Testimony in Support of Mayor's J.Walter Cameron Center Appropriation Request

Ms. Keani N.W. Rawlins-Fernandez
Chair
Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
Dear Ms. Rawlins-Fernandez,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee to discuss the Mayor’s request for Cameron Center project funding in the Department of Housing and Human Concerns in the amount of $195,000 to do the following:
1. Replace the 48-year-old wrapping around the AC distribution pipes needed to maintain water at cool temperatures as it reaches all of the different buildings at the Cameron Center. The wrappings also protect the system from water leakage and maintain water conservation.
The wrapping has not been repaired or replaced since the Cameron Center was constructed in 1973, with volunteer donations and County, Federal, and State support. However, while new in 1973, the wrapping has deteriorated significantly, and this raises the energy cost to cool the water and maintain the correct AC temperature. This funding will support the Chiller funding of $383,000 received from the Health Safety and Resources Administration (HRSA).
2. Convert the Kalima laundry room into needed office space (add AC, remove old plumbing, add flooring, and additional conversion work for ADA compliance)
3. Construct an access sidewalk from County sidewalk into JWCC main entrance sidewalk for ADA compliance and wheelchair and walker access.
Since its opening in 1973, the Cameron Center has been known as a “Place of Hope,” and the site of 18 Resident Agencies and social service and cultural organizations with 100+ programs serving a pre-pandemic client base estimated at 30,000 members of the low-income community of Maui.
The Cameron Center has been affected by the impact of the COVID-19 virus causing us to delay nearly $1.4 million in Capital Improvement projects needed to support the work of our resident agencies and the health and safety of their clients.
Your kind approval of this funding request is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Cesar Gaxiola
Executive Director
J. Walter Cameron Center
Cesar@jwcameroncenter.org, 808-244-5546

Testimony in support of a Maalaea Regional Wastewater Plant

Dear members of the Maui County Council,

I would like to offer some history to explain why I firmly believe that government has the obligation to replace the 12 individual wastewater plants using injection wells in Maalaea with County owned wastewater infrastructure.

There are 14 State issued Underground Injection Control Program permits for injection well systems on Maui. Three are issued to Maui County at Kihei, Kahului and Lahaina. The rest are all in Maalaea. The State owned harbor system does not appear to have a permit.

Here is the history on the 10 condominium wastewater plants in Maalaea:

The original Maalaea community consisted of about ten homes and a store that were all connected to individual cesspools. There were also some vacant lots.

The 1970 Maui Island Plan changed the zoning in Maalaea from residential to Hotel/Resort. My parents and the other homeowners in Maalaea were charged property tax on their home as if they had a hotel on the property. The County of Maui, through this zoning change, forced the homeowners to either sell their homes or develop condominiums in Maalaea.

You may remember that Mayor Elmer Carvalho, in the 1970's, was famous for forcing developers to pay for infrastructure in order to secure permits to build. For example, if you want to build a hotel in Wailea, then you have to build the fresh water pipes from the source to your property. If you want to build your hotel, then you need to also build a wastewater plant on your property.

Those who built condominiums in Maalaea were required to build an on site wastewater plant that used 1970's injection wells technology to accept their effluent and pump it into the water table. This proved to be a big mistake. The nutrients from these permitted plants being pumped into the ocean fed algae that eventually killed the reef, the limu, the shells, the opai, and the fish spawning corals. These nutrients, and also sedimentation from mauka, in 50 years, has ruined the ecology of Maalaea Bay.

Today the reef is near dead. Maalaea Bay is designated a 303d impaired body of water by the EPA. The entire island has suffered a major ecological loss. Maalaea Bay is an economic engine for all of Maui. This is not just about the Maalaea Community.

The County of Maui created this problem in the first place. The County of Maui permitted the condos and the wastewater plants. The County of Maui has an obligation to fix this problem for all of the citizens of Maui.

Government has the duty to provide fresh water and wastewater infrastructure. Building a regional plant in Maalaea will be like shutting down 600 cesspools.

Please support Council Member King's budget amendment to the Maui County Fiscal Year 2023 Budget to include $9.5 million to construct a decentralized regional wastewater treatment facility for the Maalaea community.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter W. Cannon

Lāna`i Kina`ole

Aloha,

My name is MaryLou Kaukeano, i reside on the island of Lāna`i for the past 31 years. I am testifing on behalf of Lāna`i Kina`ole and the work that they do on our island.
Val and her team have helped our family over the last 2 years through the pandemic up until March 26th when my husband Guy Kaukeano passed. Without these team of ladies and their support Iʻm not sure what
I would have done. My husband had rectal and stage 4 lung cancer. We had to travel back and forth to Honolulu every 2 weeks for treatment for 10 months. We traveled thru all the restrictions during covid that the county
had threw at us. The only help that I needed was that Lāna`i Kina`ola had presence on our island. They helped with his daily dressings of his wound and helped with his medicines amongst other things, so I could go
back to work to provide for our family. They came and did wellness checks on him, made sure he was comfortable till either myself or our son Gerard could get home from work.
Over the last 6 months as he got worse with the cancer where it was taking his life away Lāna`i Kina`ole was there to help our family get through it. They even came in to help and give me some time during the last few weeks of his life so i could get a break. Val came on the Saturday evening that he passed and missed a dinner party so she could be with and help us through the last few hours along with Anabel and Uri to be with him for his last breath. They are the most caring and loving group of people you will ever meet. As I write this I am in tears of sadness and joy because they made his last few days better with their love and care. They will always be part of our family!

Also a big shout out to Dr. J of Straub for all he does for the community of Lāna`i.

With that said it would be ashame if they didnʻʻt get more funding. Noone should die alone or be sent somewhere off island with no family, so also think about funding for hospice care for our island.

Mahalo,

MaryLou Kaukeano
808.563.2703

Resolution 22-80 support

Aloha Maui County Council Members,

My names Chelsea Trevino and I am a resident of Lana'i with a family member receiving services from Lana'i Kinao'le Inc.
I would like to request your full support of resolution 22-80 requesting funding for expansion of services to the island of Lana'i.
Through the assistance and services provided to my father he has been able to maintain his ability to live independently.
As a family caregiver, I cannot express enough the gratitude I have for Kinao'le and the wonderful staff working to keep our
kupuna on island. I am a single child caring for my father on my own and would not be ablet to continue to accommodate to his needs
and maintain his life on Lana'i without their help.

The expansion to Kinao'le's facility would provide another level of support sorely needed for our elderly residents who have little to no
family available to provide them with daytime care or social activities.

Chelsea Trevino
PO Box 631274
Lanai City, HI 96763
808-563-0805

Support Increased Budget for Department of Agriculture (918223A-5101 and 918223B-6132)

Aloha e Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and member of the Committee,

I am writing as an individual who is involved in the agricultural industry and food security projects in East Maui —including Kapahu Living Farm, Kipahulu Kitchen and the Hana Farmers Market – to express my support for increasing the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support additional staff positions and funding for professional services. In order for the Department of Agriculture to be a successful department, it must have sufficient staff to start addressing the needs of the ag community efficiently.

In addition to the positions outlined in the bare-bones budget for the Department of Agriculture, I support including the addition of two Grant Writers (funded), two Food Access Coordinator positions (funded) and a Waste and Resource Regeneration Specialist (unfunded) in the Department’s Budget as additions to provide the bare-bones capacity to meet the needs of this Department.

I ask also that the Department of Agriculture budget is increased to allow for professional services that will support the establishment of countywide emergency storage and food centers, emergency food banks in Lānaʻi, Molokai and Hāna, legal assessments of the current agricultural cross-sectors with Federal and State Agencies to negotiate and address agricultural issues, and the development of a streamlined County permitting process for the agricultural sector. These actions are prudent to a successful start for the Department, will help build trust with our ag sector and help increase food security for our County.

Even with funding the additional positional and professional service, including making changes to fringe benefits, equipment, travel and mileage to accommodate for the additional positions will still allow the total funding for the Department to be less than $3 million dollars. Which is .3% of the overall County budget and a very reasonable ask to support increasing food security and help our local agricultural sector.

I respectfully ask that you support Councilmember Sinenci's Countywide budget priorities #1 & 2 and increase the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support the addition of these positions and professional services. This funding will be crucial to the success of the Department of Agriculture. An investment in this Department’s success is an investment in the success of Maui County’s farmers and ranchers. Please help us when we need it most.

Mahalo,

Scott Crawford
Hana

Testimony received from BFED Committee.

SUPPORT INCREASED BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (918223A-5101 and 918223B-6132)

Dear Maui County Councilmembers,

I strongly support increasing the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support additional staff positions and funding for professional services. In order for the Department of Agriculture to be a successful department, it must have sufficient staff to start addressing the needs of the community efficiently.
In addition to the positions outlined in the bare-bones budget for the Department of Agriculture. I support including the addition of two Grant Writers (funded), two Food Access Coordinator positions (funded) and a Waste and Resource Regeneration Specialist (unfunded) in the Department’s Budget as additions to provide the bare-bones capacity to meet the needs of this Department.
I ask also that the Department of Agriculture budget is increased to allow for professional services that will support the establishment of countywide emergency storage and food centers, emergency food banks in Lānaʻi, Molokai and Hāna, legal assessments of the current agricultural cross-sectors with Federal and State Agencies to negotiate and address agricultural issues, and the development of a streamlined County permitting process for the agricultural sector. These actions are prudent to a successful start for the Department, will help build trust with our ag sector and help increase food security for our County.

Even with funding the additional positional and professional service, including making changes to fringe benefits, equipment, travel and mileage to accommodate for the additional positions will still allow the total funding for the Department to be less than $3 million dollars. Which is .3% of the overall County budget and a very reasonable ask to support increasing food security and help our local agricultural sector.

As small farmer on Molokai and as the Food Sovereignty Program Director of a non-profit that works with 30+ farmers/ranchers, I respectfully ask that you support Councilmember Sinenci's Countywide budget priorities #1 & 2 and increase the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support the addition of these positions and professional services. This funding will be crucial to the success of the Department of Agriculture. An investment in this Department’s success is an investment in the success of Maui County’s farmers and ranchers. Please help us when we need it most.

--
Jamie L.Ronzello
Food Sovereignty Program Director
Sustʻāinable Molokai

www.sustainablemolokai.org
Office: (808) 560-5410
Cell: (808) 658-9935
PO Box 250
Kaunakakai, HI 96748

Testimony in Support of Councilmember Tamara Paltin's Priority Proposal #61

Aloha, Budget Committee Members,

I am writing in support of Councilmember Paltin’s proposal to fund the purchase of a parcel of land on Honokohau Bay by Na Mamo Aloha Aina o Honokohau, a hui of Honokohau Valley residents committed to preserving and nurturing the uniquely Hawaiian culture of that Valley. The hui, in consultation with Hawaiian Island Land Trust, intend to develop the Bay parcel into a community center that will provide a venue for community gatherings, education, and celebration, all centered in Hawaiian language and worldview. This is a resource badly needed in this portion of west Maui and will serve people in communities well beyond Honokohau Valley itself.

The members of the hui are extremely competent with an abiding kuleana to serve, and together with the assistance of the Hawaiian Island Land Trust, have what it takes to bring this community center to fruition and ensure its vision into the future.

I urge you to help provide necessary funding.

Mahalo for your consideration,

Linda J. Nye

Linda J. Nye, Attorney at Law
Nye Law
1135 Makawao Ave STE 103 #248
Makawao, HI 96768
Linda@NyeLaw.net
808-349-5609

SUPPORT INCREASED BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (918223A-5101 and 918223B-6132)

Dear Maui County Council members,

I strongly support increasing the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support additional staff positions and funding for professional services. In order for the Department of Agriculture to be a successful department, it must have sufficient staff to start addressing the needs of the community efficiently.
In addition to the positions outlined in the bare-bones budget for the Department of Agriculture. I support including the addition of two Grant Writers (funded), two Food Access Coordinator positions (funded) and a Waste and Resource Regeneration Specialist (unfunded) in the Department’s Budget as additions to provide the bare-bones capacity to meet the needs of this Department.
I ask also that the Department of Agriculture budget is increased to allow for professional services that will support the establishment of countywide emergency storage and food centers, emergency food banks in Lānaʻi, Molokai and Hāna, legal assessments of the current agricultural cross-sectors with Federal and State Agencies to negotiate and address agricultural issues, and the development of a streamlined County permitting process for the agricultural sector. These actions are prudent to a successful start for the Department, will help build trust with our ag sector and help increase food security for our County.

Even with funding the additional positional and professional service, including making changes to fringe benefits, equipment, travel and mileage to accommodate for the additional positions will still allow the total funding for the Department to be less than $3 million dollars. Which is .003% of the overall County budget and a very reasonable ask to support increasing food security and help our local agricultural sector.

I respectfully ask that you support Council member Sinenci's Countywide budget priorities #1 & 2 and increase the budget of the Department of Agriculture to support the addition of these positions and professional services. This funding will be crucial to the success of the Department of Agriculture. An investment in this Department’s success is an investment in the success of Maui County’s farmers and ranchers. Please help us when we need it most.

Mahalo,

Theresa Thompson
Thompson Ranch
Kula

Aloha Mike Moran for the Kihei Community Association attempting to use E comment for writtetestimony for 4/12/22 committee meeting concerning DPW which we believe has been established for this date. however the choices above all seem not reflect departments prior to 4/11/22. But we will insert our comments here regardless If unsuccessful will revet to emailing the committee. Mahalo
KCA testimony to Council Budget Committee May 12 2022 9 AM

Dept of Public Works (DPW)

Aloha Committee Chair Rawlins- Fernandez and Committee.
Mike Moran for the Kihei Community Association (KCA)

For the last decade we have been totally frustrated with the lack of action or progress on multimodal transportation infrastructure. In S Maui By far the leading concern is any progress filling in the missing segments of the No So Collector Road (NSCR). The next segment is to extend between Kulanihakoi and Waipuilani. The past two directors of DPW advised us design work was progressing on this segment, and now we have a new director just approved. As he is coming aboard we learned that an item will be address in the IT committee at some future date, stating:
“ Warren Unemori= Contract C6099-6: LILOA DRIVE EXTENSION (NAMAUU PLACE TO KAONOULU STREET) NORTH SOUTH (NS) COLLECTOR ROAD, DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS, PW ENG JOB NO. 16-23, QBS NO Q-PW-16-30
You maybe aware that Namauu is about 200 yards north of Waipuilani. Thus this contract indicates that after nearly a decade of supposed contracting for design actions on this half mile our expected roadway, 200 yards have been completed.
We are pleased that this contract includes the next half mile as far north as Kaonoulu, but can we expect this will be done in 200 yard increments?

While the lack of any true progress on the NSCR is far & away the major issue, we will point out another example. Back in 2017 KCA walked along SKR with the then DPW director David Goode from the Post Office at Azeka Plaza north bound to Kulanihakoi to demonstrate the need to fill in the missing segments of the sidewalk. SEE https://gokihei.org/environment/walking-and-talking-along-south-kihei-road-friday-morning
The total outcome of that effort after almost 5 years was a single crosswalk painted across SKR.

More recently the Mayor offered a campaign promise as a candidate that one mile of sidewalk in this area would be constructed. In the nearly four years since that commitment not a inch of sidewalk has been constructed.

Of course there are other concerns under DPW kuliana that need attention in our district such as storm water. DPW offered the community the Pre Final Kihei Master Drainage Plan in 2017 by contractor R M Towell, and a more environmentally friendly version of the just the two major rivers by Ecosolutions was finalized in September, 2020 and delivered to DPW, and finally released to the community 14 months later. A month after it was released, Kihei experienced yet another mud flood, to remind our community no mitigation had even begun anywhere, makai to mauka.

But today we are just asking for concern on construction commencement of the NSCR between Waipuilani and Kaonoulu by DPW. We tried regularly for communication with the prior director most of last year, but received no response. We immediately contacted the new director as soon as he was named. He replied he was willing to meet with KCA, but not until he was confirmed and the FY 2023 budget process was completed.

We have unconfirmed data that the department currently has $14. M of the needed $24 for this portion of the NSCR, and waiting until at least 2025 to secure the remaining $10. from the Fed. Yet we see published report quoting Congressman Kahele, “ As part of the federal infrastructure law passed last year, Hawaii is set to receive around $1.2 billion for highway projects and another $339 million to build and repair bridges, Kahele told Maui residents during the meeting last week — a “once in a lifetime pot of resources,” he said. Has DPW looking at getting the funding there?

We ask the committee if they can get info from the Department before the 2023 budget is finalized.
Mahalo

Mike Moran for the Kihei Community Association