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Costco To Take A Hike?
 There were decidedly mixed emotions when retailer Costco applied for permits for a 150,000 square foot store and 15 pump self serve gas station in Lihue. Some were delighted to be able to find locally what they had to travel to Honolulu to purchase. Others moaned the loss of our island life style as yet another giant retailer moved in.
After a reasonable period of time, the County approved plans for the store to be built next Home Depot. They did require four exits from the parking lot (Home Depot had three) and also the use of native plants in the landscaping. Costco scheduled their time of completion for the fall of 2005.
When September, then October, came and went with no evidence of any start of construction, it appeared that something was amiss. Sure enough, a recent newspaper article stated that Costco had received bids back for construction and they were 30% higher than they expected. Costco already has four or five stores in the Hawaiian islands, so one would assume it wasn't the normal sticker shock companies experience the first time they encounter Hawaiian pricing.
Costco went on to state that perhaps they could scale back the scope of the store and do additional value engineering to bring the project in on budget. If not, the store would be kaput. Which naturally caused much wringing of hands or sighs of relief, depending on which side of the fence you sat.
More Hula To Cost More Moola
Along with increased costs of everything else, it turns our higher education system is not immune. The University of Hawaii recently announced an increase in tuition at their campuses throughout the state as well as the community college system. Here on Kauai at Kauai Community College, the increase will result in a tuition increase from $1,470 in 2005-06 to $2,910 in 2011-12.
SuperFerry on Track for 2007
Although there have been some ups and downs, the new Hawaii SuperFerry is one track to begin service between Kauai and Oahu in early 2007. The legislature has approved $40 for harbor improvements to the four islands to be eventually serviced by the ferry and the first boat is well under construction in Alabama.
SuperFerry leaders have announced that fares for individuals are expected to be roughly one half of current airline fares. If those prices hold, it will be a welcome relief to local residents, who have seen airfares double in the last two years. Another plus will be the fact that the Ferry can carry almost 300 cars in addition to 800 passengers. So now locals can load their car on the Ferry to Oahu, stuff it with all their shopping, and then return home happy and content.
Funding Received for Badly Needed Projects.
Kauai recently received $100 million from the budget of the State of Hawaii. Although the sum may seem large, it quickly disappears given the large backlog of improvements needed here. Not surprisingly, highway improvements topped the list, with $6 million slated this year and another $40 million next year. Anyone driving Kauai's roads would certainly utter a resounding "Mahalo" (Thanks) for those monies.
A new Center for Kauai Community College received $11 million, airport and harbor improvements garnered $24 million; the Hanapepe Public Library is slated for a $1.5 million upgrade and $600,000 will be spent on the widening of Kokee Road. Stay tuned on the Kokee project, as much more is needed to improve this heavily visited tourist location.
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