According to a recent study released by the University of Hawaii, a total of $461 million would be needed to repair and renovated its 10-campus throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The majority of the money, approximately $381 million, is needed for the main University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, which suffers from the most deferred maintenance. State Representative, Isaac Choy, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Higher Education Committee, expressed his concern that University officials have not made tackling this growing backlog of repairs a priority in recent years. Choy commented, “They really dug themselves a hole. It’s time to say stop, let’s rethink this and let’s get it done. The part I’m upset about is I don’t think it’s the Legislature’s job to shine this light.”
Tom Katsuyoshi, the director of UH-Manoa’s Facilities Management Office, warned that the $381 million estimate for the Manoa Campus was a conservative estimate, and a lot more may be needed to fix the crumbling infrastructure. UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple, added that he was looking forward to working with legislators and others “in trying to figure out how we can get our physical plant and our infrastructure back up to where it needs to be.” Apple stated, “We have buildings that are in need of significant repairs. It’s classrooms, it’s laboratories, it’s the exteriors of the buildings. When a building is not painted, when a classroom smells of mildew, I can’t quantify what that does to our reputation.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 3-31-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
