Governor Linda Lingle has released $1,050,000 for improvements to the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, her office said today in a press release.

This project is part of the $1.87 billion public infrastructure construction plan unveiled by Lingle in December 2008 to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The State Veterans Cemetery estimates that available columbarium niches to hold urns could be depleted before this summer. Project work includes construction of more than 2,000 additional niches in order to provide veterans and their families with the option of being interred at the cemetery. Project funds will also be used to build a soil storage facility to shelter backfill material used for graves. Currently, the backfill stockpiles are stored in the open and exposed to rain.