Aloha Chair Cook, Vice Chair Sugimura, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Paul Kosasa, and I am submitting testimony in strong support of Bill 110 and Bill 156. I serve as the President and CEO of ABC Stores and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110:
As we continue to navigate the complex process of rebuilding Lahaina, one of the greatest challenges has been the uncertainty surrounding procedures and timelines. These uncertainties have led to delays and confusion, hindering progress for many. Historically, Front Street operated under a system that fostered stability, clarity, and confidence. It worked—and it worked well.
We respectfully urge your support of Bill 110, which seeks to restore that proven process. Doing so will allow the rebuild to move forward more efficiently, providing the consistency our community needs to recover and thrive.
Regarding Bill 156:
This bill is a vital step toward preserving the historic charm and timeless character of Lahaina. These qualities have made Lahaina a beloved destination for both residents and visitors for generations. As we rebuild, it is essential that we honor the spirit of Lahaina—not only through its physical structures but through its aesthetics, cultural identity, and the energy that once filled its streets.
Supporting Bill 156 will help ensure that Lahaina is rebuilt in a way that respects its history, its people, and its unique sense of place.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and continued support of Lahaina’s recovery and future.
Respectfully,
Paul Kosasa
President & CEO ABC Stores
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
My name is McKinley Eads, and I am the project manager overseeing the rebuilding of 838 Front Street that was entirely destroyed by the Lahaina wildfires.
I am writing in strong support of Bill 110 (2024), which proposes to exempt properties impacted by the August 8, 2023, Maui wildfires from the requirement to improve adjacent public streets as a condition for rebuilding.
The devastation in Lahaina has left property owners facing unprecedented challenges. Requiring owners to undertake improvements such as pavement widening, sidewalk construction, curbs, drainage, signage, or utility relocation—as a condition of simply rebuilding—is not only grossly unfair and unjust, but entirely impractical. These requirements create unnecessary and costly barriers at a time when many of us are already overwhelmed by the logistical, financial, and emotional toll of recovery.
It’s also important to consider that Maui County has received $1.6 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, including $400 million specifically designated for infrastructure and public facilities. These public funds were allocated to support community recovery—not to shift the burden onto individual property owners who are struggling to restore what was lost.
Bill 110 wisely recognizes the inefficiencies of piecemeal public infrastructure improvements and provides much-needed clarity. By exempting disaster-impacted properties from street improvement requirements, this bill creates a fair and practical path forward for rebuilding Lahaina.
I respectfully urge you to pass Bill 110 to ensure a just and workable recovery process for our community.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Respectfully,
McKinley Eads
My name is Allison Herzog, and I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110. My family owns The Gallery Ltd building at 716 Front Street. It has been in my family for four generations, established by my great-grandfather. I have photos of him laying bricks for the building. We are committed to the future of rebuilding Front Street and restoring Lahaina’s historical buildings as best as we can.
Regarding Bill 110: Our building was destroyed, but we have submitted a permit to start the construction process. The comments we have received back have been ambiguous because as it stands now, we cannot build to our previous property line. We need this bill to pass to give us clarification and certainty to begin rebuilding. Moreover, by giving clarification, it allows us to rebuild Front Street as a community, rather than in a piecemeal fashion.
Our hope is to rebuild our building as it was before, in massing and mirroring its historical architecture, and our hope is that the surrounding buildings will as well. Only then can we preserve the historic character of Front Street. We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110 to give us clarification and help us move forward.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Jay Miyaki and our family owns the property at 764 Front Street. We are currently in the rebuilding process.
I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110. I am the owner/operator of (Business Name) and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110: Throughout this rebuild process in which we are all still working hard to navigate, uncertainty has been one of the greatest challenges. These uncertainties have caused significant delays and confusion for many. Front Street previously functioned well; it supported progress, stability, and confidence within our community. It worked, and worked well.
We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110. Allowing the process to remain as it was will help ensure that the rebuild can move forward efficiently, providing the clarity and consistency our community needs to thrive once again.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and continued support of Lahaina’s recovery and future.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Mousa Hassan, and I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110.
I am a business owner and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110:
Throughout this rebuild process in which we are all still working hard to navigate, uncertainty
has been one of the greatest challenges. These uncertainties have caused significant delays
and confusion for many. Front Street previously functioned well; it supported progress, stability,
and confidence within our community. It worked, and worked well.
We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110. Allowing the process to remain as it was will
help ensure that the rebuild can move forward efficiently, providing the clarity and consistency
our community needs to thrive once again.
Respectfully
Aloha Chair Cook, Vice Chair Sugimura and members of the Maui County WAI Committee,
I writing to ask for your support in passing Bill 110 out of committee, and ask for your support on this bill as it moves onward. The Lahaina community needs changes in the County Code such as this amendment to help owners expedite rebuilding. Please help us move forward.
Mahalo,
James 'Kimo' Falconer
Lahaina resident and business owner
Aloha Chair Cook, Vice Chair Sugimura, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Paul Kosasa, and I am submitting testimony in strong support of Bill 110 and Bill 156. I serve as the President and CEO of ABC Stores and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110:
As we continue to navigate the complex process of rebuilding Lahaina, one of the greatest challenges has been the uncertainty surrounding procedures and timelines. These uncertainties have led to delays and confusion, hindering progress for many. Historically, Front Street operated under a system that fostered stability, clarity, and confidence. It worked—and it worked well.
We respectfully urge your support of Bill 110, which seeks to restore that proven process. Doing so will allow the rebuild to move forward more efficiently, providing the consistency our community needs to recover and thrive.
Regarding Bill 156:
This bill is a vital step toward preserving the historic charm and timeless character of Lahaina. These qualities have made Lahaina a beloved destination for both residents and visitors for generations. As we rebuild, it is essential that we honor the spirit of Lahaina—not only through its physical structures but through its aesthetics, cultural identity, and the energy that once filled its streets.
Supporting Bill 156 will help ensure that Lahaina is rebuilt in a way that respects its history, its people, and its unique sense of place.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and continued support of Lahaina’s recovery and future.
Respectfully,
Paul Kosasa
President & CEO ABC Stores
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
My name is McKinley Eads, and I am the project manager overseeing the rebuilding of 838 Front Street that was entirely destroyed by the Lahaina wildfires.
I am writing in strong support of Bill 110 (2024), which proposes to exempt properties impacted by the August 8, 2023, Maui wildfires from the requirement to improve adjacent public streets as a condition for rebuilding.
The devastation in Lahaina has left property owners facing unprecedented challenges. Requiring owners to undertake improvements such as pavement widening, sidewalk construction, curbs, drainage, signage, or utility relocation—as a condition of simply rebuilding—is not only grossly unfair and unjust, but entirely impractical. These requirements create unnecessary and costly barriers at a time when many of us are already overwhelmed by the logistical, financial, and emotional toll of recovery.
It’s also important to consider that Maui County has received $1.6 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, including $400 million specifically designated for infrastructure and public facilities. These public funds were allocated to support community recovery—not to shift the burden onto individual property owners who are struggling to restore what was lost.
Bill 110 wisely recognizes the inefficiencies of piecemeal public infrastructure improvements and provides much-needed clarity. By exempting disaster-impacted properties from street improvement requirements, this bill creates a fair and practical path forward for rebuilding Lahaina.
I respectfully urge you to pass Bill 110 to ensure a just and workable recovery process for our community.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Respectfully,
McKinley Eads
Aloha Committee Members,
Aloha Members of the Committee,
My name is Allison Herzog, and I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110. My family owns The Gallery Ltd building at 716 Front Street. It has been in my family for four generations, established by my great-grandfather. I have photos of him laying bricks for the building. We are committed to the future of rebuilding Front Street and restoring Lahaina’s historical buildings as best as we can.
Regarding Bill 110: Our building was destroyed, but we have submitted a permit to start the construction process. The comments we have received back have been ambiguous because as it stands now, we cannot build to our previous property line. We need this bill to pass to give us clarification and certainty to begin rebuilding. Moreover, by giving clarification, it allows us to rebuild Front Street as a community, rather than in a piecemeal fashion.
Our hope is to rebuild our building as it was before, in massing and mirroring its historical architecture, and our hope is that the surrounding buildings will as well. Only then can we preserve the historic character of Front Street. We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110 to give us clarification and help us move forward.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Jay Miyaki and our family owns the property at 764 Front Street. We are currently in the rebuilding process.
I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110. I am the owner/operator of (Business Name) and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110: Throughout this rebuild process in which we are all still working hard to navigate, uncertainty has been one of the greatest challenges. These uncertainties have caused significant delays and confusion for many. Front Street previously functioned well; it supported progress, stability, and confidence within our community. It worked, and worked well.
We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110. Allowing the process to remain as it was will help ensure that the rebuild can move forward efficiently, providing the clarity and consistency our community needs to thrive once again.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and continued support of Lahaina’s recovery and future.
Maui No Ka Oi
Jay Miyaki, CPA, MBA
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Mousa Hassan, and I am submitting testimony in support of Bill 110.
I am a business owner and am deeply committed to the future of our Lahaina community.
Regarding Bill 110:
Throughout this rebuild process in which we are all still working hard to navigate, uncertainty
has been one of the greatest challenges. These uncertainties have caused significant delays
and confusion for many. Front Street previously functioned well; it supported progress, stability,
and confidence within our community. It worked, and worked well.
We respectfully ask for your support of Bill 110. Allowing the process to remain as it was will
help ensure that the rebuild can move forward efficiently, providing the clarity and consistency
our community needs to thrive once again.
Respectfully
Mousa Hassan
Resident and Business owner
Please see attached.
Aloha Chair Cook, Vice Chair Sugimura and members of the Maui County WAI Committee,
I writing to ask for your support in passing Bill 110 out of committee, and ask for your support on this bill as it moves onward. The Lahaina community needs changes in the County Code such as this amendment to help owners expedite rebuilding. Please help us move forward.
Mahalo,
James 'Kimo' Falconer
Lahaina resident and business owner