GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $317,900 FOR REPAIRS TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FACILITIES IN HILO AND KAHULUI

For Immediate Release: February 21, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $317,900 for improvements to Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) facilities in Hilo and Kahului, including air-conditioning upgrades and re-roofing.

“Department of Agriculture staff members who work in these neighbor island facilities help to keep invasive species out of Hawai‘i, which protects our natural resources and our food supply,” said Governor Lingle. “These improvements will ensure that they have safe, workable facilities in which to do their jobs.”

Hilo Plant Industry Facility
Governor Lingle has released $167,900 to improve the facility’s air-conditioning system. The project involves replacing outdoor condensing units, indoor fan coil units, ductwork and refrigerant piping. Governor Lingle previously released $65,317 for project design and construction.

The Hilo facility houses plant quarantine, plant pest control and pesticides program staff, along with a property manager from the Agricultural Resource Management Division who handles leased agricultural lands on the Big Island, and various clerical support staff.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in November 2008.

Kahului Facility
Governor Lingle has released $150,000 in design and construction funds to replace the roofs of the facility’s three buildings. The roofs are approximately 17 years old and suffering from prolonged exposure to salt-laden trade winds.

The facility’s main office building houses staff from the Plant Industry, Quality Assurance, Animal Industry and Agricultural Development divisions, as well as the Administrative Services Office. The other buildings are mainly used for plant quarantine.

Design is scheduled to be completed in July 2008. Construction is scheduled to be completed in March 2009.

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For more information, contact:

Sandra Lee Kunimoto  
Chair, Board of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9550

Russ Saito
Comptroller, DAGS
Phone: (808) 586-0400

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

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