REPORT FROM THE HOUSE MAJORITY – HONOLULU – In this legislative session, House Majority Floor Leader Representative Cabanilla (Ewa Villages, Ewa Beach, Gentry, Ocean Pointe) shepherded more than $110 million in appropriations for District 41 residents. Earlier this week, the Legislature passed the state budget, HB1700 CD1, including appropriations for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for District 41 which encompasses $3.5 million for air conditioning classrooms at Campbell High School, $10 million to acquire land and develop a new high school in Ewa, and for numerous education related projects within the district.
“I am very pleased with what we were able to secure for our district this session,” Cabanilla said. “Education has been one of my top priorities and I have worked hard with our district schools and the Ewa community to target priorities and inform the Legislature about our facilities and educational needs.”
Reaction from the community was equally positive and enthusiastic. Patrocinio Bolo, whose three children attended Campbell, expressed delight of the news of the air conditioning at Campbell.
“I am happy to hear about the new air conditioning at Campbell,” Bolo said. “My children have all suffered from the glaring heat that takes energy and focus away for a proper learning environment.”
Funding highlights for the Ewa community includes:
· $2.3 million for electrical improvements and the installation of school-wide heat abatement and air-conditioning upgrades at Campbell High School
· $18.4 million for the construction of a third wing and other improvements to Ewa Makai Middle School
· $1 million for the design and construction of school-wide heat abatement and air conditioning upgrades to Ilima Intermediate School
· $10 million for the plans and acquisition of land for a new highschool in Ewa
· $430,000 for the renovation of Buildings F and G at Ewa Beach Elementary School
· A total of $28.8 million over the next two years for the design and construction of the Allied Health and Administration building at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu
· $2 million for the planning and design of a new science, technology, and creative media facility at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu
· $3.5 million for the construction of Road B to connect the campus of University of Hawaii-West Oahu to Kualakai Parkway
· $36 million for the design and construction of a third lane on Fort Weaver Road from the cross section of Geiger Road to Keoneula Parkway in both directions
· $3 million for the plans, design, and construction for drainage at the south end of Ewa Beach Road
· $3 million for the plans, design, and construction to extend the third lane over Farrington Highway to the H-1 Freeway Southbound to the vicinity of Laulaunui Street
· $780,000 for various improvement to the Kunia interchange and approaches
· A $100,000 grant-in-aid appropriation for the Ewa Historical Society to clean up and preserve the Old Ewa Cemetery. The organization is a non-profit focused on the preservation and maintenance of historical buildings and sites on the Leeward coast.