I am Kamakanoweo Kekauoha-Schultz and I am testifying in support of the Maui Economic Development Board's Economic Development Grant under the Maui County Office of Economic Development.
To begin, the Maui Economic Development Board should obtain this grant because they have helped me become prepared for the future when I enter the workforce. By their programs, I learned how to craft a resume, I learned how to complete a cover letter, and I learned how to fill out a W-4 form. These steps are essential when applying for jobs, and they have helped kickstart that for me at a young age. The Maui Economic Development Board has gotten me prepared for when I apply for jobs in the workforce.
Secondly, Maui Economic Development Board internship program has made my career path more clear. MEDB has given me a glimpse of what a job in the Agriculture industry is like and therefore made me interested in getting a job within the Ag industry in the future. Through the Maui County Ag Business & Technology Internship, I was able to intern with some of the top leaders in the Agriculture Industry on Maui. It gave me an idea of what this essential industry is all about. Especially in a time when the population is ever-growing and quality food is in higher demand, new agricultural leaders are in dire need. The Maui Economic Development Board impacted me, and a whole lot of other people to pursue a career in agriculture. Once the seed is planted, it only grows more, and the internship leaders of each internship have helped sow that seed in us, and that wouldn't be possible without their support.
The Maui Economic Development Board has many programs that benefit the community. For me, it was the Maui County Ag Business & Technology Internship, and for others, it may be STEMworks programs. Support from the County will make sure that others will have the opportunity to experience the things that MEDB has to offer, and the skills and lessons I gained because of them are to last a lifetime. Mahalo nui.
4/12/2023
Budget testimony
Aloha Maui County Council members.
I support funding for planning, and developing a new pickleball facility Upcountry. It is needed now. I ask our Country Council to expedite this. It's what I believe the Parks Department should focus on also.
I also strongly agree there should be no more tennis court conversions on Maui. You can only play tennis on tennis courts, you can play pickleball anywhere level with a portable net.
We only have four playable tennis courts, for tennis Upcountry, across the whole mountainside. Our courts are busy with tennis often, and tennis as a sport is growing with increasing numbers.
In Kula, the tennis community currently does consider sharing the courts with PB as a minor conversion of our court use. It's acceptable as temporary, with PB taping tines, bringing their own nets, cleaning the courts when done. Painting PB lines within tennis lines would be a real court conversion. Totally unacceptable. I believe the new Parks Director understands this, as the past Director expressed to me also. Excluding tennis on the Kula tennis courts altogether would almost be criminal after the years the community and County worked to get the courts built, and the care we put into them.
Both sports need room to grow separately. They both are not compatible in noise requirements. Tennis under 40db, PB over 70db. They are both not compatible in design with different lines, rules, and dimensions.
Downtown resurfacing and lining a multi use court would cost the County, and then cost to reline it back to tennis a few years later? It would never happen. Bottom line, Tennis loses courts. I don't understand how this would be a "good compromise" as some in the PB community suggest.
PB needs leadership that focuses on the real solutions, and vision for their sport, as we in the Tennis community have done for years.
Please help give the PB community the direction to plan for their sport, and to plan for the growth of both tennis and Pickleball. Help them focus on a facility of their own.
Please secure funds for planning of separate pickleball facilities, not converting tennis courts in any way. Please respect the hard work and vision that was required to secure funding for our tennis courts for tennis in the past.
To say that any sport can use a tennis court, as some pickleball players will tell you, because it was their tax dollars that built them. I know, and as you know, funds are approved, and dedicated for specific needs, and projects. Tennis courts were funded and built for tennis.
Hopefully soon separate pickalball facilities in town, and upcountry will be funded, and built. Then hopefully proper planning will prevail, and we return all converted tennis courts back to tennis. Then limit each sport to its own facilities, so all can prosper and grow without conflicts.
Thank you all for your thoughtful deliberations.
Aloha,
Steve Sutrov
Kulatennis@gmail.com
I am Kamakanoweo Kekauoha-Schultz and I am testifying in support of the Maui Economic Development Board's Economic Development Grant under the Maui County Office of Economic Development.
To begin, the Maui Economic Development Board should obtain this grant because they have helped me become prepared for the future when I enter the workforce. By their programs, I learned how to craft a resume, I learned how to complete a cover letter, and I learned how to fill out a W-4 form. These steps are essential when applying for jobs, and they have helped kickstart that for me at a young age. The Maui Economic Development Board has gotten me prepared for when I apply for jobs in the workforce.
Secondly, Maui Economic Development Board internship program has made my career path more clear. MEDB has given me a glimpse of what a job in the Agriculture industry is like and therefore made me interested in getting a job within the Ag industry in the future. Through the Maui County Ag Business & Technology Internship, I was able to intern with some of the top leaders in the Agriculture Industry on Maui. It gave me an idea of what this essential industry is all about. Especially in a time when the population is ever-growing and quality food is in higher demand, new agricultural leaders are in dire need. The Maui Economic Development Board impacted me, and a whole lot of other people to pursue a career in agriculture. Once the seed is planted, it only grows more, and the internship leaders of each internship have helped sow that seed in us, and that wouldn't be possible without their support.
The Maui Economic Development Board has many programs that benefit the community. For me, it was the Maui County Ag Business & Technology Internship, and for others, it may be STEMworks programs. Support from the County will make sure that others will have the opportunity to experience the things that MEDB has to offer, and the skills and lessons I gained because of them are to last a lifetime. Mahalo nui.
Written testimony received from MEO (Molokai) 04-14-2023
4/12/2023
Budget testimony
Aloha Maui County Council members.
I support funding for planning, and developing a new pickleball facility Upcountry. It is needed now. I ask our Country Council to expedite this. It's what I believe the Parks Department should focus on also.
I also strongly agree there should be no more tennis court conversions on Maui. You can only play tennis on tennis courts, you can play pickleball anywhere level with a portable net.
We only have four playable tennis courts, for tennis Upcountry, across the whole mountainside. Our courts are busy with tennis often, and tennis as a sport is growing with increasing numbers.
In Kula, the tennis community currently does consider sharing the courts with PB as a minor conversion of our court use. It's acceptable as temporary, with PB taping tines, bringing their own nets, cleaning the courts when done. Painting PB lines within tennis lines would be a real court conversion. Totally unacceptable. I believe the new Parks Director understands this, as the past Director expressed to me also. Excluding tennis on the Kula tennis courts altogether would almost be criminal after the years the community and County worked to get the courts built, and the care we put into them.
Both sports need room to grow separately. They both are not compatible in noise requirements. Tennis under 40db, PB over 70db. They are both not compatible in design with different lines, rules, and dimensions.
Downtown resurfacing and lining a multi use court would cost the County, and then cost to reline it back to tennis a few years later? It would never happen. Bottom line, Tennis loses courts. I don't understand how this would be a "good compromise" as some in the PB community suggest.
PB needs leadership that focuses on the real solutions, and vision for their sport, as we in the Tennis community have done for years.
Please help give the PB community the direction to plan for their sport, and to plan for the growth of both tennis and Pickleball. Help them focus on a facility of their own.
Please secure funds for planning of separate pickleball facilities, not converting tennis courts in any way. Please respect the hard work and vision that was required to secure funding for our tennis courts for tennis in the past.
To say that any sport can use a tennis court, as some pickleball players will tell you, because it was their tax dollars that built them. I know, and as you know, funds are approved, and dedicated for specific needs, and projects. Tennis courts were funded and built for tennis.
Hopefully soon separate pickalball facilities in town, and upcountry will be funded, and built. Then hopefully proper planning will prevail, and we return all converted tennis courts back to tennis. Then limit each sport to its own facilities, so all can prosper and grow without conflicts.
Thank you all for your thoughtful deliberations.
Aloha,
Steve Sutrov
Kulatennis@gmail.com