Amid National Cuts, Schatz Secures Nearly $34 Million In New Earmark Funding For Hawai‘i Non-Profits, Infrastructure Projects, More Earmarks Expected In Next Round Of Funding

WASHINGTON - Amid federal funding cuts nationwide, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) secured nearly $34 million in new congressional directed spending, also known as earmarks, for Hawai'i in a bipartisan funding package approved by the Senate today. Additional earmark funding for Hawai'i is expected to be included the next funding package in the coming weeks.

"Despite some challenges in Washington, we secured nearly $34 million in new earmark funding for Hawai'i and expect more to come," said Senator Schatz. "These earmarks will give local non-profits and infrastructure projects more resources to serve communities across Hawai'i."

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schatz worked with congressional leaders to ensure Hawai'i received its fair share of federal earmark funding.

EARMARKS SECURED BY SENATOR SCHATZ INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

County of Maui - $1 million

The funding will be used to make infrastructure upgrades that will increase the reliability of the Lahaina water system's ability to meet fire flow requirements and have backup supplies. (Schatz, Tokuda, Hirono joint request)

County of Kaua'i, Department of Water - $1 million

This project supports the installation of a water storage tank to increase water storage capacity in the Kilauea community. The storage tank will support approximately 2,800 full-time residents and 6,500 acres of agricultural lands. (Schatz, Tokuda, Hirono joint request)

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (O'ahu) - $1 million

The funding will be used to make critical repairs and improvements to the aging sewer system in the Papakolea Homestead Subdivision. (Schatz, Case joint request)

County of Maui - $2 million

The funding will be used to support the conversion of the existing Kealaloa exploratory well into a fully operational production well. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Honolulu Board of Water Supply - $2 million

The project will support the replacement of infrastructure at the Kaonohi Booster station, which is nearing the end of its useful life. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

County of Hawai'i, Department of Water Supply - $1.4 million

The funding will be used to support the conversion of Hawai'i Department of Water Supply systems from chlorine gas treatment to liquid chlorine. This project creates a safer work environment and more stable supply of disinfected water. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (O'ahu) - $1 million

The funding will support continued engineering work to reduce impacts from flooding to the Waikiki watershed. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (O'ahu) - $1.5 million

The funding will be used to support a feasibility study to evaluate modifications to the channel at Honolulu Harbor, including disaster resilience and national security benefits.

County of Maui - $450,000

The funding will be used to create a backup communications capacity for first responders in West Maui using microwave radio links so that they can remain connected, even if existing cables are disrupted or damaged during a disaster. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Hawai'i Pacific University - $1.5 million

The funding will be used for the development of an aquaculture education training program at HPU to support Hawai'i's "Blue Economy" workforce and expand aquaculture career opportunities. (Schatz, Hirono, Case joint request)

University of Hawai'i at Hilo - $995,000

The funds will be used to help modernize UH Hilo's Volcano Monitoring and Geoarchaeology Lab to support rapid, cost-effective analysis of volcanic eruptions. (Schatz, Hirono, Tokuda joint request)

University of Hawai'i Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center (Hawai'i Island) - $1.3 million

The funding will be used for the University of Hawai'i to conduct geothermal research in partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Hawai'i State Energy Office - $1.8 million

The project will support the Hawai'i State Energy Office and the University of Hawai'i Laboratory for Advanced Visualization & Applications develop an energy, land use, and disaster planning visualization tool for Hawaii. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (Maui) - $600,000

The funding will be used to install a predator-proof fence around the Pupuka wetlands to protect Hawaiian waterbirds and other native wildlife and maintain the ecosystem for subsistence fishing. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Maui, Kaua'i) - $500,000

This project will help prevent the extinction of Hawai'i's native forest birds by reducing invasive mosquito populations that spread avian malaria. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Hawai'i Island) - $500,000

The funding will be used to support the maintenance and expansion of predator control programs, as well as the implementation of mosquito control techniques to protect native bird populations on Hawai'i Island.

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Maui) - $460,000

The project supports infrastructure upgrades for a rare species facility in Olinda, Maui. Upgrades include tree removals to create a fire break, an interior sprinkler system, solar panels with battery storage, and upgrading the perimeter fence. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (O'ahu) - $400,000

The funding will be used to make critical equipment upgrades to a facility that maintains rare native invertebrate species and cares for many species that are extinct in the wild. Upgrades include securing the deck, storm shutters, security system, hardening infrastructure, and environmental chambers for propagation. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

The Nature Conservancy Hawai'i and Palmyra (Hawai'i Island, Maui, Kaua'i) - $400,000

The funding will be used to reduce wildfire risk through fuel load management, invasive species control, firebreak improvements, and the development of a field communications network to support increased monitoring and emergency response in remote areas.

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Hawai'i Island) - $250,000

The funding will be used to replace existing shadehouse structures for threatened and endangered plant species at a facility that partners with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife - $200,000

The project supports the State's Plant Extinction Prevention program to protect wild plant populations through propagation, seed collection, and habitat restoration. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (O'ahu) - $1 million

The funding will be used to support a survey of vulnerable areas outside the current known range of invasive species in Pearl Harbor. (Schatz, Hirono, Case joint request)

County of Maui - $1 million

The earmark will fund a new Computer Aided Dispatch and Reporting/Records Management Systems to respond to calls for service quicker and more efficiently. The system will also improve coordination with State and Federal partners. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Chaminade University of Honolulu - $1 million

The funding will support an institute to serve as a hub for teaching and strengthening those employed in the justice fields in the Pacific Islands through specialized training.

University of Hawai'i - $1 million

The funding will support UH's work to improve space weather forecasts. Space weather forecasts are critical to protect vulnerable electrical infrastructure and satellites. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center - $1.5 million

The funding will be used by NOAA's Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center to use electronic monitoring technology to supplement human observer coverage for the Hawai'i's longline fleet.

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (Hawai'i Island) - $775,000

The funding will support the reopening of the Wailoa Fisheries Research Station in Hilo to propagate native fishpond species like 'ama'ama (striped mullet) and native wetland plants for fishpond restoration. (Schatz, Hirono, Tokuda joint request)

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (Kaua'i) - $500,000

The funding will be used to make critical upgrades to the existing coral restoration facility on Kaua'i to better respond to emergencies and strengthen ongoing restoration efforts. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Pacific Tsunami Museum (Hawai'i Island) - $400,000

The funding will be used to support outreach and education on tsunami safety by the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo.

University of Hawai'i - $680,000

The project will support a comprehensive assessment of training needs in fisheries and ocean management across the Western and Central Pacific.

Hawai'i Department of Agriculture - $500,000

The funding will be used to support a Hawai'i Department of Agriculture study to evaluate the feasibility of regenerative aquaculture development in Hawai'i. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

Honolulu Police Department - $520,000

The project will support the conversion of physical records, such as case files, incident reports, arrest records, and evidence logs, into digital formats. This will enhance accessibility, security, and efficiency while reducing physical storage needs and risks.

Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources - $1 million

The funding will be used for the restoration of fishpond habitat at sites in Niu Valley and Kuli'ou'ou, O'ahu. (Schatz, Hirono, Case joint request)

University of Hawai'i at Manoa - $750,000

The funding will be used to help with the buildout of a solar array at the University of Hawai'i Manoa. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (Maui, Kaua'i) - $3.1 million

The funding will be used to support continued mosquito control techniques to reduce avian malaria in Hawai'i. (Schatz, Hirono joint request)

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