Lingle promises Leeward Coast aid

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer

Saying she feels "a kinship with the Leeward Coast," Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday pledged her support for the economically strapped area at the same time she announced that her administration had just authorized the release of $1 million for improvements to Farrington Highway.

"This important project that the Legislature appropriated will provide new sidewalks, signals for pedestrian crosswalks and general safety and operational improvements to the highway," said Lingle.

Those improvements include the installation of highway median barriers between Nanakuli and Ma'ili, said DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa. Over the years, the highway stretch has been the scene of fatal and other serious accidents caused by vehicles crossing the center lines.

The $1 million is the state's portion of a federally financed construction project slated to begin in October and be completed in January 2005. The federal government's would be responsible for $7.4 million.

"For too long the Leeward Coast has been neglected," said Lingle, who made her statements at the grand opening of the Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, the latest of the international hotel chain's 52 vacation club time-share resorts.

The governor reiterated her support for a plan to give Ko Olina Resort $75 million in tax credits to build a major aquarium.

"To further help spur the economic opportunity and expansion here on the Leeward Coast, as you all know, I support the Ko Olina tax credit," said Lingle.

Ko Olina master developer Jeff Stone has said that project and others related to the resort could generate 12,000 jobs and bring in $1 billion in additional construction to the state.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.