Aloha I am Virginia Sandell. I am a business owner on Market Street. . My husband adr 45 year residents of Wailuku. The Iao theater is the Grand Dame of Market Street, . Without the Iao Theater I fear what Market Street would become. We as a Community need the Arts. The Iao serves kids,,teens and adults. The roof really needs help. I wish you would help with the repairs. , How great would it be to have the building in great shape for the sake of Wailuku. I have been going to Iao Theater for 27 years. . It brings joy to the community. Let's keep THE IAO THEATER up and running with a new roof. All of Maui County comes to see shows. MAHALO.

Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Council,

My name is Christopher Garcia-Lick, and I am honored to serve on the board of Maui OnStage, the nonprofit organization housed in, and entrusted with, stewarding the Historic ʻĪao Theater in Wailuku.

I’m writing today in strong support of the proposed $1.2 million Capital Improvement Project allocation in the FY 2026 County budget for a new roof at the ʻĪao Theater.

The ʻĪao Theater is far more than just a building—it is the cultural heartbeat of Wailuku and one of the most enduring homes of the performing arts on Maui and in Hawaii. Its rich and varied history, spanning nearly a century, reflects the resilience and spirit of this island and its people. Generations of local artists, students, families, and audiences have passed through its doors. It stands today as a testament to the creative soul of our community.

But that soul now depends on urgent care. The roof has multiple serious leaks, and while our exceptional staff does everything they can to mitigate the damage, temporary fixes are no longer enough. Without this vital funding, the structure—and all it represents—is at real risk.

This investment is not just about preserving a historic building. It’s about ensuring that Maui’s keiki, kūpuna, and everyone in between continue to have access to a space where stories are shared, voices are heard, and culture is kept alive.

On behalf of the board and the entire Maui OnStage community, mahalo for considering this important funding. Your support helps protect a place that continues to inspire, educate, and unite.

Respectfully,

Christopher Garcia-Lick

Board Member, Maui OnStage

Aloha! My name is Christina Kailiponi and I am the Co-Director of the Maui OnStage Education and Youth Theatre Program. I am writing in support of funds to repair the roof of the Iao Theatre on Market Street. As you are aware the Iao Theatre is an historical landmark in Wailuku town. As a youth organization with produce 3 youth theatrical productions every year. Each production has approx 35 island keiki ranging in age of 6 to 17 participating at no cost to them and their families. Our children are always very excited to visit the theatre and perform on stage there. We also host visiting elementary school children who come on field trips to see our shows. Part of our rehearsal process is discussing the historical significance of the building and why it is important to take care of her. She's almost 100 years old! Our children know that it's important to care for the space and respect the theatre by cleaning up after themselves. I would love to be able to share with our students that the County of Maui feels the same way and wants help fix her roof. Many of our students see the Iao as a safe and judgement free zone, I am thankful that this is being proposed in the budget and will be forever grateful to have the Iao leak-free for generations to come. Mahalo nui Loa!

Testimony in Support of Additional Funding for the Iao Theater Roof Replacement Project

Aloha Chair and Council Members,
Mahalo for the opportunity to submit testimony today. I’m writing in support of the Iao Theater, a treasured historic and cultural landmark in Wailuku, to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support — and to respectfully ask for your consideration of additional funding to support the re-roofing of the theater.

The Iao Theater has served Maui’s community for a century as of next year, providing a stage for countless stories, songs, and shared experiences. It is more than just a building, it’s a home for local performers, a place for youth to discover the arts, and a cornerstone of Wailuku’s revitalization and identity.

Over the years, the theater has aged, and its roof is now in critical condition. We have done our best to manage the situation with temporary solutions: patchwork repairs, strategically placed buckets to catch rainwater, and volunteers showing up with mops after every heavy storm. While these measures have helped us stay afloat, they are no longer sustainable — and they place our performers, audiences, and historic interior at risk every time it rains.

The roof replacement project will be complex, multi-phased, and very costly. But it is essential. The funding already allocated is an incredible step forward, and we are deeply grateful for it. However, due to the scope of the work, increasing material and labor costs, and the historical preservation standards we must meet, additional funding would go a long way in ensuring this project is completed properly, safely, and without further delay.

We respectfully ask the Council to consider increasing the allocation for the Iao Theater roof project. Any additional support you can provide would make a tremendous difference. not just to the physical structure, but to the future of the arts on Maui. Every dollar invested into this project protects not only a building, but a space where our community can continue to gather, create, and thrive.

Mahalo for your time, your leadership, and your continued support of the Iao Theater.

With appreciation,
Andrea Finkelstein, Maui OnStage Board Member, Kahului Resident

Testimony in Support of Roof Repairs for the Historic ʻĪao Theater

Aloha Chair and Members of the County Council,

My name is Dennis Mitchell, I am a Wailuku resident and I volunteer with Maui OnStage at the Historic ʻĪao Theater, mostly helping out with set construction and general building maintenance. I’m here today to ask for your support of the proposed $1.2 million in funding for critical roof repairs to this nearly 100-year-old building.

The ʻĪao Theater is a major part of Wailuku’s history and a cornerstone of the arts here on Maui. Built in 1931, it’s one of the last remaining historic theaters in the state, and it’s still going strong—thanks in large part to the dedication of the community and a lot of volunteer hours.

I’ve spent countless weekends working behind the scenes—literally—helping to build sets, repair walls, and patch things up just to keep the place running. But the roof is well beyond patch jobs. It leaks during heavy rains, and every time that happens, we’re risking damage not just to the building itself, but to the lighting, sound equipment, costumes, sets, and the safety of everyone inside.

Maui OnStage, a small nonprofit with deep roots in our community (in existence since 1931), works tirelessly to keep this historic venue active and accessible. We offer affordable performances, youth education programs, and a stage for local artists and organizations. But we cannot tackle a repair of this magnitude alone.

This funding would go a long way toward protecting the theater and allowing us to focus on what really matters—supporting the arts, providing opportunities for local talent, and keeping this special place alive for future generations.

I respectfully ask that you approve this important investment in preserving a vital piece of Maui’s history and community life.

Mahalo for your time and consideration.

aloha,
I am Kristi Scott resident of Maui.
The Historical Iao Theater is an iconic landmark for the town of Wailuku. This building has been an important part of the history of Maui from the early movies, to being a shelter and now housing a place for Maui communities to meet, perform, talk story, learn from Keiki to Kapuna. This building must continue, For the continued safety of the building and the community that uses please vote yes to the funds to repair the roof.

Mahalo

Aloha esteemed Committee,

My name is Shane Borge and I am a local boy from Ha’iku who currently lives in Waikapu. I am a performing artist and also the current sitting president of the Board of Directors for Maui Onstage. I am writing to you all today to speak about the importance of the 'Iao Theater and its nearly 100-year history in Wailuku. For generations, this iconic venue has been a cornerstone of our community—a place where keiki (children) and kupuna (elders) alike have gathered to celebrate the arts, share in the magic of storytelling, and create lasting memories. It has been a beacon of culture and creativity in Wailuku, and it continues to inspire all who step through its doors.
Growing up, the 'Iao Theater was always a staple in my life. Whether it was a school performance, a community theater production, or a concert, the theater has provided countless opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the arts. It has been a space where aspiring performers could find their voice, where families could bond over a shared experience, and where the spirit of Aloha was brought to life on stage. Over the last 15 years, Maui OnStage has been privileged to call the 'Iao Theater home. We've witnessed firsthand how this historic venue has become even more vital to our community, drawing in people from all walks of life—many of whom have never set foot inside before. But as we’ve continued to nurture the arts in this beloved space, it has become abundantly clear that maintaining a theater of this magnitude is no small feat. As a non-profit organization, Maui OnStage cannot bear the full responsibility of keeping the theater open and operational without significant support from our community, local businesses, and patrons.

The 'Iao Theater is more than just a building—it is a symbol of Wailuku's rich history and cultural legacy. It is a hub for the arts, a place where young performing artists can learn, grow, and be inspired. It is a gathering place for the Maui community, where people come together to celebrate not just theater, but the values that make our island special: creativity, collaboration, and the spirit of community. We must continue to preserve this treasure for future generations. Maui OnStage is committed to ensuring that the 'Iao Theater remains a vibrant, thriving space for the arts for many years to come. We believe in its potential to inspire young performers, to connect people through shared artistic experiences, and to continue to serve as a cultural cornerstone in Wailuku. But we cannot do it alone. We need the continued support of our community to ensure the future of this remarkable theater.
Together, we can ensure that the 'Iao Theater remains a lasting part of Wailuku’s history, and a place that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of our children, our families, and our island community for generations to come.

Mahalo nui loa,

Shane Borge

Hello, my name is Rita Whitford, I am 84 yrs old and I live on Malaihi Road in Upper Waiehu. I have been involved in theater for 50 years, Maui Youth Theater (MAPA), Baldwin Theater Guild BTG, Maui Community Theater. I am here to speak on behalf of roof repair to the Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku.

For info, Iao Theater was built in 1928 as a movie theater. There were 7 theaters in town but only Iao remains. It hosted not only movies, but vaudeville shows, concerts, USO shows hosted by Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra’s opening of his movie “From Here to Eternity” and many other notables throughout the years. Maui Community Theater or as it is known nowadays as Maui On Stage took up residence in 1984 when its home, Old Territorial Bldg on the Maui Fairgrounds was burned down by an arsonist in 1984.

The only full-time staff member is Luana Whitford-Mitchell, so when it rains, she and her volunteer husband and son put the buckets in the spots of the theater known to leak, and there are many. Then they have to dump out the water collected and replace them. The roof had been replaced in 1994 by Hans Riecke. This predicament affects the audience seating in the theater as well as the actors on stage. .

I am heartily in favor of repairing or replacing the roof since the County of Maui owns the almost 100 year old historic building.

Aloha esteemed chair,

I am David Negaard, a resident of Wailuku and high school teacher at H.P. Baldwin High School. I am also a theatre artist (performance, production, design) and a member of the Maui OnStage board of directors.

The Maui OnStage Executive Director, Luana Whitford-Mitchell, informed us of the possibility that a capital improvement project (CIP) to remediate the Historic ʻĪao Theater could be a budget item for 2026 and onward. I strongly support such action; the Historic ʻĪao Theater is a gem on Market Street that has been a haven for me for almost 13 years, and Luana and the Board of Directors strive to be a good steward of the building where we make magic for our community. We are developing ways in which we can better serve more members of our community in the ʻĪao: we already operate a thriving Education and Youth program, a strong adult theatrical program, and rentals for and partnerships with arts organizations from dance studios to halau. We hope to do more FOR more in the years to come.

We are grateful to have such a beautiful and storied space in which to do our work, and want to see her flourish as she moves into her second century (she turns 100 in 2028). But as one might expect after 97 years, she is in need of support (a "lift") that is beyond the current means of our tiny non-profit. A CIP to address some of the physical challenges that an historic edifice inevitably faces is an investment in arts by and for Wailuku and Maui residents.

A commitment on the part of the county—to address the ʻĪao's physical needs—serves the patrons who come to participate in theatre, dance, story, and culture, as audience or participants, by ensuring their aesthetic experience, comfort, and safety.

We love this historic gem in the heart of Wailuku, and I strongly urge you to support her and ensure her presence for generations to come.

Mahalo,

Testimony by Luana Whitford-Mitchell of Maui OnStage