Aloha Councilmembers, I support the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically itʻs important to include the amended versionsʻ definition of an encampment and inclusion of Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill.
Studies commissioned by the County agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice of sweeps to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy. If youʻre worried about cleanliness, start by providing things like trash pickup and see how much that helps.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, you need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. Please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind.
Hi Chair & Councilmembers, I want to thank you for all your hard work on our behalf. You really are a lifeline to our community.
Imagine this: very dry conditions, red alert high winds, low humidity, and then fires are ignited intentionally by persons on Holomua.
The result is Paia & Kuau will be burned to the ground, just like Lahaina. Most of the structures are wooden and old.
If you want to save this area, do what you need to do to remove the fire risk ASAP.
Mahalo.
Written Testimony on Bill 111
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
My name is Darla Palmer-Ellingson, and I am speaking today as a private citizen regarding Bill 111. I support this bill if further revisions are undertaken.
I appreciate the intent of this bill and the recognition that homelessness requires attention and action. However, I am concerned that the measures outlined may not meaningfully change the current cycle of sweeping individuals from place to place without addressing underlying causes.
My Experience
In 2022, I witnessed a senior woman in my neighborhood in Haʻikū sleeping by the side of the road. Her husband had become critically ill, and she ended up evicted with no possessions, living outside while grieving separation from her husband, and with no support. A group of neighbors—including myself—stepped in to provide a safer location, food, water, sanitation, and rides so she could visit her husband at Hale Makua.
Despite our best efforts, it took over two years for her to find stable housing. During that time, we encountered many systemic barriers: long delays between referrals, paperwork that was misplaced and had to be repeated, lack of updated shelter information, and services that were simply inaccessible without reliable transportation, phone, or internet. Even though a full assessment was done, the individual we were helping falls in a grey area between mental health housing and regular homeless services, with neither prospect having immediate availability. Currently, a homeless person must call the shelter every day at 8am to see if there is a bed open, then get there immediately. Even with multiple people advocating on her behalf, it was almost impossible for us to navigate the system, let alone someone in her situation.
Observations of the System
Through this experience, I observed:
• Fragmented services with long delays in communication and referrals.
• Barriers to access, especially for those without technology or transportation, and suffering from issues, in this case mental anguish.
• Overextended staff who are deeply committed but overwhelmed by high caseloads.
• Gaps in planning that fail to meaningfully involve the unhoused community.
In addition, I believe it is important for the Council to be aware of community concerns regarding how public funding is administered from the state to the designated faith-based nonprofit on Maui. For example, I experienced challenges in communication that were only solved with support from the Governor’s homeless liaison, and heard consistent concerns from others about transparency, program oversight, and whether public dollars are being distributed equitably. I raise these concerns not to cast blame on any one organization, but to ensure that public resources are stewarded with transparency and fairness for the benefit of the entire community, and that taxpayer funds are used effectively and with accountability.
Housing First in Name Only
The term Housing First, is a well-defined, national model focused on immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions, combined with supportive services. However, what I have seen in practice does not reflect this approach. To truly implement a Housing First model, I urge the Council to:
• Ensure immediate and low-barrier access to housing options, not just shelters. We did it for fire survivors, proving we can get rapid basic housing accomplished. Studies show this is a more financially viable option than shelter expansion.
• Expand the homeless services workforce and provide fair compensation to reduce burnout and turnover.
• Establish real-time, transparent systems for bed and housing availability, and improve systems and transportation to access services.
• Involve people with lived experience of homelessness in policy design and implementation, including those that are currently unhoused.
• Protect personal property and uphold the dignity of the unhoused, avoiding enforcement approaches that criminalize poverty.
• Expand resources beyond survival to help people regain stability and thrive.
Moving Forward
If we want to reduce unsheltered homelessness, not treat this section of our community like criminals, expand resources, and create pathways to stability, we must go beyond managing encampments. We must commit to a coordinated, comprehensive, Housing First strategy, be open to contemporary solutions that work, with efforts backed by transparency, accountability, and compassion.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our community.
Respectfully,
Darla Palmer-Ellingson
I am writing to oppose Bill 111. Bill 111 will create delays in reducing wildfire risk. It will extend the time that the houseless living in the Holomua encampment or any Maui roadside encampment will be at risk in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
My family has lived in Kuau for over 30 years. We own two homes less than half a mile from Holomua Road. We are extremely concerned about wildfire risk enhanced by the large homeless encampment near the Old Maui High School directly upwind from our homes. Last year there were over 100 brush fires or car fires on Holomua Road. Recently, on August 17, there were stacked pallets and brush on fire at the Holomua homeless encampment. There was another brush fire on Holomua on August 20. These fires not only threaten our Kuau community they also threaten the health and safety of those living in the unsafe conditions at the Holomua encampment.
Please do not pass Bill 111.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration,
Kitty Walsh
kitty.d.walsh@gmail.com
Aloha Councilmembers, I am supportive of the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically the parts that are important to include are the ways the amended versions define an encampment and put Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill as it is.
Studies commissioned by the County of Maui agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support the most. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, they need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I ask that you please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind and implement research-based solutions to avoid creating a cycle of trauma that benefits no one.
Aloha,
Kuau residents have been pleading for support and are waiting to be heard. Any legislation that postpones enforcement for even a few weeks—let alone more than a month—jeopardizes lives and property. We are still waiting for action on the Holomua gate through Bill 95; adding new delays will only worsen an already escalating situation across the island.
Instead of streamlining solutions, Bill 111 adds layers of delay and regulation, especially around clearing dangerous encampments in high-risk areas like Holomua. Extending notice periods—even in cases of clear hazards—places more emphasis on procedural formalities than on the immediate safety of residents, enforcement of existing laws, and wildfire prevention.
We don't feel safe in our own neighborhood.
Mahalo.
As Kūʻau residents, we oppose Bill 111 in order to allow immediate action when the safety of our community is needed.
As proposed, it would create MORE delays and red tape when it comes to removing unsafe encampments—especially in high-risk areas like Holomua. While it claims to codify processes, it also opens the door to extending notice periods, even when urgent violations are present. It seems to be more geared towards the HOUSING issue vs. fire safety, legal enforcement and public risk. All that puts our neighborhood still in a dangerous position.
There were over 100 fires on Holomua in the last year—all human-caused. This is a high-risk wildfire zone, upwind from neighborhoods, with overgrown brush, flammable debris, and abandoned vehicles—all violations.
Any bill that delays law enforcement—even for 10 to 45 days—puts families and properties at immediate risk. We cannot wait for more permitting and paperwork while fires continue to ignite weekly. We have been waiting for Bill 95’s permitting for the Holomua gate. This is more waiting, be Holomua or any location on island where this issue is RAPIDLY increasing.
These encampments have personal impacts to homeowners, businesses and neighbors from these ongoing conditions. We fully support housing solutions and compassionate outreach. But fire safety must be non-negotiable. Waiting could cost lives. This time, energy and efforts would be better spent following through with the safe parking spaces for these encampment people.
Aloha Councilmembers, I am supportive of the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically the parts that are important to include are the ways the amended versions define an encampment and put Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill as it is.
Studies commissioned by the County of Maui agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support the most. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, they need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I ask that you please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind and implement research-based solutions to avoid creating a cycle of trauma that benefits no one.
Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
My name is Melissa Noble Brown, a resident of Maui County concerned about the ongoing challenges of homeless individuals and encampments, drug use, crime and the general public decay I see in our county.
I do offer my support for Bill 111, which amends Title 9 of the Maui County Code to revamp procedures for relocating individuals and managing personal property in public spaces.
As outlined in the bill, its purpose is to provide procedures for compassionate relocations, including offering access to behavioral health support, housing transitions, and other services within available resources. By requiring advance notices, the presence of outreach providers during removals, and the establishment of temporary refuges offering shelter, medical care, and storage—this legislation prioritizes dignity and support over punitive measures….. This next phrase is where my support stops. As written: “These provisions are crucial for Maui, where we must balance the needs of our unhoused population with the well-being of our broader community.”
I am assuming the phrase “well-being of our broader community” refers to us everyday taxpaying citizens, the citizens who will pay to fund these programs, and the balancing therefore should be weighed in our favor of our needs and consider what is crucial to us, “the broader community.”
1) Safety within our community: Crime is out of control as evidenced by recent horrific crime events both publicized and kept on the down low. I’m genuinely afraid to drive in Kahului at night due to people wandering the streets in dark clothing and I won’t see them and I’m not alone in this fear
2) Health and hygiene: Bluntly, Maui in general looks like crap. Everyone seems concerned about pollution while there is garbage, debris, human feces and urine and most importantly PEOPLE strewn all across our county on roadways, sidewalks, BEACHES, public parks. Parks and beaches literally STINK. Public restroom facilities (if you can find one open and not destroyed due to vandalism) are disgusting and dangerous (except in Wailea and Kaanapali)
3) FIRE HAZARDS – I don’t think I need to say any more on that. We all see it and are fearful of another disaster (small disasters occur almost daily at Holomua Road, Piihana Road, now Upcounty too)
We must confront the root causes of homelessness head-on: drug addiction and mental health issues. Federal data indicates that nearly two-thirds of individuals experiencing homelessness report regular use of hard drugs such as methamphetamines and fentanyl, while a significant portion also suffer from serious mental health conditions. Ignoring these underlying factors perpetuates a cycle of instability and fails to deliver lasting solutions.
the Federal Executive Order “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” issued on July 24, 2025, directs federal agencies to prioritize funding for states and localities that enforce prohibitions on urban camping and address homelessness through mandatory treatment, including assisted outpatient programs and civil commitment for those unable to care for themselves due to addiction or mental illness. It shifts away from “Housing First” models that deprioritize treatment, instead conditioning housing assistance on participation in behavioral health services to promote recovery and self-sufficiency. Additionally, it emphasizes public safety by supporting the removal of encampments where necessary.
Bill 111 aligns with this federal directive by emphasizing access to services during relocations and incorporating behavioral health support but this MUST BE MANDATORY. Allowing mentally ill and drug addicted people to languish in decay and filth is not humane or compassionate.
I urge the Council to ensure that implementation of this bill incorporates the Executive Order’s focus on mandatory treatment options. For instance, when offering alternatives prioritize programs that require engagement with addiction recovery and mental health services to break the cycle of homelessness. I do not see one alternative within the proposal that requires engagement, only offers it as a choice.
News flash: Mentally ill and/or drug addicted people are not usually thinking clearly and will not choose treatment if given a choice.
This approach not only addresses immediate needs but also tackles the core issues driving the crisis, as evidenced by the order’s recognition that unchecked addiction and mental illness contribute to public disorder and higher homelessness rates.
Passing Bill 111 with an emphasis on integrating federal guidance will help Maui County, will help all citizens, lower crime rates, support vulnerable residents in achieving stability, and align local efforts with national priorities. This is an opportunity we have now in this time and I urge the council to take it for the sake of our Maui County citizens who are, frankly, fed up.
Aloha Councilmembers, I support the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically itʻs important to include the amended versionsʻ definition of an encampment and inclusion of Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill.
Studies commissioned by the County agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice of sweeps to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy. If youʻre worried about cleanliness, start by providing things like trash pickup and see how much that helps.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, you need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. Please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind.
Hi Chair & Councilmembers, I want to thank you for all your hard work on our behalf. You really are a lifeline to our community.
Imagine this: very dry conditions, red alert high winds, low humidity, and then fires are ignited intentionally by persons on Holomua.
The result is Paia & Kuau will be burned to the ground, just like Lahaina. Most of the structures are wooden and old.
If you want to save this area, do what you need to do to remove the fire risk ASAP.
Mahalo.
Written Testimony on Bill 111
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
My name is Darla Palmer-Ellingson, and I am speaking today as a private citizen regarding Bill 111. I support this bill if further revisions are undertaken.
I appreciate the intent of this bill and the recognition that homelessness requires attention and action. However, I am concerned that the measures outlined may not meaningfully change the current cycle of sweeping individuals from place to place without addressing underlying causes.
My Experience
In 2022, I witnessed a senior woman in my neighborhood in Haʻikū sleeping by the side of the road. Her husband had become critically ill, and she ended up evicted with no possessions, living outside while grieving separation from her husband, and with no support. A group of neighbors—including myself—stepped in to provide a safer location, food, water, sanitation, and rides so she could visit her husband at Hale Makua.
Despite our best efforts, it took over two years for her to find stable housing. During that time, we encountered many systemic barriers: long delays between referrals, paperwork that was misplaced and had to be repeated, lack of updated shelter information, and services that were simply inaccessible without reliable transportation, phone, or internet. Even though a full assessment was done, the individual we were helping falls in a grey area between mental health housing and regular homeless services, with neither prospect having immediate availability. Currently, a homeless person must call the shelter every day at 8am to see if there is a bed open, then get there immediately. Even with multiple people advocating on her behalf, it was almost impossible for us to navigate the system, let alone someone in her situation.
Observations of the System
Through this experience, I observed:
• Fragmented services with long delays in communication and referrals.
• Barriers to access, especially for those without technology or transportation, and suffering from issues, in this case mental anguish.
• Overextended staff who are deeply committed but overwhelmed by high caseloads.
• Gaps in planning that fail to meaningfully involve the unhoused community.
In addition, I believe it is important for the Council to be aware of community concerns regarding how public funding is administered from the state to the designated faith-based nonprofit on Maui. For example, I experienced challenges in communication that were only solved with support from the Governor’s homeless liaison, and heard consistent concerns from others about transparency, program oversight, and whether public dollars are being distributed equitably. I raise these concerns not to cast blame on any one organization, but to ensure that public resources are stewarded with transparency and fairness for the benefit of the entire community, and that taxpayer funds are used effectively and with accountability.
Housing First in Name Only
The term Housing First, is a well-defined, national model focused on immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions, combined with supportive services. However, what I have seen in practice does not reflect this approach. To truly implement a Housing First model, I urge the Council to:
• Ensure immediate and low-barrier access to housing options, not just shelters. We did it for fire survivors, proving we can get rapid basic housing accomplished. Studies show this is a more financially viable option than shelter expansion.
• Expand the homeless services workforce and provide fair compensation to reduce burnout and turnover.
• Establish real-time, transparent systems for bed and housing availability, and improve systems and transportation to access services.
• Involve people with lived experience of homelessness in policy design and implementation, including those that are currently unhoused.
• Protect personal property and uphold the dignity of the unhoused, avoiding enforcement approaches that criminalize poverty.
• Expand resources beyond survival to help people regain stability and thrive.
Moving Forward
If we want to reduce unsheltered homelessness, not treat this section of our community like criminals, expand resources, and create pathways to stability, we must go beyond managing encampments. We must commit to a coordinated, comprehensive, Housing First strategy, be open to contemporary solutions that work, with efforts backed by transparency, accountability, and compassion.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our community.
Respectfully,
Darla Palmer-Ellingson
Aloha Chair and Council Members,
I am writing to oppose Bill 111. Bill 111 will create delays in reducing wildfire risk. It will extend the time that the houseless living in the Holomua encampment or any Maui roadside encampment will be at risk in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
My family has lived in Kuau for over 30 years. We own two homes less than half a mile from Holomua Road. We are extremely concerned about wildfire risk enhanced by the large homeless encampment near the Old Maui High School directly upwind from our homes. Last year there were over 100 brush fires or car fires on Holomua Road. Recently, on August 17, there were stacked pallets and brush on fire at the Holomua homeless encampment. There was another brush fire on Holomua on August 20. These fires not only threaten our Kuau community they also threaten the health and safety of those living in the unsafe conditions at the Holomua encampment.
Please do not pass Bill 111.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration,
Kitty Walsh
kitty.d.walsh@gmail.com
Aloha Councilmembers, I am supportive of the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically the parts that are important to include are the ways the amended versions define an encampment and put Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill as it is.
Studies commissioned by the County of Maui agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support the most. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, they need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I ask that you please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind and implement research-based solutions to avoid creating a cycle of trauma that benefits no one.
Aloha,
Kuau residents have been pleading for support and are waiting to be heard. Any legislation that postpones enforcement for even a few weeks—let alone more than a month—jeopardizes lives and property. We are still waiting for action on the Holomua gate through Bill 95; adding new delays will only worsen an already escalating situation across the island.
Instead of streamlining solutions, Bill 111 adds layers of delay and regulation, especially around clearing dangerous encampments in high-risk areas like Holomua. Extending notice periods—even in cases of clear hazards—places more emphasis on procedural formalities than on the immediate safety of residents, enforcement of existing laws, and wildfire prevention.
We don't feel safe in our own neighborhood.
Mahalo.
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
As Kūʻau residents, we oppose Bill 111 in order to allow immediate action when the safety of our community is needed.
As proposed, it would create MORE delays and red tape when it comes to removing unsafe encampments—especially in high-risk areas like Holomua. While it claims to codify processes, it also opens the door to extending notice periods, even when urgent violations are present. It seems to be more geared towards the HOUSING issue vs. fire safety, legal enforcement and public risk. All that puts our neighborhood still in a dangerous position.
There were over 100 fires on Holomua in the last year—all human-caused. This is a high-risk wildfire zone, upwind from neighborhoods, with overgrown brush, flammable debris, and abandoned vehicles—all violations.
Any bill that delays law enforcement—even for 10 to 45 days—puts families and properties at immediate risk. We cannot wait for more permitting and paperwork while fires continue to ignite weekly. We have been waiting for Bill 95’s permitting for the Holomua gate. This is more waiting, be Holomua or any location on island where this issue is RAPIDLY increasing.
These encampments have personal impacts to homeowners, businesses and neighbors from these ongoing conditions. We fully support housing solutions and compassionate outreach. But fire safety must be non-negotiable. Waiting could cost lives. This time, energy and efforts would be better spent following through with the safe parking spaces for these encampment people.
Mahalo for your time and service,
Kuʻau Residents
Aloha Councilmembers, I am supportive of the amended versions of this bill from Committee Chair Sinenci & Councilmember Johnson. Without these amendments, the bill would be punitive and only contribute to the problem instead of the solution. Specifically the parts that are important to include are the ways the amended versions define an encampment and put Kānaka ʻŌiwi constitutional rights explicitly in writing. We must also require that adequate shelter for peopleʻs unique needs are met and stay in the bill as it is.
Studies commissioned by the County of Maui agree that sweeps contribute to the problem, not the solution by retraumatizing and destabilizing people who need our help and support the most. We should invest all the resources spent on this inhumane and outdated practice to create more shelters, safe parking, and self-managed puʻuhonua instead. Please refer to ECONorthwestʻs research for more information - we pay for these studies, we need to use the information in them to create fair and just policy.
Before any forced relocation, the County needs to ask: Are there pet-friendly, partner/family, ADA, and vehicle accommodations? Are beds proximate to jobs, schools, and medical care? Are they stable for more than a night or two? Has a Ka Paʻakai analysis been completed?
Unless the county can say yes to all of these questions, they need to hold off on doing anything until they can provide these BASIC things.
Mahalo nui for bringing this issue onto the agenda and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. I ask that you please amend this bill with compassion at the forefront of your mind and implement research-based solutions to avoid creating a cycle of trauma that benefits no one.
Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
My name is Melissa Noble Brown, a resident of Maui County concerned about the ongoing challenges of homeless individuals and encampments, drug use, crime and the general public decay I see in our county.
I do offer my support for Bill 111, which amends Title 9 of the Maui County Code to revamp procedures for relocating individuals and managing personal property in public spaces.
As outlined in the bill, its purpose is to provide procedures for compassionate relocations, including offering access to behavioral health support, housing transitions, and other services within available resources. By requiring advance notices, the presence of outreach providers during removals, and the establishment of temporary refuges offering shelter, medical care, and storage—this legislation prioritizes dignity and support over punitive measures….. This next phrase is where my support stops. As written: “These provisions are crucial for Maui, where we must balance the needs of our unhoused population with the well-being of our broader community.”
I am assuming the phrase “well-being of our broader community” refers to us everyday taxpaying citizens, the citizens who will pay to fund these programs, and the balancing therefore should be weighed in our favor of our needs and consider what is crucial to us, “the broader community.”
1) Safety within our community: Crime is out of control as evidenced by recent horrific crime events both publicized and kept on the down low. I’m genuinely afraid to drive in Kahului at night due to people wandering the streets in dark clothing and I won’t see them and I’m not alone in this fear
2) Health and hygiene: Bluntly, Maui in general looks like crap. Everyone seems concerned about pollution while there is garbage, debris, human feces and urine and most importantly PEOPLE strewn all across our county on roadways, sidewalks, BEACHES, public parks. Parks and beaches literally STINK. Public restroom facilities (if you can find one open and not destroyed due to vandalism) are disgusting and dangerous (except in Wailea and Kaanapali)
3) FIRE HAZARDS – I don’t think I need to say any more on that. We all see it and are fearful of another disaster (small disasters occur almost daily at Holomua Road, Piihana Road, now Upcounty too)
We must confront the root causes of homelessness head-on: drug addiction and mental health issues. Federal data indicates that nearly two-thirds of individuals experiencing homelessness report regular use of hard drugs such as methamphetamines and fentanyl, while a significant portion also suffer from serious mental health conditions. Ignoring these underlying factors perpetuates a cycle of instability and fails to deliver lasting solutions.
the Federal Executive Order “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” issued on July 24, 2025, directs federal agencies to prioritize funding for states and localities that enforce prohibitions on urban camping and address homelessness through mandatory treatment, including assisted outpatient programs and civil commitment for those unable to care for themselves due to addiction or mental illness. It shifts away from “Housing First” models that deprioritize treatment, instead conditioning housing assistance on participation in behavioral health services to promote recovery and self-sufficiency. Additionally, it emphasizes public safety by supporting the removal of encampments where necessary.
Bill 111 aligns with this federal directive by emphasizing access to services during relocations and incorporating behavioral health support but this MUST BE MANDATORY. Allowing mentally ill and drug addicted people to languish in decay and filth is not humane or compassionate.
I urge the Council to ensure that implementation of this bill incorporates the Executive Order’s focus on mandatory treatment options. For instance, when offering alternatives prioritize programs that require engagement with addiction recovery and mental health services to break the cycle of homelessness. I do not see one alternative within the proposal that requires engagement, only offers it as a choice.
News flash: Mentally ill and/or drug addicted people are not usually thinking clearly and will not choose treatment if given a choice.
This approach not only addresses immediate needs but also tackles the core issues driving the crisis, as evidenced by the order’s recognition that unchecked addiction and mental illness contribute to public disorder and higher homelessness rates.
Passing Bill 111 with an emphasis on integrating federal guidance will help Maui County, will help all citizens, lower crime rates, support vulnerable residents in achieving stability, and align local efforts with national priorities. This is an opportunity we have now in this time and I urge the council to take it for the sake of our Maui County citizens who are, frankly, fed up.
Thank you.