Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

The Hawaii County Council passed Bill 322 on Wednesday, which gives the planned $8.7 million dollar Kapi’olani Street Extension the go ahead to secure capital improvement project funding. This was one of the projects that the mayor’s office had informally proposed as a part of the $56 million bond request a few months ago.

The road would be extended from Mohouli Street to Lanikaula Street.

At his recent state of the county address delivered in Hilo, Mayor Billy Kenoi explained the reasoning for his request to extend the road, saying it is crucial to the growth of the University of Hawaii – Hilo, and the envisioned university village that will one day exist in the area.

During his address, the mayor went on to explain just how important the university is to Hilo, and the future of the Big Island.