In my opening remarks (click to watch) at the Mar. 19 County Council meeting, I mentioned that I am hopeful for an equitable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Vaccinations are ramping up and have become available statewide to kupuna, essential workers, and people with high-risk medical conditions. President Biden's American Recovery Plan is providing much needed relief to families, small businesses, and those impacted by COVID-19. The federal bill has bipartisan popularity across the country and as we enter the county’s budget process, it is a good reminder that people want funding for bold solutions that deliver real improvement to their lives.

As your South Maui Councilmember, it’s my goal to similarly bring together people to provide real solutions that improve our community. I hope that during this budget session the Council will continue to support the broad goals of affordable housing, environmental protection, social services, and food security. With your continued participation and advocacy, we can ensure these priorities are addressed with effective legislation and funding.

In addition to testifying on county budget priorities, I encourage you to follow State legislation. Important measures like SB1034 SD1 HD1, which would allow virtual testimony and meetings to continue even after the COVID-19 emergency orders are lifted, are up for decision making. The passage of this bill could lift the voices of many who are disconnected from the political process by their schedule, location, or physical capabilities. This is just one of the important issues at stake in 2021. It is also one of many opportunities to collaborate and seize this historic moment to create meaningful, positive change. 

Yours in sustainability,

Kelly

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On February 5, the Council voted unanimously to adopt Councilmember King’s Resolution 21-18, Expressing Support for Sustainable Tourism, Emphasizing Quality Over Quantity. The Resolution recognizes what many have realized in the past year: That pre-pandemic tourism was unsustainable. Noting the stress visitors can have on our natural ecosystems, culture, quality of life, Resolution 21-18 values sustainable and strategically managed tourism over an increasing quantity of tourists, encourages the visitor industry to expand efforts to address environmental challenges and work with the community, and to resolves to build upon policies to protect Maui County’s natural and cultural resources. The Resolution also urges the Planning Commission to recognize the need to limit additional visitor accommodations. With your support, this will be the foundation for further efforts toward a sustainable and beneficial tourism industry. Image of visitors at Kahului Airport courtesy Maui COVID Facts Facebook Page.

The Charter Commission is also underway reviewing the County’s Charter, or constitutional document, and identifying any areas where amendments may foster a fairer and more efficient system of government. This is a once-in-a-decade Commission of great importance. Mahalo and good luck to Commission Chair Lance Collins, Vice Chair Grant Chun, and CM King’s nominee Paul Deslauriers.

Over the last year, Councilmember King and Councilmember Molina have supported the creation of a bill that establishes South Maui and Pa`ia-Ha`iku advisory committees to the Maui Planning Commission. A volunteer working group which included our office’s own Michelle Del Rosario crafted this legislation which CM King believes will increase South Maui’s voice and power over development decisions impacting the South Maui area. The bill passed a vote in the GREAT Committee by a 6-2 vote and now heads to the Council on April 6 for first reading.

The State Legislature is also hard at work this time of year, and the Council lent their voice to adopt two Resolutions introduced by CM King to address State legislation. County Resolution 21-21 opposed HB1286, which would have established a mandatory statewide policy exempting travelers who test negative before their flight from having to quarantine upon arrival. The Resolution pointed out that the County’s authority to establish its own specialized rules for COVID-19 restrictions serves the needs of local residents. HB1286 was defeated in the State Legislature! However, the language in the bill has been moved into SB266. CM King is following this legislation and submitting testimony to continue to support the power of counties to respond to the crisis facing their communities.

ICLEI USA - Local Governments for Sustainability, of which CM King is a Board of Directors member, presented at the March 3 CARE Committee meeting. Program officer Calyn Hart shared some of the tools Maui County can access as a member of this global network of more than 1,750 local governments. These utilities include the Circle City Scan Tool, which could help us identify ways to transition to a circular economy, and the ClearPath Tool, which can assist with the creation of a greenhouse gas inventory for the County. 

CM King’s persistent advocacy for climate action, resilience, and the environment has led to the selection of Maui County as one of a small group of “Circle Cities” which will be a part of ICLEI USA’s Circle City Scan Pilot Program. The program will grant Maui access to ICLEI’s resources with the goal of transitioning to a circular economy. With a long history of supporting reuse and recycling, and having introduced the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures Resolution last year, CM King is enthusiastic about this partnership and excited about the possibilities it will open for Maui County to be a global leader in sustainability. On April 6, CM King will propose a resolution for the County to accept the invitation into the Circle City Scan Pilot Program. Please attend virtually and voice your support!

On February 3, the CARE Committee received presentations on the status of Ma’alaea Bay as an impaired water body. Water quality consultant Robin Knox showed how standards are not being attained for water bodies in the area, with excessive nitrates, nitrates, and turbidity which could be attributed to a combination of groundwater, injection wells, and runoff. To address the injection wells in Ma’alaea, Stuart Coleman of Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations presented plans to service Ma’alaea Village’s wastewater treatment offsite through the use of a Cambrian Innovation system which will treat and recycle the water without it being injected into underground wells. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council gave an overview of the problems facing the Ma’alaea area and the solutions the organization has enacted, like establishing fire breaks, planting erosion control mauka of the Bay, and clearing drainage systems. MNMRC found that after the rains on January 18, 32 tons of soil were washed from headcuts near the drains and into the ocean! These photos from MNMRC show stormwater draining into Ma`alaea Bay. In addition to MNMRC’s project to use oysters to filter the bay as well as their diligent water quality testing, MNMRC worked with Michael Reyes to complete a stormwater management plan for the Pohakea Watershed of Ma’alaea Mauka.

Last year, CM King worked to earmark funds from the County’s Open Space Fund to secure the purchase of “Ma’alaea Mauka,” the 257.7-acre area upslope of Ma’alaea, and transfer it into public ownership. Support is growing for this proposal which would ensure that the area is not used for development, and instead managed to minimize stormwater runoff and erosion to protect Ma’alaea Bay. Department of Land and Natural Resources has expressed support for this idea and is interested in maintaining the land, and CM King is working on moving the funding to the Trust for Public Land, an entity with expertise transferring private land to the public which can help mediate the protection of this ecologically and culturally important area.

Learn more about becoming a member of Kihei Community Association here.

Learn more about becoming a member of Ma`alaea Village Association here.