The Hawaii State Judiciary’s appropriations bill, including $5.8 million to get instrumentation and furnishings for the new Kona courthouse, passed final reading within the Senate and House of Representatives. The bill has been sent to Gov. David IgE for his review and thought.
“On behalf of the Hawaii State Judiciary, i would like to precise my deep appreciation to the Hawaii State general assembly for approving the funding required to outfit the new courthouse in Kona with instrumentation and furnishings,” aforesaid judge Mark E. Recktenwald. “We area unit happy to be ready to provide the West Hawaii community a full-service facility they can take care of all court-related matters in an exceedingly centralized, convenient, and secure setting.”
The facility is scheduled to open in late summer 2019. The general assembly previously approved a complete of $90 million for construction costswithin the 2014 and 2015 sessions. Groundbreaking for the project was in Gregorian calendar month 2016.
“The Judiciary is very grateful to any or all of the island legislators, particularly Rep. Nicole Lowen and subunit. Josh Green, still because the leadership of Senators Donovan Dela Cruz, Gil Keith-Agaran, and Brian Taniguchi, and Senate President Daffo Kouchi, and Representatives Sylvia Luke, Kyle Yamashita, Scott Nishimoto, and Speaker Scott Saiki,” said Chief Justice Recktenwald.
“I additionally wish to share my acknowledgment with the West Hawaii Bar Association, the Hawaii County Bar Association, and therefore the Hawaii State Bar Association for their ongoing support,” judge Recktenwald said. “Retired choose Daffo Ibarra, West Hawaii Bar President Payesko, and HSBA Representative from Kona Carol Kitaoka have been critical supporters.”
“After years of conducting court business out of 3 separate locations, we are gratified that we will be better able to better serve the people of the west side by giving them the modern court facility they deserve ,” aforesaid Third Circuit Chief choose Greg Nakamura.
“The Kona community is looking forward to having a new courthouse, which is able to offer safety, efficiency and convenience that the existing three makeshift facilities cannot ,” said Rep. Nicole Lowen. “Securing this funding was essential to making sure the timely completion and opening of the Courthouse.”
“It was my honor to work hand-in-hand with the judge and the Judiciary to complete funding for this necessary project for the people of Kona,” said Sen. Josh Green. “This has been a priority for West Hawaii for a long time.”
“The West Hawaii Bar Association greatly appreciates the support of the general assembly, particularly our Big Island Caucus, in creating this required FF&E funding a reality,” Donna Payesko, president of the West Hawaii Bar Association. “ The appropriation will ensure that the new courthouse will be fully furnished and ready to open next year. The Kona Judiciary complax are going to be an excellent asset to the West Hawaii Community and the West Hawaii Bar Association looks forward to its opening.”
The courthouse will be a three-story facility with five courtrooms, a law library and self-help center open to the community, conference rooms, holding cells, witness rooms, attorney interview rooms, and a grand jury meeting room. There will also be more than 250 parking stalls for the public.