CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR DISTRICT 49 TOTAL $31.3 MILLION

Rep. Matayoshi secured funding for schools, passed consumer protection legislation

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) earmarked for House District 49 through 2021 include $31.3 million targeting improvements for schools, the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility, Hawaiʻi State Veterans Cemetery, and Hawaiʻi State Hospital.

"These CIP funds are an investment in our community," said Representative Scot Z. Matayoshi (Kāneʻohe, Maunawili, Olomana). "Infrastructure improvements impact our every-day lives, and I want to thank my colleagues in the legislature for their support in securing funding for these priorities."

In addition to securing CIP funds, Rep. Matayoshi introduced and passed legislation requiring gift certificate and gift card issuers to automatically cash out the remaining balances of gift certificates with less than $5 remaining, starting in 2020 (HB314 HD1 SD1).

"Nearly everyone has had gift certificates with just a little bit of credit remaining, and they often go unused," said Rep. Matayoshi. "Under Hawaiʻi law, the sums from unredeemed gift certificates do not belong to merchants – they go to the state as unclaimed property after the cards expire. So this legislation makes sense in several ways: it does not deprive businesses, who were already paid for the value left on the gift card, and it allows consumers to enjoy the full value of gift cards."

CIP District 49 funding for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021:

Schools

• $300,000 and $402,000 for Castle High School to replace the stadium light fixtures and resurface the roadway and parking lot, respectively
• $372,000 and $600,000 for Heʻeia Elementary School to upgrade the fire alarms and improve campus drainage including for Buildings B and C, respectively
• $2 million, $1.68 million, and $480,000 for Kapunahala Elementary School for a portable classroom, ADA transition, and resurfacing the parking lot, respectively

Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility: $2.5 million total

• $800,000 for plans to redevelop the facility campus including modernization, construction, and demolition
• $225,000 for gymnasium foundation repairs
• $600,000 to assess, repair, and improve the sewer system
• $900,000 to assess, repair, and improve the water system

Hawaiʻi State Veterans Cemetery

• $5.5 million for construction of double-depth lawn crypts, improvements to committal shelter, installment of security systems at administration and maintenance buildings, and upgrades to the irrigation system

Hospitals

• $17.4 million for Hawaiʻi State Hospital improvements for health, safety, and accessibility