KAILUA-KONA Hawaii
Work is to begin next summer on the first building for the planned West Hawaii Community College center, but it’s not a state or university project.
The 20,000-square-foot building as well as sewer lines, water lines and connector road will be built by developers of the Palamanui subdivision.
The Palamanui development, on 500 acres near Kona International Airport, includes roughly 1,000 housing units, a 120-room hotel and a commercial center. The developers offered to build the campus’ first building and the county included it in the zoning and permitting requirements.
Meanwhile, 400 to 500 students will continue working toward their community college degrees at a converted supermarket in Kainaliu.
They make up roughly one-fifth of the total 2,551 enrollment at Hawaii Community College. The main campus is in Hilo, which also is slated for a completely new location.
Nearly $7 million in design and planning funds have been allotted for the two campuses, although Gov. Linda Lingle has refused for a year to release the money.
