WHEREAS, the Puna District is one of the fastest growing areas in the island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is not planning to construct a gymnasium for Pahoa High and Intermediate School in the near future; and

WHEREAS, the Pahoa High and Intermediate School is using a County of Hawaii facility built in the 1930s that is very inadequate; and

WHEREAS, the Puna District has serious social problems, such as higher than average drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, and a high unemployment rate; and

WHEREAS, a school gymnasium will enable Pahoa High and Intermediate School to provide a better physical education and sports program; and

WHEREAS, a school gymnasium will enable students in the area to have access to the gymnasium for after-school activities to address some of the youth problems; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Theodora Mallick owns a 19.8 acre parcel adjacent to Pahoa High and Intermediate School, on a portion of which she is willing to construct a gymnasium; provided the State of Hawaii guarantees to buy it back; and

WHEREAS, Waikoloa Elementary School was built by a private landowner after receiving assurances that the State would purchase the school; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mallick is willing to negotiate a similar agreement with the State to build a gymnasium, using plans developed for Waiakea High School, and including construction of an extension of Kauhale Road to the Homestead Road fronting her property, that will enable the County of Hawaii to close the dangerous portion of the Homestead Road that divides Pahoa Elementary School from the Pahoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria, which they share; and

WHEREAS, a $450,000 appropriation for plans and design was included in the 2002 budget and a request for $4,500,000 for the purchase of the land and construction of a gymnasium, with a proviso that such an agreement can be consummated, is under consideration; and

WHEREAS, a public-private partnership, such as this proposal, will enable the State of Hawaii to provide this facility to Pahoa High and Intermediate School in a shorter period of time and with less cost to taxpayers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Department of Education is requested to enter into an agreement with Mrs. Theodora Mallick for the construction of a gymnasium for Pahoa High and Intermediate School and for the purchase of the land and building provided that the Department of Education is appropriated $4,500,000 to their 2003-2005 budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide details of the scope, timetable, and cost of the real estate transaction to the Legislature upon completion of the agreement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the State Comptroller, and Mrs. Theodora Mallick.