Attached please find REVISED testimony, replacing my earlier attachment, which had a residual dollar amount error ($400,000) to de-appropriate from Lahaina WWRF NPDES litigation, which should have been consistently noted as $250,000.
Mahalo for your consideration of this solution.
Sincerely,
Travis Liggett, M.S.
+1 (808) 291-9934
travis.liggett@gmail.com
Aloha Chair and Members of the Budget Committee,
My name is Katie Whiticar, and I am here in strong support of Adaptations Dance Theater’s line item in the FY26 Mayor’s Budget.
ADT has played a defining role in my career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. I grew up in Wailuku training at Maui Academy of Performing Arts, then pursued my degree and professional work in Los Angeles. In 2016, I returned home to perform in ADT’s first Bring It Home production—an experience that completely shifted my path. It showed me that a professional dance career on Maui was possible.
Because of the consistency and support ADT provides, I moved home in 2018 and have continued to grow as an artist. Through Bring It Home, I have danced professionally in multiple works and was able to choreograph my first professional piece—an opportunity that expanded my voice and deepened my connection to this community.
This year, ADT expanded its impact by bringing back two Maui-born dancers and choreographers, Hiroki Ichinose and Madi McGain—both of whom I grew up training with at Maui Academy of Performing Arts and who left the island to pursue professional careers. Through ADT’s programming, they were able to return to Maui as paid professional dancers and choreographers, sharing their experience and artistry with our community. Opportunities like this are a direct result of county support and represent a meaningful step toward creating a sustainable future for local artists.
Opportunities for paid, professional dance work on Maui are rare. ADT is one of the only organizations creating sustainable pathways for local artists—not just as performers, but as educators and choreographers.
This funding directly supports Maui’s artists and strengthens our island’s cultural ecosystem. Hiroki Ichinose, Madi McGain and Myself are examples of what is possible when local artists are invested in.
Please support this funding and help ensure that Maui artists can continue to live and work in the place we call home.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Katie Whiticar
Dancer, Choreographer with ADT
Teacher at Momentum Dance Maui
B.A. Dance, CSULB
I am writing with a new proposed amendment that advances a simple, integrated strategy to wastewater compliance: stop investing in litigation of the Lahaina WWRF NPDES matter by accepting a real nature-based compliance solution, accelerate County UV disinfection infrastructure, and reserve public funds for core municipal obligations.
First, it shifts the County from NPDES litigation to implementation at the Lahaina WWRF with a home-grown, native stream limu-based nutrient polishing solution. Rather than continuing to expend funds contesting the hard-won effluent quality improvements of the 2020 SCOTUS decision, the amendment supports a structured, performance-based compliance pathway that preserves all existing Total Nitrogen limits and achieves them through phased, verifiable deployment. A two-page filing accepts the plan if DOH does.
Second, it recognizes that the Maʻalaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation System is better suited to private philanthropic delivery rather than public capital allocation. Kai Action Institute 501(c)(3) is specifically structured to complete that project through non-taxpayer funding, allowing the County to prioritize immediate compliance infrastructure.
Third, it redirects those funds to accelerate CBS-1169, expanding Maui North Shore UV disinfection capacity at a municipal scale and advancing R-1 effluent standards that directly protect public health and nearshore waters.
In short, the amendment realigns wastewater spending to stop waste on litigation, invests in proven municipal disinfection, and enables philanthropic delivery of non-municipal projects, setting a path to compliance, cost control, human health and environmental protection in a single, defensible approach.
Respectfully submitted,
Travis A. Liggett, M.S.
+1 (808) 291-9934
travis.liggett@gmail.com
Aloha,
I am a 2025 FAM graduate and I am not exaggerating when I say FAM changed my life. The value of this program for not only myself but the community, is something I can’t quantify. The resources, knowledge, connections, and opportunities that this program creates are immeasurable. I am so grateful for its existence, for the leadership of it, and all of the participants—from mentors to students. It’s truly one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had and has connected me to the land and people of Maui in a profound way. It is such a necessary program for our community and the fact that it is free makes it accessible to all. Learning about how to steward and care for the land is something that should be communal and available to everyone. My hope is that FAM is used as a model for other programs in the future on how we can come together and learn from one another for the betterment of our island. The āina needs sustainably focused caretakers now more than ever, and most of us didn’t grow up learning these ways. It is vital to the perpetuation of this knowledge that it remain accessible without barriers like high costs or exclusivity. Farming is a labor of love, it’s hard to get started and it’s hard to stay motivated. In my experience, if you are going to work with/for the land your heart has to be in it . Often that passion requires ignition and inspiration, which is exactly what FAM does. It also provides a network of real-life growers to reach out to when that motivation wavers or you need guidance on next steps. Farming is an industry that thrives when we support one another and share collectively. I hope FAM receives even more funding than it has in the past so we can all continue to GROW.
Mahalo,
Kelly Donnelly
To Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
From Ha’iku Community Association
Request to include Ha’iku Stream Monitoring Program to FY 2027 Budget
Aloha BFED Chair Sugimura, Vice Chair Batangan and Committee Members
Ha’iku Community Association appreciates the Committee’s consideration to include a $40,000 line item to support our continuing Ha’iku-Huelo stream monitoring work in the 2027 budget. We also raise an additional $20 to 25K in cash donations from community donors as well as over $20,000 of “in-kind” donations to support this program. It provides a great level of service for a moderate county investment.
We are in our 3rd year of data gathering and our goal is to have at least 5 years of continuous data. FY 2027 would be the 4th year.
It is important to understand that our weekly testing program also supports other research efforts being conducted by UH Manoa Water Resources Research Center, Maui Nui Marine Resources Council and State DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources. (“DAR”.) HCA provides the “boots on the ground” for others who only visit the Ha’iku-Huelo area infrequently.
Main reasons for continuing support of the program:
WATER QUALITY UPDATES FOR RECREATIONAL STREAM USERS: HCA program provides science based data to guide recreational users of popular Huelo streams, including Ho’olawa Stream (“twin falls”) Maui’s most visited natural stream recreation area (over 1,000 visitors a day in peak season). Regular updates and interactive map: https://www.haikumaui.org/haiku-water-quality/
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY: HCA program provides lab facilities in Huelo to test for fecal bacterial contamination (E Coli and enterococcus). These types of tests require a lab. UH Maui lab only analyses fecal bacteria data 1 day a month and is a long drive from many east Maui communities. Samples need to be analyzed on the day they are collected- making testing in the east Maui communities very challenging. Much of Haiku and Huelo and beyond has no public water supply and depends upon stream water for domestic uses
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: HCA program provides important data and partnership opportunities to UH, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and State agencies to help understand our east Maui watershed- source of most of Upcountry Maui’s water supply. HCA is testing streams during and after storm events, which is difficult for other agencies to do.
FLOOD MONITORING: HCA stream program partnered with DAR and UH Manoa in 2025 to install a simple stream flow monitoring gauge and stream level measurement on Ho’olawa stream- the first flow gauge on that important stream in over 40 years.Hundreds of people live along Ho’olawa stream and early warning of rising water levels is a key public safety factor.
BASELINE DATA FOR CWRM (State Water Commission) and EMCWA: HCA’s programs focus on testing streams in East Maui Lease area that the East Maui Community Water Authority is seeking to manage. HCA testing program is providing valuable base line data on stream health correlated to stream flow levels to help guide future EMCWA management decisions.
SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MONITORING EFFORTS: HCA produced a helpful guide to community water testing; “Know your Streams.” HCA is partnering with County Sea Grant program and Paia Youth and Cultural Center to set up monitoring program for Pa’ia bay and Kailua Stream at popular Baldwin Beach park. First training on April 20, 2026. HCA is also offering testing opportunities to Honomanustream kalo restoration efforts.
HCA has produced informative summaries of the first two years of stream data- in our” Stream Stories
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YjrSEFjOXFzWJDsCClymDnwR5NVHooQ/view
Mahalo for your consideration of our efforts.
Lucienne de Naie
President, Ha’iku Community Association
PO Box 1036, Ha’iku, HI 96708
Deleted User
at April 14, 2026 at 7:16pm HST
Enough is enough.
Maui residents are watching their government struggle to perform its most basic responsibilities while millions of dollars continue to flow out through grants, subsidies, and handouts to nonprofits, organizations, and special interests. Meanwhile the people who actually fund this government—the residents and taxpayers of Maui County—are left dealing with rising costs, failing infrastructure, crime, slow permitting, and departments that can barely keep up with their core duties.
Ask a simple question: when was the last time you saw an ordinary resident stand in front of the council asking for taxpayer money to pay their bills, tax-free? It doesn’t happen. Working families on Maui handle their responsibilities every day without subsidies or special treatment. Yet government seems far more comfortable writing checks to organizations than fixing the systems it directly controls.
The county’s responsibility is not to function as a grant-distribution agency. Its responsibility is to run the government—public safety, roads, drainage, permitting, planning, infrastructure, and the departments residents rely on every single day. Those systems should be functioning at a high level before taxpayer money is dispersed elsewhere.
At the same time, residents are being asked to trust leadership despite a record that raises serious concerns. We have seen leadership failures, rising public safety questions, and a government structure that often appears more focused on messaging and programs than on competence and results. Accountability matters, and public officials should always be prepared to answer for the outcomes under their watch.
If Maui residents want things to change, the first step is showing up, paying attention, and demanding accountability. Government should serve the people of this island first—not political priorities, not press releases, and not a network of organizations funded by public money.
Support the departments you are responsible for. Fix the systems that are failing residents. Focus on competence and results.
And if leaders cannot do that, they should step aside and allow people who will.
I am in support of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for the County of Maui (BFED-1) for the $47,500 that goes towards supporting the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship Program. I am a Fellow of this 2026 fiscal year and have been so grateful for the subsidized support the County gives to this program so far. Being a part of the program and fellowship for me has really expanded my knowledge of the governance and inner workings of our County of Maui. I believe this program has been a great extended educational experience for me and I believe any young Maui professional resident could prosper in being a part of this program. It really is an educational program that has the power to broaden perspectives for a young future leader in our County of Maui. If anything this program deserves more funding for all that they do and accomplish in one year. Mahalo for your support and consideration in supporting the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship program in the Mayors fiscal year 2027 budget.
We need funding for a Haiku Deep Monitor well with full testing for contaminants and continued funding for community stream water testing in Haiku-Huelo. We need to make sure that the water people are swimming and interacting with is safe. We can only know how safe the water is after each storm, each flood, and even regular flow, when the research teams have access to the tools and resources necessary. You can make a true investment in the current future safety of our citizens. I know some of you are up for reelection, so this is an opportunity to look really good on your track record if you can manage to do this simple thing. Xoxo gossip girl
Access to clean and safe water—for both drinking and agriculture—must be our highest priority. Without water, there is no life, no farming, and no future for Maui.
We must take responsibility for our water systems, including the privately controlled ditch infrastructure. Currently, these systems are not being managed in a way that prioritizes our communities, our farmers, or our environment. Water is being wasted while streams that should be flowing remain depleted. Restoring natural stream flow is critical—not only for ecological balance, but for cultural integrity and long-term sustainability.
At the same time, we must invest in infrastructure that protects our communities during major storm events. Flooding has become increasingly dangerous. Programs that support residents living along streams—such as assistance with stabilizing and reinforcing streambanks—could significantly reduce risk and protect both lives and property.
Environmental protection must also be a funding priority. Invasive species are a direct threat to Maui’s ecosystems and agriculture. Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) control efforts must be strengthened, and the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) needs increased funding to effectively combat the spread of coqui frogs and other invasive threats.
We must also address the growing needs of our houseless population with expanded, effective programs that provide real pathways to stability and support.
Finally, public trust depends on accountability. We need strong oversight to ensure that public funds are used appropriately and that systems—including law enforcement—operate with integrity and transparency. Our community must be able to trust that resources are being used to protect residents, not enable harm.
Maui’s future depends on the decisions we make now. Water security, environmental protection, infrastructure resilience, and accountable governance must be prioritized.
I'm a Haiku Resident and I would like to voice my support of the county continuing to fund stream water quality monitoring, as this is an important community service that is not being taken care of any other way. The streams, waterfalls, and recreational areas of East Maui are an extremely important economic driver for the county and state and thus should be prioritized and cared for.
Additionally, I support a careful and transparent process for exploring the Haiku area aquifer, including identifying funding for hydrogeologic testing, water quality testing, and development and ongoing monitoring and maintenance for deep monitoring wells in the Haiku aquifer.
Council needs to support continued county funding for stream water testing in Ha'iku-Huelo area. It was left out of Mayors budget.
Council needs to make sure that Ha'iku has a deep Monitoring well to get as much information about the aquifer health as possible.
Well needs to be designed to test for salt levels, pesticides and other pollutants because Ha'iku has a long history of pineapple growing and has no sewer system.
Current well proposal does not specify a deep monitor well, yet Ha'iku aquifer is seen as Maui’s next major water source.
Haiku is going to be a focus for potable water for central and south Maui but we need deep monitoring wells that tell us how thick the fresh water lens is. DWS needs to assess chlorides and lens thickness over time, Blindly drilling wells is a recipe for disaster. Also need to continue testing E Maui streams for water quality.
Aloha Chair and Budget Committee Members,
Attached please find REVISED testimony, replacing my earlier attachment, which had a residual dollar amount error ($400,000) to de-appropriate from Lahaina WWRF NPDES litigation, which should have been consistently noted as $250,000.
Mahalo for your consideration of this solution.
Sincerely,
Travis Liggett, M.S.
+1 (808) 291-9934
travis.liggett@gmail.com
Aloha Chair and Members of the Budget Committee,
My name is Katie Whiticar, and I am here in strong support of Adaptations Dance Theater’s line item in the FY26 Mayor’s Budget.
ADT has played a defining role in my career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. I grew up in Wailuku training at Maui Academy of Performing Arts, then pursued my degree and professional work in Los Angeles. In 2016, I returned home to perform in ADT’s first Bring It Home production—an experience that completely shifted my path. It showed me that a professional dance career on Maui was possible.
Because of the consistency and support ADT provides, I moved home in 2018 and have continued to grow as an artist. Through Bring It Home, I have danced professionally in multiple works and was able to choreograph my first professional piece—an opportunity that expanded my voice and deepened my connection to this community.
This year, ADT expanded its impact by bringing back two Maui-born dancers and choreographers, Hiroki Ichinose and Madi McGain—both of whom I grew up training with at Maui Academy of Performing Arts and who left the island to pursue professional careers. Through ADT’s programming, they were able to return to Maui as paid professional dancers and choreographers, sharing their experience and artistry with our community. Opportunities like this are a direct result of county support and represent a meaningful step toward creating a sustainable future for local artists.
Opportunities for paid, professional dance work on Maui are rare. ADT is one of the only organizations creating sustainable pathways for local artists—not just as performers, but as educators and choreographers.
This funding directly supports Maui’s artists and strengthens our island’s cultural ecosystem. Hiroki Ichinose, Madi McGain and Myself are examples of what is possible when local artists are invested in.
Please support this funding and help ensure that Maui artists can continue to live and work in the place we call home.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Katie Whiticar
Dancer, Choreographer with ADT
Teacher at Momentum Dance Maui
B.A. Dance, CSULB
Aloha Chair and Budget Committee Members,
I am writing with a new proposed amendment that advances a simple, integrated strategy to wastewater compliance: stop investing in litigation of the Lahaina WWRF NPDES matter by accepting a real nature-based compliance solution, accelerate County UV disinfection infrastructure, and reserve public funds for core municipal obligations.
First, it shifts the County from NPDES litigation to implementation at the Lahaina WWRF with a home-grown, native stream limu-based nutrient polishing solution. Rather than continuing to expend funds contesting the hard-won effluent quality improvements of the 2020 SCOTUS decision, the amendment supports a structured, performance-based compliance pathway that preserves all existing Total Nitrogen limits and achieves them through phased, verifiable deployment. A two-page filing accepts the plan if DOH does.
Second, it recognizes that the Maʻalaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation System is better suited to private philanthropic delivery rather than public capital allocation. Kai Action Institute 501(c)(3) is specifically structured to complete that project through non-taxpayer funding, allowing the County to prioritize immediate compliance infrastructure.
Third, it redirects those funds to accelerate CBS-1169, expanding Maui North Shore UV disinfection capacity at a municipal scale and advancing R-1 effluent standards that directly protect public health and nearshore waters.
In short, the amendment realigns wastewater spending to stop waste on litigation, invests in proven municipal disinfection, and enables philanthropic delivery of non-municipal projects, setting a path to compliance, cost control, human health and environmental protection in a single, defensible approach.
Respectfully submitted,
Travis A. Liggett, M.S.
+1 (808) 291-9934
travis.liggett@gmail.com
Aloha,
I am a 2025 FAM graduate and I am not exaggerating when I say FAM changed my life. The value of this program for not only myself but the community, is something I can’t quantify. The resources, knowledge, connections, and opportunities that this program creates are immeasurable. I am so grateful for its existence, for the leadership of it, and all of the participants—from mentors to students. It’s truly one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had and has connected me to the land and people of Maui in a profound way. It is such a necessary program for our community and the fact that it is free makes it accessible to all. Learning about how to steward and care for the land is something that should be communal and available to everyone. My hope is that FAM is used as a model for other programs in the future on how we can come together and learn from one another for the betterment of our island. The āina needs sustainably focused caretakers now more than ever, and most of us didn’t grow up learning these ways. It is vital to the perpetuation of this knowledge that it remain accessible without barriers like high costs or exclusivity. Farming is a labor of love, it’s hard to get started and it’s hard to stay motivated. In my experience, if you are going to work with/for the land your heart has to be in it . Often that passion requires ignition and inspiration, which is exactly what FAM does. It also provides a network of real-life growers to reach out to when that motivation wavers or you need guidance on next steps. Farming is an industry that thrives when we support one another and share collectively. I hope FAM receives even more funding than it has in the past so we can all continue to GROW.
Mahalo,
Kelly Donnelly
To Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
From Ha’iku Community Association
Request to include Ha’iku Stream Monitoring Program to FY 2027 Budget
Aloha BFED Chair Sugimura, Vice Chair Batangan and Committee Members
Ha’iku Community Association appreciates the Committee’s consideration to include a $40,000 line item to support our continuing Ha’iku-Huelo stream monitoring work in the 2027 budget. We also raise an additional $20 to 25K in cash donations from community donors as well as over $20,000 of “in-kind” donations to support this program. It provides a great level of service for a moderate county investment.
We are in our 3rd year of data gathering and our goal is to have at least 5 years of continuous data. FY 2027 would be the 4th year.
It is important to understand that our weekly testing program also supports other research efforts being conducted by UH Manoa Water Resources Research Center, Maui Nui Marine Resources Council and State DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources. (“DAR”.) HCA provides the “boots on the ground” for others who only visit the Ha’iku-Huelo area infrequently.
Main reasons for continuing support of the program:
WATER QUALITY UPDATES FOR RECREATIONAL STREAM USERS: HCA program provides science based data to guide recreational users of popular Huelo streams, including Ho’olawa Stream (“twin falls”) Maui’s most visited natural stream recreation area (over 1,000 visitors a day in peak season). Regular updates and interactive map: https://www.haikumaui.org/haiku-water-quality/
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY: HCA program provides lab facilities in Huelo to test for fecal bacterial contamination (E Coli and enterococcus). These types of tests require a lab. UH Maui lab only analyses fecal bacteria data 1 day a month and is a long drive from many east Maui communities. Samples need to be analyzed on the day they are collected- making testing in the east Maui communities very challenging. Much of Haiku and Huelo and beyond has no public water supply and depends upon stream water for domestic uses
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: HCA program provides important data and partnership opportunities to UH, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and State agencies to help understand our east Maui watershed- source of most of Upcountry Maui’s water supply. HCA is testing streams during and after storm events, which is difficult for other agencies to do.
FLOOD MONITORING: HCA stream program partnered with DAR and UH Manoa in 2025 to install a simple stream flow monitoring gauge and stream level measurement on Ho’olawa stream- the first flow gauge on that important stream in over 40 years.Hundreds of people live along Ho’olawa stream and early warning of rising water levels is a key public safety factor.
BASELINE DATA FOR CWRM (State Water Commission) and EMCWA: HCA’s programs focus on testing streams in East Maui Lease area that the East Maui Community Water Authority is seeking to manage. HCA testing program is providing valuable base line data on stream health correlated to stream flow levels to help guide future EMCWA management decisions.
SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MONITORING EFFORTS: HCA produced a helpful guide to community water testing; “Know your Streams.” HCA is partnering with County Sea Grant program and Paia Youth and Cultural Center to set up monitoring program for Pa’ia bay and Kailua Stream at popular Baldwin Beach park. First training on April 20, 2026. HCA is also offering testing opportunities to Honomanustream kalo restoration efforts.
HCA has produced informative summaries of the first two years of stream data- in our” Stream Stories
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YjrSEFjOXFzWJDsCClymDnwR5NVHooQ/view
Mahalo for your consideration of our efforts.
Lucienne de Naie
President, Ha’iku Community Association
PO Box 1036, Ha’iku, HI 96708
Enough is enough.
Maui residents are watching their government struggle to perform its most basic responsibilities while millions of dollars continue to flow out through grants, subsidies, and handouts to nonprofits, organizations, and special interests. Meanwhile the people who actually fund this government—the residents and taxpayers of Maui County—are left dealing with rising costs, failing infrastructure, crime, slow permitting, and departments that can barely keep up with their core duties.
Ask a simple question: when was the last time you saw an ordinary resident stand in front of the council asking for taxpayer money to pay their bills, tax-free? It doesn’t happen. Working families on Maui handle their responsibilities every day without subsidies or special treatment. Yet government seems far more comfortable writing checks to organizations than fixing the systems it directly controls.
The county’s responsibility is not to function as a grant-distribution agency. Its responsibility is to run the government—public safety, roads, drainage, permitting, planning, infrastructure, and the departments residents rely on every single day. Those systems should be functioning at a high level before taxpayer money is dispersed elsewhere.
At the same time, residents are being asked to trust leadership despite a record that raises serious concerns. We have seen leadership failures, rising public safety questions, and a government structure that often appears more focused on messaging and programs than on competence and results. Accountability matters, and public officials should always be prepared to answer for the outcomes under their watch.
If Maui residents want things to change, the first step is showing up, paying attention, and demanding accountability. Government should serve the people of this island first—not political priorities, not press releases, and not a network of organizations funded by public money.
Support the departments you are responsible for. Fix the systems that are failing residents. Focus on competence and results.
And if leaders cannot do that, they should step aside and allow people who will.
I am in support of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for the County of Maui (BFED-1) for the $47,500 that goes towards supporting the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship Program. I am a Fellow of this 2026 fiscal year and have been so grateful for the subsidized support the County gives to this program so far. Being a part of the program and fellowship for me has really expanded my knowledge of the governance and inner workings of our County of Maui. I believe this program has been a great extended educational experience for me and I believe any young Maui professional resident could prosper in being a part of this program. It really is an educational program that has the power to broaden perspectives for a young future leader in our County of Maui. If anything this program deserves more funding for all that they do and accomplish in one year. Mahalo for your support and consideration in supporting the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship program in the Mayors fiscal year 2027 budget.
We need funding for a Haiku Deep Monitor well with full testing for contaminants and continued funding for community stream water testing in Haiku-Huelo. We need to make sure that the water people are swimming and interacting with is safe. We can only know how safe the water is after each storm, each flood, and even regular flow, when the research teams have access to the tools and resources necessary. You can make a true investment in the current future safety of our citizens. I know some of you are up for reelection, so this is an opportunity to look really good on your track record if you can manage to do this simple thing. Xoxo gossip girl
I support stream testing in Haʻikū-Huelo, including a deep monitoring well to test for salt, pesticides, and pollutants. Mahalo!
Support stream testing in Haʻikū-Huelo
We need a deep monitoring well
The well should test for salt, pesticides, and pollutants
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
Access to clean and safe water—for both drinking and agriculture—must be our highest priority. Without water, there is no life, no farming, and no future for Maui.
We must take responsibility for our water systems, including the privately controlled ditch infrastructure. Currently, these systems are not being managed in a way that prioritizes our communities, our farmers, or our environment. Water is being wasted while streams that should be flowing remain depleted. Restoring natural stream flow is critical—not only for ecological balance, but for cultural integrity and long-term sustainability.
At the same time, we must invest in infrastructure that protects our communities during major storm events. Flooding has become increasingly dangerous. Programs that support residents living along streams—such as assistance with stabilizing and reinforcing streambanks—could significantly reduce risk and protect both lives and property.
Environmental protection must also be a funding priority. Invasive species are a direct threat to Maui’s ecosystems and agriculture. Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) control efforts must be strengthened, and the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) needs increased funding to effectively combat the spread of coqui frogs and other invasive threats.
We must also address the growing needs of our houseless population with expanded, effective programs that provide real pathways to stability and support.
Finally, public trust depends on accountability. We need strong oversight to ensure that public funds are used appropriately and that systems—including law enforcement—operate with integrity and transparency. Our community must be able to trust that resources are being used to protect residents, not enable harm.
Maui’s future depends on the decisions we make now. Water security, environmental protection, infrastructure resilience, and accountable governance must be prioritized.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Please support stream testing in Haiku/Huelo.
I'm a Haiku Resident and I would like to voice my support of the county continuing to fund stream water quality monitoring, as this is an important community service that is not being taken care of any other way. The streams, waterfalls, and recreational areas of East Maui are an extremely important economic driver for the county and state and thus should be prioritized and cared for.
Additionally, I support a careful and transparent process for exploring the Haiku area aquifer, including identifying funding for hydrogeologic testing, water quality testing, and development and ongoing monitoring and maintenance for deep monitoring wells in the Haiku aquifer.
Please support continued funding for stream water testing in Haiku! We need information in aquifier health.
Council needs to support continued county funding for stream water testing in Ha'iku-Huelo area. It was left out of Mayors budget.
Council needs to make sure that Ha'iku has a deep Monitoring well to get as much information about the aquifer health as possible.
Well needs to be designed to test for salt levels, pesticides and other pollutants because Ha'iku has a long history of pineapple growing and has no sewer system.
Current well proposal does not specify a deep monitor well, yet Ha'iku aquifer is seen as Maui’s next major water source.
Haiku is going to be a focus for potable water for central and south Maui but we need deep monitoring wells that tell us how thick the fresh water lens is. DWS needs to assess chlorides and lens thickness over time, Blindly drilling wells is a recipe for disaster. Also need to continue testing E Maui streams for water quality.