HI SR69

Urges the Hawaii Judiciary to expedite the site selection process for a new Kona Judiciary Complex, with final decision authority held by the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Requests the Judiciary consider Lā'i'opua (tax map key 3-7-4-021:003), a site under Department of Hawaiian Home Lands jurisdiction, as a potential location for the complex.

Identifies critical deficiencies in current West Hawai'i court facilities, including scattered operations across inadequate buildings, substandard courtrooms, overcrowded holding cells, inadequate parking, and lack of a juvenile detention center.

Notes that North and South Kona represent approximately 25 percent of Hawaii County's population with projected 52.5 percent growth through 2020, creating urgent need for modern consolidated court facilities.

Urges the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to cooperate with the Judiciary in selecting a site for the complex.