Kahoolawe commission backs 2025 requests: $4.25M Kihei center funding, one permanent ocean specialist, vessel replacement proposal

The Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission on Sept. 24 approved a package of legislative requests to be pursued in the 2025 session, the commission’s executive director said. The three principal asks are a capital improvement project (CIP) request for Phase 2 of the Kihei Education and Operations Center, a request to convert or fund one Ocean Resource Specialist 2 position as a permanent general-funded post, and a proposal to ask the legislature for special-authority funding to replace the reserve’s vessel.

Executive Director Mike told commissioners the CIP ask is “4 and a quarter million” for Phase 2 work at Kihei, including design, construction drawings and a targeted pavilion and boathouse expansion adjacent to the site. “We’re looking for about $3,000,000 for design and planning … and then about $900,000 to do part of a construction project at the boathouse,” he said during the meeting. He said staff will phase larger building work and seek additional funders for individual program “bays” — the museum, a community center bay, and an arts/gallery bay — rather than asking the state for the entire building cost in one cycle.

The commission’s second request seeks one permanently funded Ocean Resource Specialist 2 position. Mike said the reserve currently has one general-funded ORS2, a manager and a grant-funded ORS2; staff want to secure a second general-funded ORS2 to stabilize operations and reduce reliance on short-term grant staffing.

Third, staff proposed drafting special legislation to request funds to replace the reserve’s vessel (Uhua). Mike presented an estimate of roughly $1,200,000 to cover purchase, shipping and outfitting costs, including contingency, and said the request would be handled as distinct legislation outside the standard administrative budget process.

Commissioners questioned timelines and phasing, with Commissioner Mata Afa asking whether the FY25 request covers construction or design. Mike replied the FY25 ask focuses on design and a limited pavilion/boathouse construction so the project can be broken into fundable phases. He added that prior estimates updated for current construction costs put full building cost estimates in the $40–45 million range, so staff plan to phase and seek partner funding for discrete program areas.

The commission voted to approve staff’s recommended legislative positions. Staff said they will begin outreach to finance committees and local legislators immediately and plan to report back at the commission’s next meeting in January.

What’s next: staff will refine cost estimates and seek local and federal co-funding for specific building bays, finalize the draft legislation for the vessel request with a sponsoring legislator, and prepare materials for January’s meeting when the legislature is convening.