Aloha Chair, Vice-Chair, and Honorable Members of the Budget and Finance Committee,
Mahalo nui loa for the opportunity to testify today, and for your continued service to the people of Maui during one of the most consequential periods in our island’s history.
We come before you first in deep gratitude. Mahalo for your leadership in the wake of the August 2023 fires, for your commitment to keeping Lahaina families rooted, and for your recognition that recovery must be more than rebuilding structures. It must be about restoring community. The Lahaina Community Land Trust stands as a partner in that shared mission.
Our work is simple in concept, but profound in impact: to ensure that the lands of Lahaina remain in Lahaina hands-protected, stewarded, and passed forward to future generations- at a time when outside investment pressures have long threatened to displace local families. And because the fires accelerated that vulnerability overnight, the role of community-based land stewardship is no longer optional. It is essential.
We recognize and appreciate the County’s support of innovative housing solutions and community-driven models. The Community Land Trust model is one such solution- one that creates permanent affordability, prevents speculative resale, and anchors families to place- not just for today, but for generations.
This is not just housing policy. This is legacy.
The decisions made by this Council in this moment will define how Maui is remembered. Whether we allowed Lahaina to become another cautionary tale of displacement, or whether we stood together to protect it as a living, thriving community rooted in its people and its history. Continued support for the Lahaina Community Land Trust is an opportunity for the County to affirm that legacy. It is an opportunity to invest in a model that keeps land in community control, that multiplies the impact of public dollars over time, and that aligns directly with the values we all share: stability, equity, and mālama ʻāina.
We do not come asking the County to act alone. We come as partners, ready to leverage resources, relationships, and community trust to ensure that every dollar invested yields lasting benefit.
But partnership requires commitment.
We respectfully urge the County of Maui to continue, and where possible, deepen its support for the Lahaina Community Land Trust. These investments will not only address today’s housing crisis, but will help ensure that Lahaina rebuilds stronger than ever.
In closing, mahalo again for your leadership, your listening, and your willingness to walk this path with the community. The work ahead is not easy, but it is clear. Let us be the generation that chose to protect Lahaina, not just rebuild it.
Clare Apana, Testimony on behalf of Malama Kakanilua:
Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee April 16, 2026
Testimony of Mālama Kakanilua on BFED-1
Request to include 2 line items currently in FY 2026 County Open Space Fund to Fund a Management Plan for the 495-acre Wai’ale Burial Preserve in FY 2027 Budget
Aloha BFED Chair Sugimura, Vice Chair Batangan and Committee Members:
Malama Kakanilua (“MK”) is a Kanaka Maoli non-profit organization who has been a voice for the large burial areas found in the natural Pu’uone (sand dune ) of Central Maui for over 20 years. One of these is the 495-acre, historically significant area area known as the “Wai’ale Cultural Preserve.”
Wai’ale Cultural Preserve: Background
One of the largest remaining areas of undisturbed burial dunes on Maui (the former proposed 495-acre A&B “Wai’ale“ housing project site) was purchased for $10 mil with county funds as part of an amendment to the CIP fund of the FY 2021 budget. The Mayor issued this statement with the purchase amendment:
“The Administration is working with the County's archaeologist, community members, and Native Hawaiian organizations relating to the proposed land acquisition. The Mayor continues his efforts to listen to the Native Hawaiian community involved with the protection of Na Iwi Kupuna and the developmentof a historic and cultural resource management plan for the Waiale parcels.”
After the purchase, the area was fenced and a few signs were erected. Malama Kakanilua was issued a County Right of Entry to the lands in 2024 to conduct re-interment ceremonies on the preserve, but no further progress was made on a management plan for the preserve until 2025 when funding was included in the FY 2026 Budget.
Current 2026 budget funding for MK to manage the Wai’ale lands
Our current County Budget has a $500,000 County Open Space Fund proviso item for MK to care for the Wai’ale lands. It reads:
• "Up to $500,000 must be for Malama Kakanilua for safety and security for the burial and cultural preserve at the County-owned lands at Wai'ale."
Our current County Budget has a $200,000 proviso item for MK to create a management plan for the Wai’ale lands. It reads:
"Up to $200,000 must be for Malama Kakanilua to develop a long-term management plan for the 500-acre parcel known as Waiale Cultural Preserve.”
Malama Kakanilua prepared and timely submitted two grant proposals for the the two proviso line items in October 2025. MK also reached out to interested community members for input on a future management plan for the area.
In spite of taking these actions, the grants were not executed by the administration and funds were not released for Malama Kakanilua’s use to complete the Waiale Cultural Preserve proviso items in the FY 2026 budget.
MK made a number of attempts to communicate with the administration’s grants program officials during 2025 and 2026, to determine the status of the grant applications, but communications were rarely returned and the matter was never resolved.
Late last month MK was made aware that the FY2026 proviso items for the Waiale cultural Preserve WERE NOT EXTENDED into the Mayor’s FY 2027 proposed budget. Instead, a representative of the County Budget Office said they would be “coming with a budget amendment to change (the existing proviso items) to a contract and open RFP.”
We can’t understand why the County would not want a group like MK with deep knowledge and involvement with the Wai’ale lands to be issued approved grant contracts and a Right of Entry and be allowed to proceed to care for the land. It seems very non-productive to start all over again with and RFP process. The land needs care now.
We are asking that the two current proviso items be re-instated into the FY 2027 budget.
The $200,000 proviso funds were intended to be used by our non-profit to contract for a management plan process, conduct public outreach and complete a management plan. The $500,000 proviso funds were intended to secure fences; reduce fire loads; secure an irrigation water source; clean up current dumping and prevent future illegal dumping and other health and safety actions- while the management plan process was underway. We understand that the the county Grants administration programs have had staff turn- over and other challenges, but in cannot understand why our grant application were not processed and we were not informed of what could be done to complete the process and release funding.
We humbly appreciate any efforts the Council can make to re-instate the funding and make it possible for MK to move forward to care for the Wai’ale Cultural and Burial Preserve. We have also attached a brief timeline of our activities regarding the Wai’ale lands, for informational purposes
Clare Apana, President
Malama Kakanilua
260 Halenani Drive
Wailuku, HI 96793’
Wai’ale Cultural and Burial Preserve
Malama Kakanilua Wai’ale Preserve Timeline
1990s - Archeologists recommend no sand mining in Wai’ale/ Maui Lani area due to the certainty of burial disturbance of iwi kupuna (ancestral burials)
-Shortly after, sand mining activities commenced
2002 - Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan “Implementing Actions” requires that development projects
“… include recommendations to mitigate potential adverse impacts on cultural resources including site avoidance, adequate buffer areas, and interpretation. Particular attention should be directed toward dune areas, known and probable precontact habitation areas, and other sites and areas listed in No. 5.”
Implementing Action No.5 states: “Significant Wailuku-Kahului region sites and areas include the following: Wahi Pana (Significant Traditional Places”)- “Pu‘u One Sand Dune Formation from Kahului Harbor to Waikapu”
2006/2007 - Malama Kakanilua members testify numerous times during the Maui Island Plan update, about the dense area of traditional burials in the wail sand dunes. Citizen Review Committee recommended that the Wai’ale Sand Dunes be preserved as green space.
2008 - Alexander & Baldwin applies for project district zoning for 495-acres of Wai’ale lands. Malama Kakanilua files a complaint for the inadequacy of the burial treatment plan in their application and the result was they replaced it with a report that was over 100 pages long and reported many more burials that had been discovered.
2008 - 2010 - Malama Kakanilua advocates for iwi kupuna burials at the Maui Lani Shopping Center. MK assisted SHPD with reinterment at this site in 2010.
2017 - Malama Kakanilua lodges protest against the sand mining activities at Maui Lani phase 9. In that same year, MK filed to report that Maui Lani had violated their grading permits. Maui County Courts ruled in MK favor and granted an injunction halt sand mining.
2017 - 2018 - Malama Kakanilua testified around every 2 weeks to get the Maui County sand mining moratorium passed.
2021- 2022- Maui County approves $10 million to purchase 495-acre Wai’ale lands as a Cultural Preserve. Malama Kakanilua rally support for the purchase. Purchase is completed and Wai’ale Cultural preserve is created.
June 2025- Maui County’s FY 2026 budget has line proviso items providing funding for MK to create a Management Plan for Wai’ale lands; and separate funding to undertake needed health and safety maintenance activities on the land
October 2025- MK submits grant proposal applications for both Wai’ale line items.
November- December 2025- Little or no follow up communications are received from County Grant coordinators, and grants are not processed.
Late 2025- MK obtained a meeting with Mayor’s Chief of Staff to discuss next steps to finalize the Wai’ale grants. It was agreed that an additional meeting was needed. MK volunteers made a number of phone calls, and sent emails requesting the promised follow-up meeting- but one was not scheduled.
Jan-March 2026- MK volunteers reached out to administration to try to determine status of Wai’ale grants in upcoming budget. No calls were returned. If productive meetings could have been held- the FY 2026 grant activities would be underway by now.
In summary: Timeline for the Wai’ale lands shows that citizens concerned about traditional iwi kupuna burial protection, like Malama Kakanilua (“MK”) have advocated for the lands of Wai’ale preserve to be protected for 20 years or more. MK includes those who have read all the burial treatment plans, followed all the archaeology, walked the sand dunes on many occasions, visited the burial sites and brought much new information into the process. Their efforts resulted in Wai’ale’s 495-acres being purchased by the county in 2022, with the intent to protect the land as a Cultural and Burial Preserve. MK sincerely would like to move forward and be able to help guide the care and restoration of the Wai’ale Cultural Preserve lands.
Testimony Regarding County Funding for Adaptations Dance Theater – Bill 55
I respect the work of local artists and the cultural value of the performing arts. However, the question before the Council is not whether dance has value. The question is whether taxpayer funding should be used to subsidize a private performing arts organization at a time when Maui County faces serious and measurable challenges affecting residents.
Maui residents are dealing with a housing system where the median home price is roughly $1.2 million while median household income is around $100,000, ongoing infrastructure bottlenecks involving water and permitting, and agricultural producers leaving the industry because basic processing infrastructure does not exist. Farmers have recently testified that they cannot even process the animals they raise due to a lack of slaughter capacity on island. These are structural problems affecting the cost of living, food security, and economic stability for the entire community.
In that context, the County of Maui should be directing limited public funds toward essential infrastructure and services that benefit the entire population, not toward subsidizing individual nonprofit organizations—even those doing meaningful artistic work. Arts organizations, like many nonprofits across the country, are typically supported through ticket sales, private donations, foundations, and philanthropic grants, rather than public tax dollars.
The testimony in support of funding emphasizes the benefits to artists and participants in the program. While those benefits may be real, they primarily affect a small number of individuals directly involved in the organization, rather than producing measurable public outcomes comparable to housing, agriculture, infrastructure, or emergency services.
For these reasons, I believe public funding should prioritize core community needs and essential government responsibilities. Arts organizations can and should continue to exist and contribute to Maui’s cultural life, but they should do so through private support and community patronage rather than taxpayer subsidy.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Lore Menin, Kihei Resident
My name is Hallie Hunt, and I’m the Artistic Director of Adaptations Dance Theater, Maui’s only professional contemporary dance company. I am writing today on behalf of bill 55 and in strong support of continued County funding for Adaptations Dance Theater.
This year, ADT celebrates its 13th anniversary as a nonprofit arts organization. For over a decade, we’ve been committed to making Maui a place where professional dance can not only exist—but truly thrive. Through residencies, performances, education programs, and community engagement, we have built a homegrown ecosystem that supports dancers from pre-professional to professional, right here on our island.
The county’s support over the past two years has had a transformative impact.
Because of this support, we have been able to double our programming, doubling both the opportunities for artists and access for our community. This funding has directly increased the amount of time artists are able to live and work on Maui, sustaining their careers without needing to leave home. It has meant more contracts, more creative time, and more stability for local artists.
At a time when small dance companies across the United States are closing their doors, we are incredibly proud—and deeply grateful—that Maui County has chosen to invest in keeping its only resident contemporary dance company alive and growing. That support is not something we take lightly. It is the reason this work is possible.
The impact of this funding extends far beyond our organization. It has meaningfully changed the lives of the artists we employ—offering them viable, professional pathways in the arts. It also sends a powerful message to our youth: that their county, their representatives, and their community believe that becoming an artist is not only valid, but valuable and supported.
The performing arts are essential to any healthy, vibrant community. They foster connection and a sense of belonging.
On behalf of our Board, our artists, and our community, I want to say mahalo nui loa for your continued support. Without it, this work would not be possible.
We respectfully ask for your continued investment in Adaptations Dance Theater, so we can keep building momentum, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that Maui remains a place where artists can live, work, and thrive.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Aloha Chair, Vice-Chair, and Honorable Members of the Budget and Finance Committee,
Mahalo nui loa for the opportunity to testify today, and for your continued service to the people of Maui during one of the most consequential periods in our island’s history.
We come before you first in deep gratitude. Mahalo for your leadership in the wake of the August 2023 fires, for your commitment to keeping Lahaina families rooted, and for your recognition that recovery must be more than rebuilding structures. It must be about restoring community. The Lahaina Community Land Trust stands as a partner in that shared mission.
Our work is simple in concept, but profound in impact: to ensure that the lands of Lahaina remain in Lahaina hands-protected, stewarded, and passed forward to future generations- at a time when outside investment pressures have long threatened to displace local families. And because the fires accelerated that vulnerability overnight, the role of community-based land stewardship is no longer optional. It is essential.
We recognize and appreciate the County’s support of innovative housing solutions and community-driven models. The Community Land Trust model is one such solution- one that creates permanent affordability, prevents speculative resale, and anchors families to place- not just for today, but for generations.
This is not just housing policy. This is legacy.
The decisions made by this Council in this moment will define how Maui is remembered. Whether we allowed Lahaina to become another cautionary tale of displacement, or whether we stood together to protect it as a living, thriving community rooted in its people and its history. Continued support for the Lahaina Community Land Trust is an opportunity for the County to affirm that legacy. It is an opportunity to invest in a model that keeps land in community control, that multiplies the impact of public dollars over time, and that aligns directly with the values we all share: stability, equity, and mālama ʻāina.
We do not come asking the County to act alone. We come as partners, ready to leverage resources, relationships, and community trust to ensure that every dollar invested yields lasting benefit.
But partnership requires commitment.
We respectfully urge the County of Maui to continue, and where possible, deepen its support for the Lahaina Community Land Trust. These investments will not only address today’s housing crisis, but will help ensure that Lahaina rebuilds stronger than ever.
In closing, mahalo again for your leadership, your listening, and your willingness to walk this path with the community. The work ahead is not easy, but it is clear. Let us be the generation that chose to protect Lahaina, not just rebuild it.
Mahalo nui loa for your time and consideration.
Me ke aloha,
Kapali Keahi - LCLT Board Member
Clare Apana, Testimony on behalf of Malama Kakanilua:
Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee April 16, 2026
Testimony of Mālama Kakanilua on BFED-1
Request to include 2 line items currently in FY 2026 County Open Space Fund to Fund a Management Plan for the 495-acre Wai’ale Burial Preserve in FY 2027 Budget
Aloha BFED Chair Sugimura, Vice Chair Batangan and Committee Members:
Malama Kakanilua (“MK”) is a Kanaka Maoli non-profit organization who has been a voice for the large burial areas found in the natural Pu’uone (sand dune ) of Central Maui for over 20 years. One of these is the 495-acre, historically significant area area known as the “Wai’ale Cultural Preserve.”
Wai’ale Cultural Preserve: Background
One of the largest remaining areas of undisturbed burial dunes on Maui (the former proposed 495-acre A&B “Wai’ale“ housing project site) was purchased for $10 mil with county funds as part of an amendment to the CIP fund of the FY 2021 budget. The Mayor issued this statement with the purchase amendment:
“The Administration is working with the County's archaeologist, community members, and Native Hawaiian organizations relating to the proposed land acquisition. The Mayor continues his efforts to listen to the Native Hawaiian community involved with the protection of Na Iwi Kupuna and the developmentof a historic and cultural resource management plan for the Waiale parcels.”
After the purchase, the area was fenced and a few signs were erected. Malama Kakanilua was issued a County Right of Entry to the lands in 2024 to conduct re-interment ceremonies on the preserve, but no further progress was made on a management plan for the preserve until 2025 when funding was included in the FY 2026 Budget.
Current 2026 budget funding for MK to manage the Wai’ale lands
Our current County Budget has a $500,000 County Open Space Fund proviso item for MK to care for the Wai’ale lands. It reads:
• "Up to $500,000 must be for Malama Kakanilua for safety and security for the burial and cultural preserve at the County-owned lands at Wai'ale."
Our current County Budget has a $200,000 proviso item for MK to create a management plan for the Wai’ale lands. It reads:
"Up to $200,000 must be for Malama Kakanilua to develop a long-term management plan for the 500-acre parcel known as Waiale Cultural Preserve.”
Malama Kakanilua prepared and timely submitted two grant proposals for the the two proviso line items in October 2025. MK also reached out to interested community members for input on a future management plan for the area.
In spite of taking these actions, the grants were not executed by the administration and funds were not released for Malama Kakanilua’s use to complete the Waiale Cultural Preserve proviso items in the FY 2026 budget.
MK made a number of attempts to communicate with the administration’s grants program officials during 2025 and 2026, to determine the status of the grant applications, but communications were rarely returned and the matter was never resolved.
Late last month MK was made aware that the FY2026 proviso items for the Waiale cultural Preserve WERE NOT EXTENDED into the Mayor’s FY 2027 proposed budget. Instead, a representative of the County Budget Office said they would be “coming with a budget amendment to change (the existing proviso items) to a contract and open RFP.”
We can’t understand why the County would not want a group like MK with deep knowledge and involvement with the Wai’ale lands to be issued approved grant contracts and a Right of Entry and be allowed to proceed to care for the land. It seems very non-productive to start all over again with and RFP process. The land needs care now.
We are asking that the two current proviso items be re-instated into the FY 2027 budget.
The $200,000 proviso funds were intended to be used by our non-profit to contract for a management plan process, conduct public outreach and complete a management plan. The $500,000 proviso funds were intended to secure fences; reduce fire loads; secure an irrigation water source; clean up current dumping and prevent future illegal dumping and other health and safety actions- while the management plan process was underway. We understand that the the county Grants administration programs have had staff turn- over and other challenges, but in cannot understand why our grant application were not processed and we were not informed of what could be done to complete the process and release funding.
We humbly appreciate any efforts the Council can make to re-instate the funding and make it possible for MK to move forward to care for the Wai’ale Cultural and Burial Preserve. We have also attached a brief timeline of our activities regarding the Wai’ale lands, for informational purposes
Clare Apana, President
Malama Kakanilua
260 Halenani Drive
Wailuku, HI 96793’
Wai’ale Cultural and Burial Preserve
Malama Kakanilua Wai’ale Preserve Timeline
1990s - Archeologists recommend no sand mining in Wai’ale/ Maui Lani area due to the certainty of burial disturbance of iwi kupuna (ancestral burials)
-Shortly after, sand mining activities commenced
2002 - Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan “Implementing Actions” requires that development projects
“… include recommendations to mitigate potential adverse impacts on cultural resources including site avoidance, adequate buffer areas, and interpretation. Particular attention should be directed toward dune areas, known and probable precontact habitation areas, and other sites and areas listed in No. 5.”
Implementing Action No.5 states: “Significant Wailuku-Kahului region sites and areas include the following: Wahi Pana (Significant Traditional Places”)- “Pu‘u One Sand Dune Formation from Kahului Harbor to Waikapu”
2006/2007 - Malama Kakanilua members testify numerous times during the Maui Island Plan update, about the dense area of traditional burials in the wail sand dunes. Citizen Review Committee recommended that the Wai’ale Sand Dunes be preserved as green space.
2008 - Alexander & Baldwin applies for project district zoning for 495-acres of Wai’ale lands. Malama Kakanilua files a complaint for the inadequacy of the burial treatment plan in their application and the result was they replaced it with a report that was over 100 pages long and reported many more burials that had been discovered.
2008 - 2010 - Malama Kakanilua advocates for iwi kupuna burials at the Maui Lani Shopping Center. MK assisted SHPD with reinterment at this site in 2010.
2017 - Malama Kakanilua lodges protest against the sand mining activities at Maui Lani phase 9. In that same year, MK filed to report that Maui Lani had violated their grading permits. Maui County Courts ruled in MK favor and granted an injunction halt sand mining.
2017 - 2018 - Malama Kakanilua testified around every 2 weeks to get the Maui County sand mining moratorium passed.
2021- 2022- Maui County approves $10 million to purchase 495-acre Wai’ale lands as a Cultural Preserve. Malama Kakanilua rally support for the purchase. Purchase is completed and Wai’ale Cultural preserve is created.
June 2025- Maui County’s FY 2026 budget has line proviso items providing funding for MK to create a Management Plan for Wai’ale lands; and separate funding to undertake needed health and safety maintenance activities on the land
October 2025- MK submits grant proposal applications for both Wai’ale line items.
November- December 2025- Little or no follow up communications are received from County Grant coordinators, and grants are not processed.
Late 2025- MK obtained a meeting with Mayor’s Chief of Staff to discuss next steps to finalize the Wai’ale grants. It was agreed that an additional meeting was needed. MK volunteers made a number of phone calls, and sent emails requesting the promised follow-up meeting- but one was not scheduled.
Jan-March 2026- MK volunteers reached out to administration to try to determine status of Wai’ale grants in upcoming budget. No calls were returned. If productive meetings could have been held- the FY 2026 grant activities would be underway by now.
In summary: Timeline for the Wai’ale lands shows that citizens concerned about traditional iwi kupuna burial protection, like Malama Kakanilua (“MK”) have advocated for the lands of Wai’ale preserve to be protected for 20 years or more. MK includes those who have read all the burial treatment plans, followed all the archaeology, walked the sand dunes on many occasions, visited the burial sites and brought much new information into the process. Their efforts resulted in Wai’ale’s 495-acres being purchased by the county in 2022, with the intent to protect the land as a Cultural and Burial Preserve. MK sincerely would like to move forward and be able to help guide the care and restoration of the Wai’ale Cultural Preserve lands.
Testimony Regarding County Funding for Adaptations Dance Theater – Bill 55
I respect the work of local artists and the cultural value of the performing arts. However, the question before the Council is not whether dance has value. The question is whether taxpayer funding should be used to subsidize a private performing arts organization at a time when Maui County faces serious and measurable challenges affecting residents.
Maui residents are dealing with a housing system where the median home price is roughly $1.2 million while median household income is around $100,000, ongoing infrastructure bottlenecks involving water and permitting, and agricultural producers leaving the industry because basic processing infrastructure does not exist. Farmers have recently testified that they cannot even process the animals they raise due to a lack of slaughter capacity on island. These are structural problems affecting the cost of living, food security, and economic stability for the entire community.
In that context, the County of Maui should be directing limited public funds toward essential infrastructure and services that benefit the entire population, not toward subsidizing individual nonprofit organizations—even those doing meaningful artistic work. Arts organizations, like many nonprofits across the country, are typically supported through ticket sales, private donations, foundations, and philanthropic grants, rather than public tax dollars.
The testimony in support of funding emphasizes the benefits to artists and participants in the program. While those benefits may be real, they primarily affect a small number of individuals directly involved in the organization, rather than producing measurable public outcomes comparable to housing, agriculture, infrastructure, or emergency services.
For these reasons, I believe public funding should prioritize core community needs and essential government responsibilities. Arts organizations can and should continue to exist and contribute to Maui’s cultural life, but they should do so through private support and community patronage rather than taxpayer subsidy.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Lore Menin, Kihei Resident
My name is Hallie Hunt, and I’m the Artistic Director of Adaptations Dance Theater, Maui’s only professional contemporary dance company. I am writing today on behalf of bill 55 and in strong support of continued County funding for Adaptations Dance Theater.
This year, ADT celebrates its 13th anniversary as a nonprofit arts organization. For over a decade, we’ve been committed to making Maui a place where professional dance can not only exist—but truly thrive. Through residencies, performances, education programs, and community engagement, we have built a homegrown ecosystem that supports dancers from pre-professional to professional, right here on our island.
The county’s support over the past two years has had a transformative impact.
Because of this support, we have been able to double our programming, doubling both the opportunities for artists and access for our community. This funding has directly increased the amount of time artists are able to live and work on Maui, sustaining their careers without needing to leave home. It has meant more contracts, more creative time, and more stability for local artists.
At a time when small dance companies across the United States are closing their doors, we are incredibly proud—and deeply grateful—that Maui County has chosen to invest in keeping its only resident contemporary dance company alive and growing. That support is not something we take lightly. It is the reason this work is possible.
The impact of this funding extends far beyond our organization. It has meaningfully changed the lives of the artists we employ—offering them viable, professional pathways in the arts. It also sends a powerful message to our youth: that their county, their representatives, and their community believe that becoming an artist is not only valid, but valuable and supported.
The performing arts are essential to any healthy, vibrant community. They foster connection and a sense of belonging.
On behalf of our Board, our artists, and our community, I want to say mahalo nui loa for your continued support. Without it, this work would not be possible.
We respectfully ask for your continued investment in Adaptations Dance Theater, so we can keep building momentum, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that Maui remains a place where artists can live, work, and thrive.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.