A defunct North Hawaii hospital wing that has been vacant for decades is slated for a major overhaul.
Earlier this year, lawmakers allocated $9 million in Capital Improvement Project funding to renovate the 5,060-square-foot wing and turn it into a satellite kitchen and classroom space for Hawaii Community College culinary programs.
The wing once comprised two wards and a kitchen in the former Honokaa Hospital. Most of the old hospital building is now the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s North Hawaii Education and Research Center, a Honokaa-based extension of the Hilo campus.
“This is an area of the (former) hospital that hasn’t been used in many, many years,” said Mike Unebasami, associate vice president for administrative affairs. “There’s a community need for the offering of culinary programs out there and also to provide a kitchen that the community can use.”
Officials say construction could start in 2017. Classes will be offered initially as an extension of HCC’s Hilo-based culinary programs, though UH-Hilo operates the center.
“We’re hoping for more collaboration between those two campuses as they provide more programs for North Hawaii going forward,” said Rep. Mark Nakashima, D-Hamakua.
Several other East Hawaii schools will benefit from portions of CIP funding approved this year, including Chiefess Kapiolani and Haaheo elementary schools. A $1.5 million allotment to Kapiolani and $2 million for Haaheo will be used to build covered play courts.
Haaheo’s location is especially rainy, often keeping keiki inside during recess, said Nakashima, who helped push for the school’s line-item request. Kapiolani’s play court will be the first recreation area the school’s had since it was built decades ago.
“My dad (the late state Sen. Gil Kahele) went to school there in the mid-1950s, and they had no play area then, and they’ve never had a play area in the entire history of the school,” said state Sen. Kai Kahele, D-Hilo. “Any kind of physical activity is done outdoors, weather permitting.”
Hilo Intermediate School was granted $2 million to replace and renovate an administrative building constructed in 1949. State Department of Education spokesman Brent Suyama said the project design could start this fall.
Honokaa High and Intermediate School was allocated $1.5 million to construct additional restrooms in its auditorium. Nakashima said there’s currently only one restroom facility at the school — in the administrative building — and the two main buildings on campus have no restroom.
“You basically have to walk the length of the football field to go the bathroom,” he said.
Mountain View Elementary School was allocated $505,000 to make improvements to its drainage system and covered walkways. The school has one of the wettest campuses in the state, Suyama said, and it’s hoped drainage improvements will reduce water ponding and address mosquito concerns.
Ka‘u High School, Waiakea Intermediate School and Naalehu, Keaau and Pahoa elementary schools also were granted funding for improvements ranging from electrical upgrades to walkway lighting.
Waiakea High School was granted $450,00 for a baseball batting cage and a $600,000 allotment to Keaukaha Elementary School is planned for construction of a full-service kitchen.
Funding covers fiscal years 2016 and 2017 but must be released by Gov. David Ige in order to be spent.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
