GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $10.9 MILLION FOR NEW GYMNASIUM AT HILO HIGH SCHOOL

For Immediate Release:  February 1, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $10.9 million for the construction of a new gymnasium at Hilo High School. The current gym was built in 1937 and is undersized in comparison with standard high school gyms today.

“In addition to expanding our students’ intellectual horizons, it is important for our schools to support competitive sports and physical fitness as well as build habits that will help students stay healthy as adults,” said Governor Lingle. “With a new and larger gym, Hilo High School will be better positioned to support the healthy physical development of its students.”

Governor Lingle released $1.1 million in design funds for this project in April 2007. The total project cost is estimated to be $12 million.

Design for the gym is ongoing. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2009 and be completed in March 2010.

To improve the health of Hawai‘i’s students, Governor Lingle has introduced legislation requiring all K-12 public school students to participate in daily physical education classes. Under the bill, children in kindergarten through fifth grade would receive 45 minutes of daily physical education, and children in grades 6 through 12 would receive 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Information on all of Governor Lingle’s 2008 Initiatives can be viewed at www.hawaii.gov/gov.

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For more information, contact:

Lenny Klompus  
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043