Hilo veterans home
set for ’06 completion
HILO >> A 95-bed State Veterans Home in Hilo should be completed by late 2006, thanks to the recent release of $18.4 million in construction funds by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday.
In August, Lingle approved $10 million in state funds to match the federal money.
"This is an important and long-overdue initiative for our veterans and will benefit the entire community, both in Hilo and statewide," Lingle said in a written statement.
Mayor Harry Kim expressed "elation for all the vets that fought so long and hard for recognition of the price they paid."
Hawaii is one of only three states that lacks a long-term veterans care home. Veterans had pushed for a 200-bed home, since the service area of the facility includes the entire state and the Pacific basin, said veteran and facility advocate Delbert Nishimoto.
Although Lingle approved only 95 beds, the facility will be expandable, she said.
The project is to be built by the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. on the grounds of the Hilo Medical Center.
The location on state land has an advantage over federal land, said Nishimoto. He cited the case of a Big Island World War II veteran who flew to Honolulu and took a taxi to Tripler Army Medical Center but was denied admission to the grounds in the taxi because of heightened security.
A project architect will be selected next month, said Health Systems spokesman Miles Takaaze.
Demolition of the old Hilo Hospital, now used for storage, will follow in the fall, Takaaze said. Of the $28.4 million total, $3.5 million is earmarked for demolition, he said.
The project will generate 100 jobs in Hilo, Lingle said.
How the facility will be managed remains undecided, but a management firm typically runs such veterans facilities on the mainland, Takaaze said.
Running the facility should place no financial burden on the state, since Medicare, Medicaid and veterans' benefits should be adequate to operate it, Takaaze said.