Hawaii disaster repairs require varied funding streams

Hawaii faced four federally recognized disasters this year, creating extensive repair needs for public infrastructure. Officials say multiple funding sources will be required to cover projects such as highway stabilization and school repairs. Examples include $30 million for Waimea hillside work and $162 million in damage to 54 schools from March storms.

Hawaii's four federally recognized disasters this year were March Kona-low storms, a May magnitude-6.0 earthquake, August Hurricane Lala, and September Hurricane Lowell. On Sept. 23, Gov. Josh Green outlined a $686 million plan for public building and infrastructure repairs, combining departmental funds, disaster reserves, and possible Rainy Day withdrawals.

The strategy shifted almost $175 million from nearly every state department after the Kona lows, with $121 million directed to March storm and May earthquake recovery. The major disaster fund later received $54 million from that shift plus $100 million from lawmakers, leaving $105 million. Green proposed taking $300 million from reserves. Waimea hillside work cost $30 million; March storms damaged 54 schools by $162 million.

Count words. First para: Hawaii's(1) four2 federally3 recognized4 disasters5 this6 year7 were8 March9 Kona-low10 storms,11 a12 May13 magnitude-6.014 earthquake,15 August16 Hurricane17 Lala,18 and19 September20 Hurricane21 Lowell.22 On23 Sept.24 23,25 Gov.26 Josh27 Green28 outlined29 a30 $68631 million32 plan33 for34 public35 building36 and37 infrastructure38 repairs,39 combining40 departmental41 funds,42 disaster43 reserves,44 and45 possible46 Rainy47 Day48 withdrawals.49. Second: The1 strategy2 shifted3 almost4 $1755 million6 from7 nearly8 every9 state10 department11 after12 the13 Kona14 lows,15 with16 $12117 million18 directed19 to20 March21 storm22 and23 May24 earthquake25 recovery.26 The27 major