This quarter, the Council passed an important environmental bill introduced by CM King that requires an environmentalist/climate change expert, with a background in conservation, natural resources or climate change, to be included as a member of the Maui and Molokai planning commissions and all community advisory committees. This is an amendment to an ordinance that already requires at least one member of each planning commission and the Hana advisory committee to have expertise in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. The bill passed unanimously after agreeing to CM Hokama’s amendment to exclude the Lana`i Planning Commission.

In October, CM King introduced a resolution, “Supporting an Agenda to Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy: 'THRIVE'”. The purpose of the proposed resolution, that passed unanimously, is to support the “THRIVE” agenda both locally and nationally and advocate that we build a society that enables increased racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice; a stable climate; dignified work; and healthy communities free from pollution. 

The Climate Action and Resilience Committee spent three meetings discussing the merits of amending the Maui Countywide Policy Plan to include “Mitigate Climate Change and Work Towards Resilience” as a new goal. (The Countywide Policy Plan provides goals, objectives, policies, and implementing actions that portray the desired direction of the County's future.) The CAR Committee received support from the Maui County Emergency Management Agency, University of Hawai`i Sea Grant program, and Department of Planning as well as supportive testimony from climate change experts. On the penultimate Council meeting of the year, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 20-170 to send the proposed amendment to the Lanai, Maui and Molokai planning commissions for required review.

Throughout this quarter, CM King has been closely following the County's response to COVID. In early November, CM King proposed a resolution urging the Mayor to establish a rapid response COVID-19 Task Force to help advise the Administration and Council in planning for and implementing mitigation strategies and emergency responses to the pandemic. The resolution states that the task force should be headed by the Managing Director and include at least two Councilmembers, one State legislator, Maui County Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang, and at least three additional residents with relevant expertise. The resolution also requests increased efforts to educate the public including visitors, about the County's existing public health rules on gatherings, social distancing and mask wearing and to improve compliance with those rules by residents and visitors alike. The Mayor unfortunately rebuffed this unanimously supported resolution. CM King is working on developing a town hall meeting for the public to discuss solutions they’d like to see put in place for public health and safety.

At the end of 2019, the Council adopted Resolution 19-209, recognizing “a climate emergency, which threatens humanity and the natural world” and committing the County to a “Just Transition” to a safe climate. The following month, the Council approved CM King’s proposal to form the Climate Action and Resilience Committee and appointed CM King as chairperson. Kelly and her team built on that foundation in 2020 with the passage of several environmentally focused measures.

With economic recovery a major focus in 2020, the Council passed two innovative resolutions: Supporting a Transition to a Circular Economy, proposed by CM King; and Supporting and Urging the Mayor to Support a Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19, proposed by CM Keani Rawlins-Fernandez.

The resolution, “Supporting 'Aina Aloha Economic Futures Initiative and Transition to a Circular Economy,” encourages an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, re manufacturing and recycling to create a closed-loop system, minimizing the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions. It is regenerative by design and aims to gradually move away from the consumption of finite resources. This is also a major pillar of ICLEI, a global organization working with the United Nations to bring sustainability to communities worldwide (see closing comments for more information about CM King’s recruitment onto the ICLEI USA Board of Directors).

CM King was in full support of the Feminist Recovery resolution, which found its framework in a plan drafted by the Hawai’i State Commission on the Status of Women, called Building Bridges, Not Walking on Backs: A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19 . Based on evidence that women from the most marginalized groups have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, the plan proposes measures that will aid in recovery from the economic fallout of the virus, and also urges fundamental changes to the way women’s work is valued and compensated.

CM King supported a bill proposed by CM Shane Sinenci in the Environmental, Agricultural, and Cultural Preservation Committee to prohibit the use and sale of single-use plastic food ware. The bill, which was unanimously passed by the Council, encourages the improvement of waste-disposal practices and systems to assure they are efficient, safe, and as environmentally sound as possible – an important step toward a healthier environment.

In March, the Council voted to approve two resolutions supporting bills that will help cut carbon emissions while meeting the needs of our lowest income residents. One resolution urges the United States Congress to support H.R. 763, which will establish a fee on fossil-fuel use while creating a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund that will disperse all money collected to all American citizens. The other resolution urges the State Legislature to support Senate Bill SB3150, which sets a price on carbon that will incrementally increase over time, while proposing a refundable tax credit for individuals earning 60% AMI and less.

The Council approved seven Charter Amendments (CAs) this year, giving voters more choice on how their County Government operates. CM King proposed four of the CAs and supported all seven. Our office hosted a webinar with Councilmembers Shane Sinenci and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez prior to the election to discuss what a vote on each amendment means to Maui County. The "Understanding the Charter Amendments” webinar was well attended and can be viewed on our Facebook page.

 

Maui voters passed the CAs proposed by CM King that establish stricter term limits for the Mayor and the Councilmembers. Rather than being able to serve five consecutive terms, take a term off and then run again, Councilmembers are limited to five two-year terms in total. Similarly, the Mayor is allowed a total of two terms. The community also voted in favor of CM King's amendment that extends the Affordable Housing Fund and increases the minimum amount going into the fund from 2% of Maui’s property tax revenue to 3%. The CA to establish a professional Managing Director was turned down by voters.

 

However, voters approved the CA to establish a Department of Agriculture, a significant move toward growing our ag sector and diversifying our economy. The two additional CAs passed by voters this year related to conflicts in Charter interpretations being resolved by Special Counsel and the majority of Charter Commission appointments now being made by the County Council rather than the Mayor .

 

The newly approved Charter Amendments are effective January 2, 2021, except for the CA establishing a Department of Agriculture, which is effective July 1, 2022.

She proposed to expand MEMA and the Coastal Zone Management Division of the Planning Department to help combat the increasing threats of sea level rise and severe weather, and worked with the Council to ensure full funding for our critical County watershed projects. For South Maui she proposed and secured funding for a Maalaea coastal erosion study and a $200,000 grant for Wetland restoration.

With COVID highlighting the importance of diversifying the County's economy and its budget expenditures, CM King proposed a new line item in support of Food Security Hawaii's 'Ohana Garden project and supported $2.5 million in the budget for a new Agricultural micro-grant program. Throughout the year, in many ways, CM King has rallied to increase the role agriculture plays, including her support of a new Department of Agriculture and Facebook webinars to present information on food security and on the micro-grant program. For additional information on the subject, watch the webinars on our Facebook page; and for more information or to apply for a grant, click here.

Also essential to the growth and well-being of our County is the ability for local families to fulfill home ownership dreams and continue raising future generations in Maui County. In 2020, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to Affordable Housing through a 5 percent appropriation for the Affordable Housing Fund and $3 million for the First Time Home Buyers Program. CM King also worked with the administration to incorporate several capital improvement projects including the skateboard park in Kihei and funds proposed for acquiring the Kulanihakoi Greenway Park. To view the complete budget, follow this link.

We want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. We hope this year will be filled with health and happiness as we work together toward building a vital and purposeful community.

Our office can be found on the 8th floor of the County Building, suites 819 and 820.

Our staff is working remotely but we are available by phone (808-270-7108) or via email during regular business hours.