ADEPT-12 RESOLUTION 23-146, REQUESTING THE CONSERVATION PLANNING COMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES (ADEPT-12)
I cannot believe what I am seeing today as we fight multiple battles: affordable housing and environment are of the utmost concern on Maui and there should be a marriage between the two, not a moratorium that destroys property rights and the ability to work with the land and create property awareness for maintenance of the sensitive areas.
I support wetlands protections for the Waipuilani and Kulanihakoi gulches and beach reserve. The county should purchase and protect these gulches and reserves
This list includes private property that landowners pay property taxes on. ANYONE who writes in to support this should include their property Tax Map Key to be added to the list of properties that the County should acquire as open space. These people obviously support the motion of taking and are volunteering their property. This is a broad overreach of government and in no way should ever pass. Gabe Johnson, please include your and your family's owned property on this list as well.
RE: Testimony for County Council ADEPT Committee 6/22/2023
Hello, my name is David Dorn. Today I am testifying as a private citizen.
Wetlands Study 2021 and 2023:
I have been researching and studying South Maui wetlands since 2021 under several grants from Maui County (2021 and 2023), through the South Maui Save the Wetlands Hui, and Hawaiian Islands Land HILT. The Hui was tasked to study and identify South Maui's remaining wetlands and provide an inventory to the County. The 2021 Study identified over 90 wetlands and essential features. My job entailed research, mapping and aerial surveying, site-specific photogrammetric data collection, as well as studying the surrounding watershed, features and function, with respect to drainage, in particular flooding, and flood risk management.
The TMK Lots listed in this document for conservation, are some of the most at-risk wetlands and watershed features in Maui County. These lots form part of larger systems that are an integral part of the drainage and watershed infrastructure. These lots are critical to the function of the watershed, in particular the ability of the watershed to convey stormwaters, and provide proper drainage in flood-prone areas such as South Maui’s “Kihei Floodplain”.
There are many more lots than these that are part of these essential systems of drainageways and hydrological pathways. These watershed systems include all the gulches, streams, and the wetlands that are part of the “natural watershed infrastructure”. Many of these TMKs correspond to areas identified for acquisition in the KDMP (Kihei Drainage Master Plan), and the SWMWP (Southwest Maui Watershed Plan). Their importance to the viability of the watershed has long been recognized.
These lots not only provide flood mitigation, they also support the various ecosystems from mauka to makai. The wetlands and gulches provide conditions for vegetation that anchors the soil and they also provide pathways for surface runoff, as well as a pathway for surface water to pass to the groundwater. Natural surfaces in green areas and open space are typically highly porous and allow for the maximum penetration of stormwater into the ground. The preservation of porous surfaces is essential, and the importance of porous surfaces in the watershed should not be overlooked or underestimated.
A large portion of the rainwater South Maui receives quickly passes into the groundwater, and travels towards the ocean. This includes the rainwater falling in the upper watershed and also locally in the coastal zone and floodplain as well. This groundwater also reappears in springs and wetlands. All South Maui Wetlands are therefore an essential part of the groundwater systems that support the aquifers and provide pathways for subsurface flows, even when the wetlands appear relatively dry on the surface.
South Maui’s Stormwater passes through watershed features such as gulches, streams, and wetlands, that form the various hydrological pathways and systems. Stormwater passes through wetlands below ground as groundwater and above ground and surface flow. So, it is imperative that all these wetlands retain their ability to function as passageways for the water as well as function as storehouses for stormwater.
The wetlands lots and remaining open spaces are all functioning stormwater wetlands, and have the ability to store millions of gallons of stormwater in the subsurface layer between the water table and the ground surface. However, they must remain porous in order to do this.
We cannot pave over these areas without losing stormwater storage capacity.
For every acre of paved surface in South Maui you lose somewhere between 400,000 gallons to 1,000,000 gallons of potential stormwater storage. (Based on Acre-foot 325,851 gallons, and the average water table depth of between 18 inches to 3 feet below the surface). This stormwater, if not sequestered, will create surface runoff and flow through South Maui neighborhoods.
In addition to the millions of gallons of subsurface stormwater storage capacity, these lots provide surface water storage capacity, as many of these lots naturally flood to a depth of 1 foot up to several feet deep. Surface runoff flows through these lots along surface water pathways, including the major and minor gulches, as well as many South Maui drainage ways and roadways. These lots are essential to the natural and urbanized drainage infrastructure. Because they are already part of the extant drainage systems that keep stormwater out of homes on off the streets.
Kihei has bad flooding problems now, but they are going to get much worse if we do not preserve these lots now. Housing and transport infrastructure are frequently impacted by flooding, and these floods will get worse if more open space is paved over.
Preserving these TMKs has benefits in disaster prevention, and will help to preserve public safety during natural events such as Kona storms and Hurricanes.
Many of these lots are also candidates for wetlands restoration work which can further enhance or restore wetlands functions and in particular, the many beneficial wetlands services. These wetlands services include the attenuation and mitigation of stormwater runoff. (Detention capacity, and the filtration of stormwater through sedimentation, and biological processes).
Wetlands, when healthy, also have the ability to remove many pollutants including many chemicals, and contaminants including heavy metals etc, that are hazardous to humans and the environment. Wetlands have the ability to intercept and mitigate a great deal of polluted stormwater runoff before it enters the ocean and causes harm to ocean habitats, coral reefs, and marine species.
With regards to the Priority of Acquisition of these lots listed in this document, In general, I recommend that we save the estuaries and gulches first, and work our way up the slope along the streams and gulches towards the headwaters and catchment areas. However it is important to note that we do need to preserve all of these to have a fully functioning watershed (in proper functioning condition, “PFC”), but the highest priority should be given to the lots close to the shoreline in the major gulches.
However, we also need to preserve the landlocked wetlands that are (cryptorheic basins) that have no outlets to the ocean, because they are the only available retention basins that receive the stormwater that would otherwise flood low-lying areas, including densely-populated neighborhoods. Examples include the Halama Street wetlands. These wetlands are simply irreplaceable and cannot be replicated with any engineered mitigation solutions.
Importance of these 91 TMK Lots:
Our studies have identified these 91 lots as being part of wetland systems and essential watershed features.
And in most cases, wetland systems consist of several TMK Lots. (Example, the “Halama Wetland” comprises about 10 TMKs).
Wetlands systems and essential watershed features should be considered in their entirety and not piecemealed into separate TMKs.
Further study of the wetlands will likely expand on this list of TMKs as we learn more about the various subsurface systems connecting these features.
The 2023 Wetlands study TMK inventory lists over 130 TMK lots, and that list is growing.
All of the 91 TMK Lots identified in the 2021 Wetlands Study, are important and should be forwarded to the Preservation Committee for their consideration.
Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space. It will improve the quality of life for all current residents and prevent problems that occur from over development, like flooding and traffic which are already huge problems in Kihei. Thank you for your consideration.
Aloha,
I ask the committee to designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space:
This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected.
Many residents already utilize this land as a passive park.
The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes – developing will require massive blasting and will worsen already problematic drainage issues.
Maui Meadows has over 800 residents but no real parks. This open space would be an easy walk from Maui Meadows.
To honor the traditional ahupuaʻa name of Paeahu, this open space should be called “Paeahu Park.”
An unfortunate lack of planning has resulted in a highway along our shoreline through Kihei. What could have been a remarkable oceanside park is greatly less due to lack of planning and acquisition by the county. Here is an opportunity to improve Kihei for future generations. I thank you in advance for creating this legacy.
Sincerely, Mary McClung Law
Maui resident since 2000
I am a local who grew up in south Maui and truly appreciate this area of Paeahu for its natural beauty. We need some open space in south Maui for our mental well-being and too little remains. This spot is very worthy of protection due to its beautiful natural open space views of Haleakala and the ocean. I walk my dog here and find peace here every time. I see many others doing the same. Over the years I have also walked the land mauka and have seen numerous arch sites as well. Paeahu is a unique area with unique lava formations but much of it has been destroyed. Please walk Kapili Street to see the area for yourself if you haven't done so. It really is a special spot and compliments the adjacent Kilohana Park which people also love. I also drive tourists around and hear many of them complain about the changes that have happened to the lands in Wailea. Please help protect this last remaining jewel in Wailea, it's the right thing to do. Mahalo!
I strongly support preservation of open space in Wailea and South Kihei. We live on Wailea Alanui Drive, right across the street from parcel SF-S and just two blocks from Ledcor’s Lot 130. We are alarmed by the dwindling open space in our neighborhood, where we and many residents walk daily. We enjoy seeing the wildlife, especially pueo, and the views of Haleakala that the remaining undeveloped properties support. The massive luxury complex that Ledcor is building nearby at La’i Loa completely blocks the mauka view from the street now. (It is also very unsightly).
When these two properties are developed, we will have no open space remaining in our neighborhood. In addition, it is very disturbing to me to see the continued wholesale destruction of the natural and cultural landscape in south Kihei and Wailea. Please preserve open space in the SF-S parcel and create a park honoring the Paeahu ahapua'a for the future.
I have walked with Ledcor’s archaeologists and other citizen groups on Lot 130 and have seen first hand the impressive cultural complex there as well as the spectacular drainage channels. I urge you to preserve open space here, too, that would encompass the largest extent of these important sites and waterways as possible. Mahalo for your time
I am in favor of open space, having lived on Maui since 1976. There is very little left. We need the wet lands and park space. Please ask for land to be donated, purchased or have a conservation easement for these parcels being considered.
I always support open space. The County should always consider an open space for each development project. Hind sight will not protect
what could have been. When I look up at the developments in the Wailuku Heights area, I think how sad for the residents and for everyone that looks that way that there is no open space to break up the glut of roof tops. We owe it to the future to leave some Green.
Aloha .. i am writing to support the Sierra Club in their efforts to have a designated park in the Wailea 670 area .. however .. i would hope that there be NO CONSTRUCTION in this area .. we do not have the infrastructure in place to support more housing .. enough already ! .. traffic is at a standstill during the day on the highway around the area .. make the area a park .. Maui needs to have more open space !
Hundreds of luxury homes are currently planned, and there are only a few remaining opportunities for open space in the area, which is full of Hawaiian archaeological sites. Please help protect them! Open spaces support our physical, mental, and emotional well being and help preserve our natural and cultural landscapes.
Please save some space in our south shores for everyone to feel the blessed openness and peace of that area.
We already have so many part-time wealthy taking up valuable space, rarely even living in the homes. There are also far too many plazas in malls on our small island in my opinion. The black walls of construction go up and it's a mystery until they're down what will be revealed.
Thank you for listening to a residentʻs point of view.
Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space: To honor the traditional ahupuaʻa name of Paeahu, this open space should be called “Paeahu Park.”
This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected. The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes. If the land is developed, it will require massive blasting and will worsen the already problematic drainage issues in the area. Since Maui Meadows has over 800 residents but no real parks, this open space, an easy walk from Maui Meadows, would benefit the community.
I live in Maui Meadows and have watched the increase of high end housing projects on my drive to Ahihi. Paving and building over paradise with increased water, energy, internet, sewer and traffic needs does not seem to be factored in. We need more open land space!! Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space. This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected. The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes – developing will require massive blasting and will worsen already problematic drainage issues. Most come here for the beauty, please help keep Maui beautiful and healthy!!!
I am a born and raised Maui resident. On a recent hike with the Sierra Club at Wahinepe’e, I realized that we are missing out on the best parts of Maui: forests, waterfalls, birds chirping, sunshine on the moss covered trees.
Please make open space a priority.
On another hike on the Lipoa Trail, I commented to my grandson, “Look and remember this landscape. When I was growing up the whole Kihei and Wailea looked like this!” Within a few years this area will be all developed.
We have a responsibility to this island and kanaka maoli who remain. We have to preserve what’s left before there is no more. That should be of the utmost priority. No need more luxury houses or hotels.
People are already using this area as a park. It seems that most land is used for building fancy expensive malls & housing which the people who live there cannot afford. They need affordable housing. They also benefit from open space on land that is dry forest and is not protected. Setting aside this land would contribute to local business, to wildlife protection, to recreational possibilities and preservation of important archeoigical sites.
I cannot believe what I am seeing today as we fight multiple battles: affordable housing and environment are of the utmost concern on Maui and there should be a marriage between the two, not a moratorium that destroys property rights and the ability to work with the land and create property awareness for maintenance of the sensitive areas.
I support wetlands protections for the Waipuilani and Kulanihakoi gulches and beach reserve. The county should purchase and protect these gulches and reserves
This list includes private property that landowners pay property taxes on. ANYONE who writes in to support this should include their property Tax Map Key to be added to the list of properties that the County should acquire as open space. These people obviously support the motion of taking and are volunteering their property. This is a broad overreach of government and in no way should ever pass. Gabe Johnson, please include your and your family's owned property on this list as well.
RE: Testimony for County Council ADEPT Committee 6/22/2023
Hello, my name is David Dorn. Today I am testifying as a private citizen.
Wetlands Study 2021 and 2023:
I have been researching and studying South Maui wetlands since 2021 under several grants from Maui County (2021 and 2023), through the South Maui Save the Wetlands Hui, and Hawaiian Islands Land HILT. The Hui was tasked to study and identify South Maui's remaining wetlands and provide an inventory to the County. The 2021 Study identified over 90 wetlands and essential features. My job entailed research, mapping and aerial surveying, site-specific photogrammetric data collection, as well as studying the surrounding watershed, features and function, with respect to drainage, in particular flooding, and flood risk management.
The TMK Lots listed in this document for conservation, are some of the most at-risk wetlands and watershed features in Maui County. These lots form part of larger systems that are an integral part of the drainage and watershed infrastructure. These lots are critical to the function of the watershed, in particular the ability of the watershed to convey stormwaters, and provide proper drainage in flood-prone areas such as South Maui’s “Kihei Floodplain”.
There are many more lots than these that are part of these essential systems of drainageways and hydrological pathways. These watershed systems include all the gulches, streams, and the wetlands that are part of the “natural watershed infrastructure”. Many of these TMKs correspond to areas identified for acquisition in the KDMP (Kihei Drainage Master Plan), and the SWMWP (Southwest Maui Watershed Plan). Their importance to the viability of the watershed has long been recognized.
These lots not only provide flood mitigation, they also support the various ecosystems from mauka to makai. The wetlands and gulches provide conditions for vegetation that anchors the soil and they also provide pathways for surface runoff, as well as a pathway for surface water to pass to the groundwater. Natural surfaces in green areas and open space are typically highly porous and allow for the maximum penetration of stormwater into the ground. The preservation of porous surfaces is essential, and the importance of porous surfaces in the watershed should not be overlooked or underestimated.
A large portion of the rainwater South Maui receives quickly passes into the groundwater, and travels towards the ocean. This includes the rainwater falling in the upper watershed and also locally in the coastal zone and floodplain as well. This groundwater also reappears in springs and wetlands. All South Maui Wetlands are therefore an essential part of the groundwater systems that support the aquifers and provide pathways for subsurface flows, even when the wetlands appear relatively dry on the surface.
South Maui’s Stormwater passes through watershed features such as gulches, streams, and wetlands, that form the various hydrological pathways and systems. Stormwater passes through wetlands below ground as groundwater and above ground and surface flow. So, it is imperative that all these wetlands retain their ability to function as passageways for the water as well as function as storehouses for stormwater.
The wetlands lots and remaining open spaces are all functioning stormwater wetlands, and have the ability to store millions of gallons of stormwater in the subsurface layer between the water table and the ground surface. However, they must remain porous in order to do this.
We cannot pave over these areas without losing stormwater storage capacity.
For every acre of paved surface in South Maui you lose somewhere between 400,000 gallons to 1,000,000 gallons of potential stormwater storage. (Based on Acre-foot 325,851 gallons, and the average water table depth of between 18 inches to 3 feet below the surface). This stormwater, if not sequestered, will create surface runoff and flow through South Maui neighborhoods.
In addition to the millions of gallons of subsurface stormwater storage capacity, these lots provide surface water storage capacity, as many of these lots naturally flood to a depth of 1 foot up to several feet deep. Surface runoff flows through these lots along surface water pathways, including the major and minor gulches, as well as many South Maui drainage ways and roadways. These lots are essential to the natural and urbanized drainage infrastructure. Because they are already part of the extant drainage systems that keep stormwater out of homes on off the streets.
Kihei has bad flooding problems now, but they are going to get much worse if we do not preserve these lots now. Housing and transport infrastructure are frequently impacted by flooding, and these floods will get worse if more open space is paved over.
Preserving these TMKs has benefits in disaster prevention, and will help to preserve public safety during natural events such as Kona storms and Hurricanes.
Many of these lots are also candidates for wetlands restoration work which can further enhance or restore wetlands functions and in particular, the many beneficial wetlands services. These wetlands services include the attenuation and mitigation of stormwater runoff. (Detention capacity, and the filtration of stormwater through sedimentation, and biological processes).
Wetlands, when healthy, also have the ability to remove many pollutants including many chemicals, and contaminants including heavy metals etc, that are hazardous to humans and the environment. Wetlands have the ability to intercept and mitigate a great deal of polluted stormwater runoff before it enters the ocean and causes harm to ocean habitats, coral reefs, and marine species.
With regards to the Priority of Acquisition of these lots listed in this document, In general, I recommend that we save the estuaries and gulches first, and work our way up the slope along the streams and gulches towards the headwaters and catchment areas. However it is important to note that we do need to preserve all of these to have a fully functioning watershed (in proper functioning condition, “PFC”), but the highest priority should be given to the lots close to the shoreline in the major gulches.
However, we also need to preserve the landlocked wetlands that are (cryptorheic basins) that have no outlets to the ocean, because they are the only available retention basins that receive the stormwater that would otherwise flood low-lying areas, including densely-populated neighborhoods. Examples include the Halama Street wetlands. These wetlands are simply irreplaceable and cannot be replicated with any engineered mitigation solutions.
Importance of these 91 TMK Lots:
Our studies have identified these 91 lots as being part of wetland systems and essential watershed features.
And in most cases, wetland systems consist of several TMK Lots. (Example, the “Halama Wetland” comprises about 10 TMKs).
Wetlands systems and essential watershed features should be considered in their entirety and not piecemealed into separate TMKs.
Further study of the wetlands will likely expand on this list of TMKs as we learn more about the various subsurface systems connecting these features.
The 2023 Wetlands study TMK inventory lists over 130 TMK lots, and that list is growing.
All of the 91 TMK Lots identified in the 2021 Wetlands Study, are important and should be forwarded to the Preservation Committee for their consideration.
Regards,
David Dorn
Aloha committee!
Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space. It will improve the quality of life for all current residents and prevent problems that occur from over development, like flooding and traffic which are already huge problems in Kihei. Thank you for your consideration.
Please see attached files for powerpoint presentation and spreadsheet that correlates mapped wetlands to numbered TMKs in Exhibit A
Aloha,
I ask the committee to designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space:
This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected.
Many residents already utilize this land as a passive park.
The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes – developing will require massive blasting and will worsen already problematic drainage issues.
Maui Meadows has over 800 residents but no real parks. This open space would be an easy walk from Maui Meadows.
To honor the traditional ahupuaʻa name of Paeahu, this open space should be called “Paeahu Park.”
An unfortunate lack of planning has resulted in a highway along our shoreline through Kihei. What could have been a remarkable oceanside park is greatly less due to lack of planning and acquisition by the county. Here is an opportunity to improve Kihei for future generations. I thank you in advance for creating this legacy.
Sincerely, Mary McClung Law
Maui resident since 2000
Open space for South Kihei
I am a local who grew up in south Maui and truly appreciate this area of Paeahu for its natural beauty. We need some open space in south Maui for our mental well-being and too little remains. This spot is very worthy of protection due to its beautiful natural open space views of Haleakala and the ocean. I walk my dog here and find peace here every time. I see many others doing the same. Over the years I have also walked the land mauka and have seen numerous arch sites as well. Paeahu is a unique area with unique lava formations but much of it has been destroyed. Please walk Kapili Street to see the area for yourself if you haven't done so. It really is a special spot and compliments the adjacent Kilohana Park which people also love. I also drive tourists around and hear many of them complain about the changes that have happened to the lands in Wailea. Please help protect this last remaining jewel in Wailea, it's the right thing to do. Mahalo!
I strongly support preservation of open space in Wailea and South Kihei. We live on Wailea Alanui Drive, right across the street from parcel SF-S and just two blocks from Ledcor’s Lot 130. We are alarmed by the dwindling open space in our neighborhood, where we and many residents walk daily. We enjoy seeing the wildlife, especially pueo, and the views of Haleakala that the remaining undeveloped properties support. The massive luxury complex that Ledcor is building nearby at La’i Loa completely blocks the mauka view from the street now. (It is also very unsightly).
When these two properties are developed, we will have no open space remaining in our neighborhood. In addition, it is very disturbing to me to see the continued wholesale destruction of the natural and cultural landscape in south Kihei and Wailea. Please preserve open space in the SF-S parcel and create a park honoring the Paeahu ahapua'a for the future.
I have walked with Ledcor’s archaeologists and other citizen groups on Lot 130 and have seen first hand the impressive cultural complex there as well as the spectacular drainage channels. I urge you to preserve open space here, too, that would encompass the largest extent of these important sites and waterways as possible. Mahalo for your time
I am in favor of open space, having lived on Maui since 1976. There is very little left. We need the wet lands and park space. Please ask for land to be donated, purchased or have a conservation easement for these parcels being considered.
Mary Groode, dechenmaui@gmail.com . (808)283-7889
I always support open space. The County should always consider an open space for each development project. Hind sight will not protect
what could have been. When I look up at the developments in the Wailuku Heights area, I think how sad for the residents and for everyone that looks that way that there is no open space to break up the glut of roof tops. We owe it to the future to leave some Green.
Aloha .. i am writing to support the Sierra Club in their efforts to have a designated park in the Wailea 670 area .. however .. i would hope that there be NO CONSTRUCTION in this area .. we do not have the infrastructure in place to support more housing .. enough already ! .. traffic is at a standstill during the day on the highway around the area .. make the area a park .. Maui needs to have more open space !
Hundreds of luxury homes are currently planned, and there are only a few remaining opportunities for open space in the area, which is full of Hawaiian archaeological sites. Please help protect them! Open spaces support our physical, mental, and emotional well being and help preserve our natural and cultural landscapes.
Please save some space in our south shores for everyone to feel the blessed openness and peace of that area.
We already have so many part-time wealthy taking up valuable space, rarely even living in the homes. There are also far too many plazas in malls on our small island in my opinion. The black walls of construction go up and it's a mystery until they're down what will be revealed.
Thank you for listening to a residentʻs point of view.
Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space: To honor the traditional ahupuaʻa name of Paeahu, this open space should be called “Paeahu Park.”
This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected. The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes. If the land is developed, it will require massive blasting and will worsen the already problematic drainage issues in the area. Since Maui Meadows has over 800 residents but no real parks, this open space, an easy walk from Maui Meadows, would benefit the community.
I live in Maui Meadows and have watched the increase of high end housing projects on my drive to Ahihi. Paving and building over paradise with increased water, energy, internet, sewer and traffic needs does not seem to be factored in. We need more open land space!! Please designate the 23-acre parcel next to Wailea Dog Park ("SF-S” on Wailea Map) as open space. This parcel is rich in undocumented cultural sites that should be protected. The parcel contains steep, bluerock slopes – developing will require massive blasting and will worsen already problematic drainage issues. Most come here for the beauty, please help keep Maui beautiful and healthy!!!
I am a born and raised Maui resident. On a recent hike with the Sierra Club at Wahinepe’e, I realized that we are missing out on the best parts of Maui: forests, waterfalls, birds chirping, sunshine on the moss covered trees.
Please make open space a priority.
On another hike on the Lipoa Trail, I commented to my grandson, “Look and remember this landscape. When I was growing up the whole Kihei and Wailea looked like this!” Within a few years this area will be all developed.
Please protect our natural landscapes.
We have a responsibility to this island and kanaka maoli who remain. We have to preserve what’s left before there is no more. That should be of the utmost priority. No need more luxury houses or hotels.
People are already using this area as a park. It seems that most land is used for building fancy expensive malls & housing which the people who live there cannot afford. They need affordable housing. They also benefit from open space on land that is dry forest and is not protected. Setting aside this land would contribute to local business, to wildlife protection, to recreational possibilities and preservation of important archeoigical sites.