December 2020
Aloha!
This Christmas season is like no other we've ever experienced, with traditional family gatherings and holiday travel on hold in the hopes that next year no one will be missing from our 'ohana due to Covid.
In times like these, we must hold fast to that which keeps us grounded and pressing ahead with hope. Our anchor? Our faith.
As British inspirational author Nicky Gumbel wrote, “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words and your faith stronger than your feelings.”
As we continue to walk by faith, please feel free to let me know how you are doing and if there is any way we can be of assistance. Although our Council staff continue to work from home, you can leave a voicemail at my office at 270-5501 or send me an email at [email protected].
Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas, and a healthy and happy New Year.
Tasha
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Highlights from the 2019-2021 Council Term |
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As the 2019-2021 Council term quickly comes to a close, it is with gratitude that I look back on the accomplishments and outcomes of this term.
My staff and I worked diligently to provide assistance to individuals, families and groups needing help with constituent service issues including housing, food, emergency rent and mortgage interventions, road repairs, flooding and poor drainage, neighborhood disruptions, traffic safety, senior bus transportation and unsheltered individuals.
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I was honored to work with Mayor Victorino's administration to address numerous issues affecting our community, including housing, homelessness, Covid assistance programs and much more.
As a member of a Council Temporary Investigative Group (TIG), I participated in the development of a more effective real property tax system.
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It was with pride that I worked in tandem with our Councilmembers to enhance our fiscal transparency and responsibility, to ensure continuity of operations for our community.
And prior to COVID-19 restrictions, I enjoyed meeting many of our kupuna in visits to elder care facilities.
It is with a prayerful heart that I embark on the new 2021-2023 Council term with the intent of serving our community in every way that I can.
I look forward to returning to more "normal" operations, perhaps a "new normal," and hope to meet many of you in my monthly talk-story sessions at the Maui Sunday Market in Kahului. Please watch my Facebook page and local media announcements for more details on when those sessions will be held.
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Above: Ground-breaking dedication held this past Saturday, Dec. 19th for the Kaiaulu o Kupuohi rental apartment complex, which was approved by my Affordable Housing Committee.
I led the effort that resulted in Council-granted approvals of housing projects that will produce 477 housing units. Most of these units will be rentals for households that are 60% of the area median income ($58,500) – the group with the greatest need for affordable housing.
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Above: Moderating a meeting with pastors regarding the assistance of unsheltered individuals in Kahului.
I have raised awareness of the issue of unsheltered individuals and hosted community meetings such as in the parking lot of the former Safeway store in Kahului. This event helped launch ongoing discussions on how best to help affected individuals while protecting businesses and customers in the Kahului area.
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Mahalo, A Hui Hou to Councilmember Hokama |
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I would like to acknowledge and thank Councilmember Riki Hokama for his years of service to our community. Riki has a national reputation as being a leader in local government taxation, budgeting and service delivery.
Riki has a long and distinguished history of public leadership. Some 42 years ago, he started his career as a public servant as a delegate to the Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. He joined the Maui County Council for the 1999-2001 term of office and remained on the Council until the end of the 2007-2009 term. He returned to Council in the 2011-2013 term and now is finishing his last term of office. In his time on the Council, he has shaped the future of this County having served as both Council Chair and Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.
Riki has been my mentor as I have begun my participation in the National Association of Counties. I have much to learn from him as a member of NACo’s Board of Directors, its Financial Services Corporation Board of Directors, Election Reform Task Force and the Finance Committee. But it has not been all work for Riki; he is the “life of the party” at NACo – if you attend a NACo event, and someone learns you are from Maui County, you will be asked, “Where’s Riki?”
In my experience, Riki is a very hard worker who tackles issues with an enviable level of energy and commitment. He also plays just as hard as he works. If you doubt me, just catch him when he is out singing karaoke!
Thank you Riki for all you have done for Maui County and its residents. I know you will continue to participate in public life and I hope you will continue to share your mana’o with us.
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Maui Nui Strong
This new online resource is a one-stop shop for both businesses and residents, with comprehensive information on everything from loans, grants and jobs to food assistance programs, housing and childcare. To learn more, visit Maui Nui Strong.
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Multi-language Covid resources available
The Hawai'i State Dept. of Health has made available a number of informational flyers in various languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Ilocano, Tagalog, Chuukese, Marshallese, Thai, Vietnamese, Samoan and Spanish. To download the brochure shown on the left or other multi-language Covid-19 resources, click here.
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Holiday Recycling Info: Christmas Trees & Electronics |
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Free Christmas tree recycling drop-off service is being offered by the County of Maui Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division. All decorations, including tinsel, must be removed from trees before they can be dropped off for recycling.
Until January 9, Christmas trees will be accepted at the Kihei Recycling Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and at the Makawao Recycling Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Other drop-off locations:
- EKO at the Central Maui Landfill from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday
- Hana, Lanai and Molokai landfills from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
- Olowalu Convenience Center from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday
The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui is providing a donation-based Christmas tree curbside pick-up service for residents of Paia, Haiku, Pukalani, Makawao and Kula from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 2. A $10 to $20 donation per tree supports local Rotary projects. To schedule a pick-up, call (808) 878-2177 by Friday, Jan. 1
Please Kokua: It is illegal to dump trees at community centers, Haiku or UH Maui College recycling centers, parking lots and roadsides. For more information, call the Recycling Hotline at 270-7880.
Electronics Recycling:
Drop off computers, monitors, printers and TVs at ECycling Maui, located at 901 Lower Main Street: Tuesdays 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. (May be closed 12/26; call for update).
Masks are required; please stay in your vehicle and staff will help you unload. Please drop off only during open hours-- do not dump items outside the yard. Call for more info: ph. 280-6460.
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The Ka'ahumanu Community Corridor project invites the public to help re-imagine one of our busiest roadways on the island and set a vision for new housing, transportation, pedestrian and landscaping options. The corridor planning project includes an online survey, interactive online map and a virtual scavenger hunt. For more details on the project or to utilize the interactive maps and virtual scavenger hunt, visit www.kaahumanucommunitycorridor.org.
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Left: A recent photo of the progress on the construction of Phase II of the Kahului Lani Senior Low-Income Rental apartments. The residential complex is located in Kahului across Foodland near Queen Kaahumanu Center. Kahului Lani Phase I and II are being managed by Hale Mahaolu for developer Catholic Charities Housing Development Corporation.
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Setting the Groundwork for Accessible, Affordable Housing |
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Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) and Akaku: Maui Community Media are holding a series of community meetings through February 2021 to gather feedback form local residents on the development of the County's 5,000-unit Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan. Meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom, and will allow participation through online and phone call-in options.
HCA was awarded a contract from the County of Maui in November to develop the comprehensive affordable housing plan that will come before the County Council for review in March 2021 and approval in June 2021.
HCA is the lead organization for the project and has assembled a team of experts including Blossom Feiteira, HCA co-founder and long-time housing advocate; PBR Hawaii and Associates; Austin, Tsutsumi and Associates; the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; the Rural Community Assistance Corporation; and Stanley Keasling Consulting.
For the full schedule of community meetings, click here.
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A new Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) has opened in Wailuku, to provide Covid-related economic recovery assistance for residents needing help qualifying for affordable rentals and mortgage financing.
The center was made possible through a partnership between the County of Maui and the Hawaii Community Foundation, which each provided matching funds of $250,000 to launch the FOC.
The FOC was established and is being run by Hawaiian Community Assets, which also manages FOCs on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island.
Individualized counseling is provided free, and includes help creating a financial action plan to build savings, pay down debt and improve credit with the goal of securing and maintaining permanent housing. Grants, loans and career coaching as just a few of the tools that may be offered to participants.
For more information, call Hawaiian community Assets at ph. (808) 242-6184 or visit the office at 444 Hana Hwy, Ste. #201, Kahului.
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From the Kama Kitchen: Upside-Down Peach Cake |
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An extravagant holiday treat-- my family's favorite every Christmas!
Ingredients:
2 boxes Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
3-4 cans 29 oz. sliced peaches
1 block butter
½ Cup white sugar
Materials: 2 soda boxes or a larger baking pan or cookie sheet (should be larger than 13"x9"). If you only have a 13"x9" pan you should use only 1 box of cake mix and 2 cans of peaches. Everything else will stay the same.
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Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2) Open peaches and drain juice, and drain as much of the juice as possible; I use a strainer.
3) In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add sugar. Totally dissolve the sugar in the butter.
4) Once the sugar is dissolved, add the peaches. Do NOT stir this mixture often as it will break down the peaches. Peaches should remain in full slices and just cooked, not fully soft, not firm.
4) Foil the soda box or baking pan – set aside
5) While the peaches are simmering, mix the cake. Follow the directions on the box.
6) Once the cake is mixed, the peach mixture should be ready. Using a slotted spoon, start scooping the peaches into the baking pan/soda box. Some of the sauce is desirable, but not too much. Spread the peaches out on the bottom of the box/pan.
7) Pour the cake batter evenly over the peaches. Put into the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. Knife/tooth pick should come our clean, with the exception of some peach juice.
Note: You’ll want to foil the second box/pan or other flat serving dish big enough to hold the cake. If using a pan or other flat serving dish, foil is an option. I use foil, as it makes cleaning easier.
8) After removing from the oven, let the cake sit for 45 minutes or until just warm. When the cake is no longer hot, fit the empty box/pan/serving dish over your cake and gently flip the cake. Carefully peel away the foil, slowly so as not to break the cake.
9) Once the foil is off, you’re ready to enjoy your dessert! Cut, serve and enjoy!
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