HONOLULU (KHON2) — A years-long project to refurbish the reflecting pools at the Hawaii State Capitol has cost millions of dollars, but there is still disagreement over what will replace them.
Some lawmakers said the building still needs to be waterproofed even if they are not refilled.
A recently-awarded $6.4 million contract to waterproof the chamber level of the State Capitol raised questions among some of the lawmakers who work there.
“There needs to be direct oversight, audits going on to see where every single penny is going because this is taxpayer money,” said House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Diamond Garcia.
Rep. Garcia admitted that some repairs are necessary after the basement level beneath the chamber flooded in January 2024 during a flood advisory on Oahu.
“There was a really rainy day and most of the downstairs basement was flooded and you had water streaming down through the ceiling tiles, through light fixtures,” said Assistant Majority Whip Sen. Lee.
The original plan when the pools closed for repairs in 2021 was to refurbish and then refill them, but Sen. Lee has been working closely with the Department of Accounting and General Services and said that would take hundreds of gallons of gallons of drinking-quality water.
“And unfortunately, that would come at a cost of about $1 million a year just to keep water in those pools,” Sen. Lee said.
“Does it really cost $1 million a year just to maintain this thing? I don’t think so, it shouldn’t have to! I mean, the building was built in the late 1960’s, so it’s an old building, it definitely needs maintenance, repair. But my only concern is seeing how much money we’re spending on a single issue,” Rep. Garcia said.
Sen. Lee told KHON2 from previous experience that money still needs to be spent on waterproofing the Capitol for rainy days, even if the pools are not refilled.
“We had to clear out all the staff offices and those were shut down because of mold and water damage and it was just not a safe working environment, so that’s something that has to be done no matter what,” Lee said.
Sen. Lee added that the current plan is to install glass, water-like features where the pools used to sit to keep in line with the symbolism of an island state that is surrounded by ocean and to save money on yearly maintenance fees.
“Over the long term, it’s a money-saving approach to try and make sure that all the work can be done at once, in one go,” Sen. Lee said, “and we don’t have to draw this out over time and add to additional costs.”
Sen. Lee said — weather permitting — the project is on track for completion between 18 months and two years from May 2024.
