KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — The groundbreaking for the West Hawaii Civic Center yesterday marked the start of a $50.5 million effort to consolidate 22 county and two state agencies in one complex for the first time.

The civic center has been one of Big Island Mayor Harry Kim's pet projects, and he's seeing it get started as his second and final term is coming to a close.

"I hope this represents the kind of government you'd like to see in Hawai'i," Kim said. "I told the designers to design and build me a place that people will say 'That's our county building,' not just 'the county building.' "

Kim proposed the civic center more than seven years ago, early in his first term as mayor. Since then, his administration secured the seven-acre site from the state, guided the design through several revisions and urged the county council to lock in funding.

The project initially met with opposition as too expensive and extravagant, earning the nickname the "West Hawaii Civic Palace" from some detractors.

During the project's evolution an amphitheater, museum, playground and several other amenities were eliminated.

The 85,000-square-foot complex will sit along Kealakehe Parkway in North Kona and include a community center, four conference rooms and enough office space for more than 300 employees. Also, approximately 30 percent of the complex's energy needs will be supplied by photovoltaic panels.

County agencies currently are scattered along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway corridor from Captain Cook to Kailua, Kona, renting or leasing office space at an annual rate of $1.01 million.

Construction is expected to take two years, with the projected opening to the public in 2011.