Aloha,
I hope you and your family are well. The 2007 legislative session
ended on May 3rd. Here are a few highlights:
University of Hawaii – West Oahu
After waiting for over 30 years, the University of Hawaii--West
Oahu (UHWO) campus will finally become a reality. Probably the
best news of the legislative session is the $135 million in
funding that was approved this year for UHWO. As you might remember,
last year this funding didn't make it into the budget, which
was a great disappointment to our community.
This fall marks the inaugural freshman class at UHWO. The university
is leasing space at Island Pacific Academy and hopes to get
at least 100 students enrolled. The funding in this year's budget
will help put in the infrastructure on the initial phase of
the campus, which will be located on the Diamond Head side of
Kapolei Golf Course and will include 4 buildings. Construction
will begin in early 2008 and the new campus will open its doors
in the Fall 2009. Initially, UHWO will have about 1,500 students,
but that number will increase as campus development continues.
We are lucky to have Dr. Gene Awakuni as the Chancellor of
UHWO. He’s a man on a mission and passionate about making
UHWO a university that we can all be proud of. UHWO will create
educational opportunities for thousands of Leeward residents,
decrease traffic congestion and will also help to spur our economy.
Kapolei Court Complex
I was very pleased that we got the necessary funding for the
Kapolei Court Complex in this year's State Judiciary Budget.
The State Judiciary will start construction on a 123,118 square
foot court complex in July, 2007. The court complex will be
located on Kamokila Boulevard, across the street from Outback
Steakhouse. The facility will also include 12 non-jury court
rooms, 1 jury courtroom, and a 66-bed juvenile detention facility.
It was critical that we secured the funding this year, because
under an agreement with Campbell Estate the State would have
lost the 11-acre court complex site (valued at approximately
$15 million) if we didn't have a signed construction contract
by June 30, 2007.
The Kapolei Court Complex is good for our community because
it will create jobs and allow area residents to easily access
court facilities by not having to drive all the way into town.
The plan is to have the court complex completed by the end of
2009.
Listen-Story
My next listen-story will be held at Waikele Elementary School
on Saturday, June 2nd at 9am. This will be my first listen-story
held in the Waikele community and will be a good opportunity
for me to hear the concerns of area residents. Please come.
If you can't, call or email your concerns.
And finally, mahalo for your input and support during my freshman
season as a state senator. If I can help you in any way, please
call 586-6830 or email me at sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Thanks for the privilege of serving you!
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