$23M in federal funds secured to realign Honoapiilani Highway
A congressional funding bill signed into law on Friday will provide $23 million to help protect Honoapiilani Highway against coastal erosion and climate change, Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday.
The $23 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, is included in this year’s appropriations bill for highway improvements on Maui and will be used to realign 4.5 miles of the highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko.
“This $23 million earmark will directly benefit Maui and help strengthen Honoapiilani Highway against coastal erosion,” Schatz said in a news release. “That means a safer, more reliable highway for people to travel on in West Maui.”
The funding follows a $22 million grant Schatz helped secure for the highway in November.
The new congressionally directed funding in this year’s appropriations bill marks the first year members of Congress were able to earmark requests since they were banned in 2011. Schatz announced last week that he had secured more than $240 million in earmarks this year for nonprofits and state and county agencies across Hawaii, including:
• $8.8 million for the Air Force Research Lab Detachment 15 in Kihei to support planning and design for the lab’s unfunded requirements for a new permanent facility.
• $3 million for Hale Makua Health Services to support the expansion of the skilled nursing facility.
• $900,000 for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife to help protect threatened and endangered species by installing fencing in priority conservation areas including the West Maui Mountains.
• $634,000 for the Zoological Society of San Diego to help upgrade facilities at the Maui Bird Conservation Center and protect endangered Hawaiian forest birds. The organization has been assisting Maui conservationists in saving dwindling populations of some endangered native birds. (This was a joint request by Schatz and Hawaii U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono.)
• $600,000 for the Maui Office of Economic Development to build a fence around the Kula Agricultural Park to prevent damage from feral pigs and axis deer.
• $430,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui for wrapround after-school programs for youth on Maui.
• $383,000 for the J. Walter Cameron Center to help support the nonprofit’s facility, including upgrading its air conditioning.
• $350,000 for Molokai Land Trust to support efforts to protect threatened and endangered species on Molokai.
• $100,000 for Maui Economic Opportunity on Molokai to support its Kaohi Program, which aims to offer in- and out-of-school activities on Molokai to reduce alcohol use among youth and increase family communication about the consequences of substance abuse. (This was a joint request of Schatz, Hirono and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Ed Case.)
The bill passed the Senate on Thursday and was signed into law by the president on Friday.
Mayor Michael Victorino also thanked Schatz on Monday.
“The people of Maui County deeply appreciate this federal assistance because sea level rise impacts island people first,” he said.
