Another improvement is on the way for Le'ahi Hospital now that Gov. Linda Lingle has released $792,320 to replace the roof of its Sinclair Building.

The metal roof decking on the building is corroded and leaking, Lingle's office said yesterday.

The Sinclair Building — one of a handful of buildings in the Le'ahi complex — houses staff from the Kapi'olani Community College School of Nursing and the state Department of Health.

"Upkeep of our community hospital facilities is necessary to ensure safe and efficient hospital operations," Lingle said in a statement. "These improvements at Le'ahi Hospital will benefit building tenants, patients and hospital staff."

Lingle previously released $221,680 in design and construction funds.

Construction is scheduled to begin this May and be completed in May of next year.

Le'ahi — a nursing long-term-care facility that also provides adult day healthcare — is run by Hawaii Health Systems Corp., a quasi-public organization that oversees community hospitals around the state. Le'ahi Hospital is one of two O'ahu public health facilities overseen by HHSC.

Yesterday's announcement regarding the Sinclair Building follows other recent funding for repairs at Le'ahi Hospital, which was built in 1901.

Lingle released $1.2 million in November to construct a new roof for Le'ahi's Atherton Building and to replace two elevator cabs in the hospital's Young Building. Work on the Atherton Building is scheduled to be completed by December, and work on the Young Building is expected to be done by March of next year.

Le'ahi also received $718,190 about two years ago for safety and accessibility upgrades as well as for new elevators and roofs.

HHSC is seeking funding this legislative session for two capital improvement projects at Le'ahi for fiscal year 2009 — $639,000 for nurse call system upgrades and $299,000 for long-term-care security renovations, said spokesman Miles Takaaze.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.