Page 5 - MidWeek East - July 20, 2022

JULY 20, 2022 5
A fter two years of COVID-19 hard- ship, Hawai‘i’s eco- nomic picture for fiscal year 2022-23 looks promising, with tourism near 2019 lev- els and revenue growth even stronger. Hawai‘i’s economy also will be bolstered with monies from the American Rescue Plan ($2.2 billion) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ($2.8 billion) passed by U.S. Congress in 2021. The latter will provide much-needed funding for roads and bridges, public transit, airports, broadband, water infrastructure, elec-
STATE REP. MARK HASHEM
East O‘ahu’s Economic Picture Looks Promising
tric vehicles and other re- lated areas.
includes major capital im- provement projects (CIPs): Maunalua Bay ($5 million to dredge the bay); Kaiser High School ($2.5 million for ven- tilation improvements); ‘Āina Haina Elementary School ($1 million for parking lot expansion); Kāhala Elemen- tary School ($950,000 for parking lot improvements); and Kaimukī Middle School ($200,000 for a walking path from cafeteria to PE building).
Valley ($1 million to restore artesian water to fishpond); Wilson Elementary School ($1 million for covered play/ meeting area outdoors); Ka- lani High School ($875,000 for new gym bleachers and $800,000 for ADA improve- ments); Kaiser High School ($378,000 for a covered gath- ering place outdoors); and Haha‘ione Elementary School ($270,000 for ADA standards compliance).
local agriculture as over 90% of our food is imported. Agri- cultural bills passed will aid investment, loans, facilities, irrigation systems, food safe- ty, education and invasive species. The Agribusiness Development Corp. will be restructured to better manage lands that were in sugar and pineapple.
Contact state Rep. Mark Hashem (D-18: Kāhala, Wai‘alae, ‘Āina Haina, Niu Valley, Kuli‘ou‘ou and Ha- ha‘ione) at 808-586-6510 or rephashem@capitol.ha- waii.gov.
Higher revenues enabled the state to save more than ever before. In total, $500 million was put in the “rainy day” emergency fund and, combined with the hurri- cane relief fund, brings cash reserves to $1 billion. The amount exceeds the 10% tar- get to maintain or improve the state’s Wall Street bond rating for interest rate bor- rowing. The pension fund and health insurance fund each received $300 million to improve their financial condition.
The state repaired the boat ramp at Maunalua Bay and plans to dredge its ramp area and navigational waters to improve boater safety. PHOTO COURTESY THE OFFICE OF STATE REP. MARK HASHEM
East O‘ahu benefited from the improved economic pic- ture. The FY 2022-23 state budget passed this session
Gov. David Ige also re- leased funding for CIP proj- ects the legislature previously budgeted: Kalauhaihai Fish- pond (Lucas Spring), Niu
I chaired the House Agri- culture Committee this past legislative session. The pan- demic showed the impor- tance of Hawai‘i expanding
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