Gov touts projects
to boost economy

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> Gov. Ben Cayetano met with elected officials and industry leaders yesterday on Maui to discuss the impact of the Sept. 11 tragedy on Hawaii's tourism and to push for his $1 billion spending package to boost the economy.

The package includes the construction of a school of medicine on Oahu and $38 million in building renovation and expansion for Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Cayetano said the package has items that legislators have already approved, including planning money for the medical school.

"I want to build a medical school because I think it's going to be a foundation for making Hawaii a center of health care," Cayetano said. "I think we have a real shot in doing it."

As part of a swing through the state, the governor met yesterday with Maui political and business leaders in a briefing on the economy at Maui Community College.

Cayetano said the state also should expand the capital improvement spending because interest rates are low for funding construction bonds.

"It's a good time to do it," he said. "If we want to help people ride through this period while tourism begins to recover, we need to shore up those areas where we are doing well."

State, county and visitor industry officials are working on marketing plans to bring back tourists to Hawaii.

A group of dignitaries including Cayetano and Mayor James "Kimo" Apana are planning to visit Japan Sunday to Oct. 12.

Cayetano said a purpose of the Japan trip is to find out what the marketing message should be in Japan.

He said a marketing proposal for U.S. mainland visitors will be presented to the state legislative leadership later this week.

The $38 million for the Maui hospital includes a three-level 225-lot parking garage, a new hospital wing, a 16-bed intensive care unit and an outpatient surgery center.

"The need is definitely there," said Boyd Kleefisch, chief executive officer for Maui Memorial.

State Sen. Jan Buen said she supported Cayetano's proposal to expand capital improvement spending, including the development of Maui Memorial Medical Center and the School of Medicine.

"I like what he said," Buen said.

Buen (D, West Maui-Molokai-Lanai) said she believes spending money for construction projects that employ people is better than paying unemployment benefits to people.

Buen, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said she also believes state institutions like the prisons and public schools should be required to buy farm produce from Hawaii.

"It will help our economy tremendously," she said.