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Millions of federal dollars will be headed to Maui County as Hawaii's Congressional delegation has secured millions in earmarks for the state in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill
"We are bringing home more than a half a billion dollars in new earmark funding," said Sen. Brian Schatz in a news release Thursday. "These earmarks will give local nonprofits and projects more resources to serve communities across Hawaii."
Sen. Mazie Hirono said the Fiscal Year 2023 government spending bill which includes the earmarks "invests in our communities, our country, and our national defense."
"I'm proud to have secured nearly $450 million in federal funding for projects across Hawaii as part of this bill. From protecting our environment, to strengthening our state's emergency management capabilities, to supporting community health organizations and more, these projects will benefit people and communities across our state," Hirono said in her news release Thursday.
The funds are part of the $1.7 trillion spending bill passed by the Senate Thursday and by the House on Friday. It finances federal agencies through September and provides another round of military and economic aid to Ukraine.
On Friday, after the House passed the bill, Hawaii Rep. Ed Case also announced various projects and programs he has secured funding for, which includes $25 million to support facilities such as the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakala and $12.9 million in additional funding for the possible acquisition of Kaupo Ranch on the southern slope of Haleakala for the National Park Service.
Among other funding secured for Maui County by Hawaii's delegation include:
• Ho'ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai -- $3 million, to be used for community-owned solar and battery storage to displace diesel generation.
• Hana Heath -- $1.5 million, to be used to expand the Hana Fresh farm to grow more organic produce for patients and the local community.
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife -- $1 million to help conserve forested watersheds in East Maui through the installation of conservation fencing, planting of native trees, and removal of invasive species.
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife -- $1 million, to be used for native species conservation projects on Maui.
• County of Maui, Department of Transportation -- $3.2 million, to purchase ADA compliant buses and upgrade tracking technology to allow riders to track buses via the Maui Bus app.
• The Nature Conservancy Hawaii and Palmyra -- $1 million to support the planning and community outreach phases for the Olowalu road realignment project in West Maui.
• County of Maui -- $1.4 million, to provide a new emergency operations center and security operations center with electrical, technological, audiovisual and security systems, and provide redundant power and communications systems.
• County of Maui -- $11 million, to support the Halau of 'Oiwi Art's construction in Wailuku.
It will be dedicated to the study, practice, celebration and perpetuation of hula and associated arts and as a resilience hub for shelter and recovery in the event of a disaster.
• County of Maui -- $600,000 to support the expansion and reuse of treated water by the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
Mayor Michael Victorino was thankful for the federal funds and especially credited Schatz in a news release.
"He has a well-earned reputation for understanding the needs and of his constituents and working hard to meet them to benefit all of Hawaii," Victorino said.
In the county news release, Schatz said: "These earmarks will improve infrastructure and public safety, and support Native Hawaiian culture and the arts in Maui County. I'm pleased we were able to deliver this critical funding, and will continue working to help local communities across Maui, Molokai, and Lanai."