two new parking lots and the relocation of the lower baseball field at Waiakea Uka Park;
• $15 million to Volcano School of Arts and Sciences for the construction of a new campus;
• $5 million for the design and construction of a girls’ athletic locker room at Waiakea High School;
• $3.8 million to the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. to initiate the second phase of a bathroom renovation project at Kona Community Hospital;
• $3.25 million for construction of a perimeter fence at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, a $3.51 million project;
• $2.1 million to finance land, design and construction for traffic improvements at various locations;
• $1 million to HHSC to the upgrade the reheat system at Kona Community Hospital;
• $1 million for the replacement of an ungulate extension fence on Maunakea;
• $835,000 to HHSC to upgrade the HVAC system in the sterile storage area at Kona Community Hospital;
• $800,000 to HHSC for additional construction funds to renovate and upgrade the lobby of Hilo Medical Center;
• $800,000 for the design of terminal fire sprinklers at Hilo International Airport;
• $650,000 toward the construction of a south ramp taxiway and ramp improvements at Kona International Airport, a $19.13 million project.
• $500,000 for the replacement of deteriorated wooden fenders at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor.
• $450,000 to design improvements at Honokaa High and Intermediate;
• $400,000 for the construction of a new fence on the cone at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve to protect native plants;
• $350,000 toward efforts to decommission the Hawi No. 5 reservoir;
• $300,000 to design improvements at Honokaa Elementary;
• $200,000 for the removal of hazardous structures at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve; and
• $100,000 to the Big Island Substance Abuse Council for the construction of a behavioral health campus in Keaau. Total project cost is $150,000.
The Big Island allocations total $55,034,420.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald reporter Stephanie Salmons contributed to this report.