Gov. Linda Lingle has released nearly $6.25 million to upgrade athletic facilities at Kapolei and Pearl City high schools.

"Athletic facilities improvements are important for the continued growth of sports and physical education programs offered to students attending Kapolei and Pearl City high schools," Lingle said in a news release yesterday.

"These improvements will also help ensure the safety and health of our students during athletic classes and activities."

About $4.8 million will be used at Kapolei High to construct and equip additional locker and shower facilities, two physical educational classrooms, the announcer's booth, bleachers, concession stands and restrooms. In February 2006, Lingle released $503,000 for design, which was completed in July 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in January.

Also, about $1.45 million will be used to construct an athletic training room at Pearl City High. It will include an office for the athletic trainer and treatment area for student athletes. The training room will be located next to the weight room to allow monitoring of weight training activities. Design started last month and construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2009.