Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District 77 Hookele St., Suite 202, Kahului, HI 96732
TO: Budget, Finance, and Economic Development and Committee Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura
Vice Chair Tasha Kama Council Member Tom Cook Council Member Gabe Johnson Council Member Alice Lee Council Member Tamara Paltin
Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez Council Member Shane Sinenci
Council Member Nohelani U’u-Hodgins

Date: April 16, 2025
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Funding for the Maui Soil and Water Conservation Districts

The Maui Soil and Water Conservation Districts appreciates the County of Maui’s long-standing support towards protecting Maui’s precious soil and water resources. The Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts are in support of the Mayor’s proposal of funding for the Districts. The SWCDs are legally constituted, self- governing units under the Hawaii Soil and Water Conservation Law, Chapter 180. We were organized as volunteers of the State of Hawaii for the protection and conservation of soil and water resources in the interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of people in this region.

The SWCDs have the responsibility to review plans developed for compliance with the County Grading Ordinance, as well as provide conservation plans that is required for agricultural land users. The districts review grading and grubbing plans, suggesting practices to comply with MS4 requirements as well as clearly defined metrics to guide DPW for regulatory needs. The SWCDs work with farm and ranch cooperators to develop conservation plans to minimize negative impacts of agriculture on natural resources.

Conservation plans for farmers and ranchers developed by our conservation specialists, with training and guidance from USDA-NRCS result in qualifying our farmers and ranchers for USDA Farm Bill cost share programs. The County coffers are leveraged with State and Federal funds resulting in the employment of Specialists to assist farmers and ranchers in developing conservation plans and applying for USDA Farm Bill Programs. Additionally, the SWCD programs, services, and projects include, but not limited to:

· Watershed Planning/Projects
· Conservation Education
· And Community Outreach

All programs involving SWCDs are community based. SWCD directors are citizens from their respective communities and welcome community input toward identifying natural resource problems. The SWCD Programs carry out their activities in partnership with County, State, Federal, and non-profit agencies.

April 16, 2025
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Funding for the Maui Soil and Water Conservation Districts Page 2

We would greatly appreciate your approval of the Maui SWCDs’ budget for much needed staff and operational cost to assist the voluntary board of directors of the four (4) Maui SWCDs. Demands on conservation planning have been growing and are expected to continue to rise due to major changes in agricultural activities in Central Maui, East Maui, Upcountry, and West Maui. The conservation plans are necessary to legally exempt farmers and ranchers from grading and grubbing permit requirements.

We respectfully request your support of funding for the SWCDs and appreciate the opportunity to testify. Should you have any questions, please contact me at (808) 242-8611.
Sincerely,

Mike Silva Secretary

Aloha,
I am writing as a lahui member to strongly oppose Bill 49. A 30% salary increase while we are still rebuilding a town is absurd and a slap in the face to every other county worker and all of our Lahaina 'ohana who are still suffering. As public servants, there is no justification for such a large increase. Do better.

Kawai Kaili
kailitessa@gmail.com

Aloha mai kākou, I am Tamara Sherrill, Executive Director of Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, which is located in Kahului at the old County Zoo site, across from the War Memorial Stadium. We are a 6 acre public native plant garden that has been open to the public 5 days a week for the last 24 years.
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens welcomes approximately 15,000 visitors a year, the majority of which are Maui residents. Of these, approximately 5,000 annual visitors are out-of-state visitors. These walk-in visitors are the main users of an audio tour app that works with the plant labels on 104 species; visitors use their smartphones to access audio recordings about the ethnobotanical uses of these labeled plants. We are especially proud of our crops cultivars collection of more than 100 historic Hawaiian varieties of kalo, ʻuala, kō, ʻawa, and maiʻa, which we grow, maintain, and distribute at cost or for free to anyone in state who wants to grow them. There is still much work to be done to verify and conserve these crop varieties, which were part of Maui’s history even before hula or other traditional Hawaiian arts developed. Canoe plants and indigenous or endemic species, especially that are unique to Maui Nui, are the only plants we grow. Every day we field emails, visits, and phone calls asking questions about landscaping and growing these plants and this demand has grown very much in the last 2 years.
Last year 180 volunteers donated 3,000 hours to maintain the public garden and events. We held 26 different native plant and ethnobotany workshops that included topics like recognizing ʻōhiʻa varieties in the field, growing and processing Hawaiian ʻawa varieties, and taste testing different kalo varieties. Three annual community events are held on site at MNBG throughout the year: Hoomau, the Hawaiian language immersion schools fundraiser; Lā ʻUlu, a celebration of ʻulu cooking, growing, and Pacific cultural uses; and Arbor Day, a promotional event to increase urban tree planting and care. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens donated 5,250 plants to Maui residents and holds plant sale fundraisers every week; hosted 63 school group field trips; and made 70 seed collection trips. Our seed storage facility is storing wild collected native species for 43 Maui conservation partners. In the past 5 years we have improved the leased area, which is owned by the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, by building a new nursery with two new storage and work area buildings, and replacing a large area of hazardous asphalt pathways with new, ADA compliant sidewalks. This year so far we have leveraged the value of the $150,000 line-item County grant by more than 3 times that amount. Mahalo for your attention.

Written testimony received as of 04/16/2025 at 7:45 a.m.

Dear Council members,

I am writing to express my stout opposition to Bill 49 (2025), which proposes to increase salaries within the Office of Council Services (OCS) by 30%. While I understand the importance of fair compensation, as a dedicated public servant myself, I am shocked and insulted by this proposed bill. It is deeply out of step with the financial reality facing our community.

Where would this ridiculous pay increase come from? Maui is still reeling from the devastating wildfires of 2023, we have a housing shortage on top of an affordability housing crisis, and inflation continues to rise as wages for civil servants fails to keep up. The message the Council is sending is that it is willing to match mainland salaries when it comes to its own offices, but could care less when addressing the chronically low pay of the County’s rank and file staff. It is a slap in the face to the public, to our Maui families who already struggle to afford rent, childcare, gas, and groceries, and to your own County employees who serve our community.

There is already a wage gap between OCS staff, who earn above-average compensation, compared to us civil servants across departments. This proposed bill would increase division and create tension between those in charge and those who do the less recognized tasks. If your goal is retention, start by supporting the entire County workforce with realistic, across-the-board measures, not by fast-tracking raises for the politically connected.

I urge this Council to reconsider this bill in its entirety. Passing Bill 49 (2025) would not only perpetuate inequity, but it would also do lasting damage to staff trust, interdepartmental unity, and the reputation of this body as responsible stewards of public resources. I was born and raised on Maui and am so proud to now serve my community as a civil servant. I know the County has a lot of ground to cover when it comes to financial equity, but this bill is an embarrassment and a poor step towards a better future for Maui.

Reject Bill 49 (2025). Do better for the people who keep our government running every day—not just the ones sitting closest to the Council Chambers.

Respectfully but firmly,
Jasmine Davis Ramirez, Ph.D., whose base salary was $52,000 last year
mailto:jccdavis13@gmail.com

Aloha Council Members,

My name is Deb Marois, and I serve as the Coordinator for Hoʻoikaika Partnership—a coalition of over 75 allied organizations working together to prevent child abuse and strengthen families in Maui County. Mahalo for recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention month, and the role of prevention in long-term recovery and resilience for Maui’s ʻohana and workforce.

In the wake of the 2023 wildfires, our work has become even more essential. Families are under immense strain, and our service providers are facing burnout. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are traumatic events that happen before age 18, include abuse, neglect, and other disruptions that undermine a child’s sense of safety and stability. ACEs can result in long-term health consequences and the risks increase as the number of ACEs increase. Nearly 1 in 5 (19.8%) of adults in Maui County have 4+ ACEs before age 18. And this was the statistic before the devastation of August 2023.

Research shows that we can prevent ACEs when we invest in family-centered solutions like paid leave, affordable childcare, and trauma-informed care. Research shows that every dollar invested in prevention yields up to $7 in savings through reduced healthcare and social service costs and lower incarceration rates.

At Hoʻoikaika Partnership, we educate families and policymakers about these issues, and we build platforms for providers to come together and coordinate care. Our coalition’s work directly strengthens family resilience and reduces long-term costs.

Since Governor Green designated Hawaiʻi as a trauma-informed state, we’ve made progress—but we still have far to go, especially here in Maui County post-disaster. Hoʻoikaika’s cross-sector model of collaboration helps us move from awareness to action. We’re educating families, supporting providers, and aligning services to prevent trauma and promote healing.

Hoʻoikaika Partnership steps in to fill pukas in our systems —connecting families to resources, supporting the workforce, and uniting agencies around prevention. In 2024, Hoʻoikaika Partnership reached over 3,500 families, adults and keiki, trained more than 200 professionals, and distributed more than 3,000 culturally rooted children’s books to promote protective factors and early literacy. Navigation Services were in high demand following the wildfire disaster. The Navigator directly assisted 459 families including 60 on Molokaʻi, distributing more than $147,000 in concrete supports, and also attended 13 outreach events. More than 100 providers from 28 agencies attended Healing the Healers sessions, held monthly throughout the year to help address vicarious trauma and prevent burnout.

But due to a gap in funding earlier this year, we had to pause both our Navigation Services and Healing the Healers peer support groups. We're grateful that new funding is allowing us to restart—but the instability cost us a staff member and momentum we’ve worked hard to build.

That’s why we humbly request a line item in the County budget to sustain and expand this critical work. These funds will allow us to:
• Provide "guide by the side" navigation services to 150–200 families, especially in rural areas like Molokaʻi, Hāna, and Lānaʻi;
• Continue Healing the Healers sessions to prevent provider burnout;
• Print and distribute 500+ “Kalo Boy” storybooks and other public education materials;
• Coordinate countywide collaboration through our coalition meetings, newsletters, and training sessions.

Our coalition is not a one-time project. It is the connective tissue that weaves together Maui’s social safety net. For the workforce, our partners value the collaboration and resource sharing, along with the relationship building that Hoʻoikaika Partnership offers. As one partner said, "We are all trying to find balance with life, work, and family, and these gatherings help us remember that we’re not alone."

We believe the County deserves a strong, connected workforce and that our ʻohana deserve sustained support—not just in times of crisis, but every day. We are already raising other funds through grants and donations—and we’re asking the County to invest in the infrastructure that makes all those efforts more effective. We urge you to support a dedicated line item in the budget for Hoʻoikaika Partnership so we can continue building a stronger, more resilient Maui County.

I’ve attached additional documents including our budget proposal, strategic plan, 2024 results and ACEs fact sheet. Please contact me as needed at 808-765-7254 or deb@convergecrt.com.

Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Deb Marois, Coordinator, Hoʻoikaika Partnership

Aloha Maui County Council Members,

My name is Jennifer Asuncion and I am a teacher at Kekaulike High School. I am testifying in STRONG SUPPORT of the Kekaulike High School Foundation’s Upcountry Winter Festival 2026. The festival includes a craft fair, holiday display, food trucks and booths, non-profit information booths, keiki games, and entertainment – not to mention that Santa and Mrs. Claus graced us with their presence!

Here are a few stats from 2024:
54 - Small businesses/vendors from our Maui community participated
15 - Kekaulike complex clubs and organizations participated from 4 of the 7 schools within the complex (66% increase from 2023)
60 - Volunteers came from the Upcountry community to make this festival successful
8 - Non-profit organizations provided information to festival goers on their mission and impact on the community
1,492 - Attendees were counted (a 36% increase from 2023)

In addition to the event serving as the Kekaulike High School Foundation's main fundraiser, it also serves as a fundraiser for complex clubs and organizations. This year, the 15 clubs and organizations that participated made well over $7500 in sales to help fund their activities.

The Kekaulike High School Foundation aims to support the ENTIRE Kekaulike complex, through scholarships for students and grants for teachers. With this event’s help, KHSF is on track to provide its own foundation scholarships to graduating seniors for the third consecutive year, with funds doubling from last year. This event also helped complex staff fund projects in areas ranging from elementary school robotics to high school science labs to multiple art classes to field trips to learn about our native bird species.

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in strong support of the Kekaulike High School Foundation and Upcountry Winter Festival 2026.
Jennifer Asuncion

Aloha Maui County Council members,

My name is Chloe Shim, and I am writing to you as a recent King Kekaulike High School graduate. I am not only a resident but also a strong advocate for education and community engagement.

I am testifying in STRONG SUPPORT of the Kekaulike High School Foundation’s Upcountry Winter Festival 2026.

The festival is a vibrant celebration that includes a craft fair, holiday displays, food trucks, nonprofit information booths, keiki games, and entertainment, including a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Here are some key highlights from the 2024 festival:

54 small businesses and vendors from our Maui community participated.

15 clubs and organizations from the Kekaulike complex, representing 4 of the 7 schools within the complex, saw a 66% increase in participation from 2023.

60 volunteers from the Upcountry community generously contributed to the festival's success.

8 nonprofit organizations shared valuable information about their missions and impact with festival attendees.

We counted 1,492 attendees, marking a 36% increase from the previous year.

In addition to being a cornerstone event for the Kekaulike High School Foundation, the festival also serves as a critical fundraiser for complex clubs and organizations. In 2024, these groups collectively raised over $7,500 to support their activities.

The Kekaulike High School Foundation plays a vital role in supporting the entire Kekaulike complex, providing scholarships for students and grants for teachers. Thanks to the success of this event, the foundation is on track to double its scholarship funds compared to last year, benefiting graduating seniors for the third consecutive year. Moreover, funds from the festival have enabled staff across our complex to undertake essential projects, from robotics programs in elementary schools to advanced science labs in high schools, as well as numerous enriching art classes and educational field trips.

On a personal note, I am proud to share that I was a recipient of one of the 2025 scholarships from the Kekaulike High School Foundation. The funds have been invaluable in supporting the cost of my books and tuition, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity this has provided me as I continue my education at Santa Clara University.

Mahalo for considering my testimony in strong support of the Kekaulike High School Foundation and the Upcountry Winter Festival 2026.

Warm regards,
Chloe Shim
Ckshim06@gmail.com