---

State can help find funds
for Makiki programs,
but not library building

Recently I had the opportunity to tour the Makiki Community Library, a non-profit facility that operates out of a city building at Makiki District Park. I appreciated spending time with the dedicated volunteer staff and board members to learn more about the operations of this community gathering place.

The Makiki Library is not part of the State Public Library System, and based on my discussions with the board members it does not wish to become a certified library under the state system. Instead, their vision seems to focus on creating a community learning center, where residents can access donated reading material.

I admire and appreciate the volunteers and board members for all the time and effort they have dedicated to the Makiki Library, but I was struck by the poor condition of the building. It appears that years of neglect, vandalism and lack of funds have resulted in severe deterioration. In addition, the building suffers from a lack of basic upkeep, maintenance and renovations, and does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. I was glad to see that the city is investing $1.7 million in needed repairs.

The state Legislature appropriated a $4.5 million grant-in-aid in state funds for renovations and improvements to the Makiki Community Library. After visiting the facility and weighing all the information available, including the lack of ongoing operational, maintenance and security funding, I do not believe releasing the $4.5 million in state funds is in the best interest of the state taxpayers.

The building that the library operates out of is city-owned and city-operated. The city, not the state, is responsible for the building's upkeep and any desired renovations or improvements. While I admire the board's commitment and desire to have this type of reading room available to the community, the facility is not a functioning full-time state library with a full-time paid staff to serve the needs of the area, as is the McCully-Moiliili Library, which is only 1.1 miles away down King Street.

The state has many pressing needs, and I have the responsibility of balancing those needs against the availability of funding. Although the state revenue outlook is positive and we now have more money to repair and renovate the many state facilities that have been neglected over the years, our state funds are not unlimited.

Although I am not able to approve the use of these state funds to renovate and repair a city building, my administration is willing to work with the board and the city to locate funding to help with various community-focused programs that the board members spoke to me about.

---