Posted on: Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Kapolei court site back on
By Tara Godvin
Associated Press
Members of a Senate committee have restored money for construction of a Kapolei courtroom complex in the proposed Judiciary budget.
Legislature: www.capitol.hawaii.gov
State Judiciary: www.courts.state.hi.us/ The Campbell Estate's offer of 13.6 acres of land at no cost expires on Dec. 31, 2006, if a construction contract is not signed. The land is valued at $13.5 million.
The funding was originally part of the Judiciary's two-year budget request, but was removed by the House Finance Committee in hopes of spreading out the payment over a longer time.
An accompanying committee report includes a paragraph from Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee member Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-13th (Kalihi, Nu'uanu), that suggests keeping some functions of the family court in Honolulu.
The language is aimed at addressing concerns about residents having to drive an extra 25 miles west from the court's present location in downtown Honolulu.
Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd District (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), spoke against including Oakland's suggestion in the bill itself.
Moving the court and detention center to West O'ahu has the potential to ease traffic in the core of the city, spark new commerce around the new court and bring court services closer to more rural residents, Hee said.
"It will change the culture of how we conduct our lives," Hee said.
The budget will go next to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The $95 million would fund construction of court buildings to house all functions of Family Court and a new juvenile detention center at Kapolei. The money would also help rescue a deal with the Campbell Estate, which is giving the land to the state for free.
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