CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano, left, UH President Evan Dobelle and Gov. Linda Lingle attended a ceremony yesterday celebrating the start of construction on the University of Hawaii Biomedical Research Center in Kakaako.
Lingle praises
her predecessorThe governor lauds Cayetano's
efforts to build the new medical
school in Kakaako
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano deserves the credit for "having the guts" to push for a new state medical school in Kakaako after Hawaii's economy was shaken by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, says Gov. Linda Lingle.
"Had Gov. Cayetano not wanted this to be something to be proud of, we wouldn't be sitting here today," Lingle said yesterday after a ceremony to mark the first walls going up on the $300 million project.
"And he certainly deserved (the credit) here. It was clear he wanted to be remembered for this medical school and he should be," Lingle added.
Once political rivals in the closest gubernatorial election in state history, Lingle, a Republican, and Cayetano, a Democrat, had only kind words and a hug for each other as they witnessed a 22-ton pre-fabricated concrete section of wall being secured in place on the first of three buildings of the University of Hawaii Biomedical Research Center.
The UH marked the vertical construction phase of the project with a ceremony. The event is believed to be Cayetano's first public appearance with Lingle since her inauguration last December, which ended the Hawaii Democrats' 41-year control of the state executive branch.
The state provided $150 million from tobacco settlement funds for the project, and the university has committed to find another $150 million in private support for it.
Dr. Ed Cadman, dean of the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, said the investment will multiply several fold and the university will have the most outstanding educational facilities of any of the 125 other medical schools in the country
He said the complex will create a new biotechnology industry that will help revitalize Kakaako and the state economy.
Three buildings are planned makai of the Gold Bond Building next to the Kakaako Waterfront Park.
The target move-in date for the educational and administration building is Sept. 15, 2004, while the research center is slated for completion on July 6, 2005.
A third building, designated for the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, will be built later, in the project's second phase.
After the ceremony, Lingle said: "He (Cayetano) stepped forward at a time and took a stand that our state would invest in its future in this fashion."
Lingle said Cayetano and the Legislature were courageous in approving the money for the project in a post-Sept. 11 economy that had everyone concerned.
"This was something very good that came out for our state after 9/11 and I'm not certain it would have ever come about if 9/11 not occurred," Lingle said.
Cayetano later remarked on Lingle's comments: "Well, you know, coming from someone who was once my opponent, I thought she was very gracious, and I appreciated it very much."
