Updated at 2:46 p.m., Saturday, January 26, 2008
Governor releases $2M for new UH center in Kona
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle has released $2 million in planning and design funds for a new campus for the University of Hawai'i Center at West Hawai'i, according to a news release. Operated by Hawai'i Community College, the UH Center at West Hawai'i is currently housed in the Kealakekua Shopping Center.The new campus will be located on part of a 500-acre parcel of state-owned land near Kona International Airport. Hiluhilu Development LLC, which was recently authorized by Hawai'i County to build a residential community called Palamanui adjacent to this new campus site, will construct a 20,000 square-foot building for the UH Center at West Hawai'i. This is more space than the center currently has at its leased facilities in South Kona. Conditions of the agreement also require Hiluhilu to construct utilities and a university access road along the makai property line of the 500-acre parcel.
The university will use the money to update its long-range development plan for the UH Center at West Hawai'i to reflect the new campus site, to acquire the necessary permits for this location, and to design additional buildings for the campus. This planning and design phase is scheduled to be completed by May 2009.
