Housing and Land Use Committee (2025-2027) - Regular Meeting

Thank you. you do do do do

Will the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee return to order? This is the reconvening of a recess meeting that started on September 21st, 2026. The time is now 9.04. If everyone can please silence their cell phone or any noise-making devices, that will help our cause. Members, in accordance with the Sunshine Law, if you are not in the council chambers, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle, or workspace with you today. Minors do not need to be identified. Also, please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. I did want to mention today is the first day of fall after the autumnal equinox. It's also National Ice Cream Cone Day, so go out and get yourself an ice cream cone. My name is Tamara Palten, and I will be your chair for today's DRIP committee meeting. Committee Vice Chair Nohelani Uuhajins is excused at this time, as is Council Member Kawanoe Batangan. Next up, we have council member Tom Cook. Aloha kakahiaka and half a day.

Aloha kakahiaka, half a day. I'm at my home residence in Kihei. I had a little left turn today. I had to come back, something for my, request from my landlord, but I'll be in chambers for this afternoon's meeting. And I'm home downstairs alone. My wife is, He Keon Cook is upstairs.

Okay, yeah, I thought I saw you in the parking lot there for a second.

You did.

Okay, next up, we have Councilmember Gabe Johnson, hafa adai and aloha kakaiaka.

Hafa adai and ahoy, mateys. I'm on Expeditions Ferry. in the middle of the channel. I'm not alone. I'm a fairy, so there's passengers. Just to let you know. I'll try to stay on as long as I can, but I lose reception in the middle, but I'm here trying to work. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. And next up, we have Council Chair Alice Lee. Hafa adai and aloha kakahiaka.

Aloha kakahiaka and hafa adai. I'm home alone in my workspace, along with my three musketeers, pussycats.

Thank you. Next up, we have Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, half a day, and Aloha Kakahiaka. Looks like you're available for half a day too.

Aloha Kakahiaka, Chair. I am at my primary residence. Aloha.

Mahalo. Thank you. Next up, Council Member Shane Sinensi. Aloha Kakahiaka and half a day.

Aloha kakahiaka and half a day here at my private residence. I'm here by myself, Chair. I'm having some technical issues. I'm on my phone, but I'll try and jump on my computer when I can.

Okay, thank you. Next up, we have Councilmember Yuki Le Sugimura. We have that you'll be out at 10.15 today. Aloha kakahiaka and half a day.

Aloha kia kia kia and it is good morning to everybody and I'm in my private office.

Thank you. This meeting of the Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council is located on the traditional ʻĀina of the Kanakaʻoʻiwi, who never ceded their sovereignty to the United States. We recognize that Her Majesty Queen Liliʻuokalani yielded the Hawaiian Kingdom to the U.S. in duress under threat of violence to avoid the bloodshed of her people. We further recognize that Hawaii remains an illegally occupied nation state by the U.S. as documented in a 2021 scholarly article for the National Lawyers Guild Review by Andrew Reed, adjunct professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Generations of kanaka maoli and their knowledge systems have sustainably cared for Hawaii and continue to do so. We are grateful to occupy this space and learn the ways in which we can contribute. As a committee, we seek to support the varied strategies that the Indigenous people of Hawai'i are using to protect their land and their communities and commit to dedicating time and resources to working in solidarity. From the Department of Planning, we have Deputy Planning Director Ana Lillis, Senior Planner Karen Komkovic. From the Department of Environmental Management, we have Senior Engineer Scott Rawlins and possibly Deputy Director Michael Peterson. From the Department of Fire and Public Safety, we have Deputy Fire Chief Gavin Fujioka, CIP Coordinator Michael Arisumi. From the Department of Housing, we'll have Director of Housing Remy Mitchell. From the Department of Human Concerns, we have Director of Human Concerns Margaret Willis. From the Department of Management, we have Executive Assistant Noah Jackson. From the Department of OEB Resources, we'll have Director Molitao. From the Department of Parks and Rec, we'll have CIP Coordinator Bill Frampton. Although I did wanna inform members, he's working out of K&I, so he may have limited reception. From the Department of Transportation, we have Director Mark Takamori and CIP Coordinator Julia Minehart. From Corporation Council, we have Deputy Corporation Councils Nahulu Nunukawa and Michael Hopper. And other resources we have are Daniel Kanahele, South Maui CPAC Vice Chair, and Vernon Kalanikau, who gave us our drone presentation in the aftermath of the Kona Low Storm. Members, without objection, I will designate Mr. Kanahele and Mr. Kalanikau as resource persons under Rule 18A of the Rules of the Council due to... their knowledge and expertise as a South Maui Community Plan Advisory Committee member. We also have DRIP Committee staff with us this morning, Senior Legislative Analyst James Krueger, Legislative Analyst Ryan Ramirez and Jarrett Pasquale, Senior Committee Secretary Yvette Boutelier, and that's about it. On the agenda today, we have DRIP 25, Bill 108, 2026, South Maui Community Plan Update. As a reminder, oral testimony on DRIP 25 was closed on September 21st, but 2026, but written testimony will continue to be accepted. To get us in the correct mood, oh, Charlie, go ahead.

I can't wait till you finish your opening remarks.

Sure. To get us in the correct mood, we're going to read the draft South Maui vision statement, which is that South Maui's beaches, coastal waters and wetlands are restored and thriving with affordable housing close to good jobs and a variety of transportation options, including safe walking and biking paths lined with trees, The region's businesses, parks, and neighborhoods are connected, maintaining the small town lifestyle. Cultural resources are protected and celebrated, enhancing South Maui's sense of place. So we'll be continuing on our deliberations on section four of the South Maui Community Plan implementation and monitoring. The committee had left off on goal 2.2, Action 2.13, page 122 of the plan and page 25 of attachment 3C. So that's where we were if everyone wants to get back on the correct pages. And then at this time, Chair Lee, I'm ready for you.

Okay, yesterday at the end of the meeting, you made some remarks and I had a bunch of questions. Oh, sure, yes. So I think that some of my questions would probably be better discussed in executive session, but I'm looking at the group today, I think it's just better that more people be, in attendance so we all can have the discussion at the same time. So maybe not today, but soon. Maybe the following, your following meeting. But in the meantime, following up on what I thought I heard you say yesterday, I have a question for Mike Hopper.

Can I ask him? Mr. Hopper, is Mr. Hopper on or is it you? Oh, Mr. Hopper is at the Planning Commission. Can you ask Mr. Nunakawa?

I'm not sure if he can answer, but anyway, Corp Council, is there any provision in Chapter 2.80B, the charter or the council rules that prevents the council from proposing a community plan amendment by resolution within a year of adopting the plan? My reading is that the one year restriction in 2.80B.110 applies only to applications from a person and that section 2.80B.020 excludes the council and the planning director from the definition of person, is that correct? We're not people? Makes a big difference because that, according to what you were talking about yesterday, we have all these restrictions that we might be dealing with, but what if we don't have them?

So that's why I need to get clarification. Well, Deputy Corp Council Nunukawa ponders that. I'd like to welcome Committee Vice Chair Nohelani Uuhajins, Aloha Kakahiaka, and Hafa De.

Oh, perfect. Half a day. How timely. Hello, everyone. I'm at my private residence. And I'm here and ready to work. My husband's in the house now, but I'm pretty sure he's going outside to do yard work in a bit. So, you know, eventually he'll outside. But I'm here. And thank you, Chair.

Okay. Did you want to state his name? Because he's not a minor.

Oh, yeah, sure. No, he is not a minor. He will go named. His name is William Koa Hodgins. You get his full three names.

Thank you. Okay, Mr. Nunakala, are you ready?

Yes, thank you, Chair. I believe that... what Chair Lee is saying is correct when it comes to the council or director of planning things coming from the county. But I would like to take some additional time to confirm that interpretation based off of initial reading, I believe what she's saying is correct. I just wanna confirm.

Thank you. I'll get together, collect my questions for executive session, because I think if we clear up some issues here, we might have a more flexible path forward. So that's all I'm saying. But I don't think, you know, I don't think since Vice Chair Sugimura is leaving and Member Johnson is on the boat is a good time for executive session.

Okay. Okay. And when you get around to requesting executive session, let us know which what the reason would be. I will. Okay. Thanks. All right. Okay. So continuing on. So on goal 2.2, action 2.13, we had left off on the discussion relating to Kilohana Park and coming up with verbiage. Mr. Frampton, just checking if you have connectivity and you're available to continue the Kilohana Park discussion.

Chair, I'm not seeing Mr. Frampton online at the moment.

Oh, okay.

He might have connectivity around 10.15.

10.15. Okay, we'll mark this one as a revisit. And then I think I did see Ms. Willis joining. Hello there, Ms. Willis. The next goal is in the section livable for all. So it's safe, healthy, livable communities for all. Have you seen the materials? Not yet.

Yes, Chair, I've reviewed the plan and these action items.

Okay, great, great. Mr. Ramirez, can you put up page 25 of attachment C? We're looking on what became 2.14 and started out as 2.09 on the left-hand side of the screen. So the planning department's proposal was to develop a homelessness strategic plan for South Maui. And then CPAC changed it into Develop a Homelessness Strategic Plan for South Maui Using the Cost of Government Commission's Report on Homelessness in Maui County, April 2022, as a starting point for the creation of the plan. and then um per drafting guidelines it says develop a homelessness strategic plan for south maui use the cost of government commission's report on homelessness in maui county april 2022 as a starting point for the creation of the plan this is a project type with high priority, short timing. Human Concerns is the lead agency and they're anticipating a cost of $100,000 with funding sources from county, state, and private. You can take it down now. So, Director Willis, any comments on this goal? Do you think it's realistic, timely, cost about right?

and thank you chair and thank you committee for um continuing to keep homelessness uh on everyone's radar i think my understanding is this recommendation was done right before the eco northwest report um was started right and so i think probably the hope was that that project would result in a a plan that could include something specific for south maui and so i i still think it's a good goal uh i still think um the short time frame as i'm reading it in this plan is one to five years um which i think if we go back to when this was i still have a minute of that five years left to try to accomplish this goal uh and then i think really The intent could be to have the countywide strategic plan with a special carve out for different districts, including South Maui, because I do think the needs are unique. I've had a lot of conversations with Council Member Cook about the needs in South Maui and possible solutions. I think there's some consensus there. a will to do. So I think this is doable within the timeframe. I think the cost might be an issue. I think if we think about the cost of a countywide plan, this could contribute to that. But I think we will need other probably resources maybe to get that done. I know this is an ongoing conversation. I know that the cost of government within that report, Chair Lee, you even had suggested in 2020 at that time too for the Homeless Alliance to develop a plan because there was so much support on council to do. And so I know this is an ongoing conversation. And what I wanna do is not repeat the things that didn't work in the past, right? I think fundamentally, I want to understand why those past efforts did not result in a cohesive countywide plan. And so I want to take some time. We're doing some things within the community now to try to build the foundation needed to get to consensus this time around. So, yes.

So based on what you're seeing, should we add in the Eco Northwest report as a parallel or an additional starting point? Or should we remove the cost of government commission's report and substitute it with the Eco Northwest report?

I think maybe it could just say they use existing reports because I think there's other reports too, like our community needs assessments. I think there are things coming out of the UHERO wildfire recovery reports that could inform a strategy. So I think maybe just generalizing that to existing reports would be good.

Okay, Mr. Nunokawa, any issue with changing the verbiage to use existing reports? And then what about the timeliness of reports? Like you said, we don't wanna redo things that didn't work. So if the things that we were doing were based on an older report, should we put in a time qualifier, like use existing recent reports or anything along those lines?

I think all information is good information because it gives you the historical context, right?

Okay. And Mr. Nunakawa, no issue with changing the verbiage to develop a homelessness or houselessness strategic plan for South Maui, use existing reports on homelessness or houselessness in Maui County as a starting point for the creation of the plan? And do we need to say that this could be a subset of a broader county-wide plan or is that not necessary?

I don't think there's a legal issue with changing the language to something similar to that. It might make it a little harder to determine which are the applicable plans, but I think that can be done at the time.

This project gets underway.

Yeah, when it comes to whether it should be a larger a larger idea or a larger plan, that might be a discussion for whether this is something that is also something that should be put into the general plan. But I don't think that that's, necessarily required here if it's meant to address the South Maui community. But if you'd like it to be larger reaching, you might want to put it in the general plan as well, or just put it as a provision in the general plan.

Okay. Members, is there a problem with changing the homelessness to houselessness? Do members have a problem with that? No? Okay. So I guess I'll entertain a motion to amend 2.14 on page 122 to read develop a houselessness strategic plan for South Maui, use existing reports on houselessness as a starting point for the creation of the plan and keep it a project. high priority short timing human concerns as lead agency costs up to a hundred thousand or you know estimate and funding sources being county state and private um member rollins or fernandez or another option um develop a strategic plan to address um

individuals who are unhoused in South Maui or something more like that, just so that it's a temporary condition and not a characteristic of people.

Sure, sure. So it would redevelop a strategic plan for individuals who are unhoused in South Maui, use existing Would that one be houselessness, houseless reports?

Whatever those reports are officially called, we would, I guess, have to call them that.

Use reports on houselessness in Maui County as a starting point for the creation of the plan. Mr. Nunakawa.

Yeah, I was just gonna add, it might be something worthwhile to put a definition on houseless. Plans. Yeah, so that you can include other, if it's named something differently in federal or. State. Yeah, be inclusive of all of those plans if that's what you're looking to do.

Okay, Member Rollins-Fernandez.

Is there a reason that only that one plan was named? If not, I think it would be good to include whatever information we're able to for this, including the Eco Northwest one.

Director Willis?

Thank you, Chair. I would recommend we be broader than just reports on houselessness, because part of the key to ending houselessness is going to be preventing people from becoming houseless. And so I think there are a lot of reports out there about low-income households and the housing needs that should also inform a strategy.

Okay, so use reports on low-income housing, studies on homelessness or houselessness and economic, Yu Hiro, shoot, I don't know, Mr. Nunekawa.

much broader and saying something like using relevant studies on housing and economics or something like that. So you have the breadth of potentially relevant studies to help inform the decision.

Okay, so develop a strategic plan for South Maui to house individuals who are unsheltered using relevant studies and plans as a starting point for the creation of the plan.

So moved.

Moved by Member Rollins-Fernandez, second by Member Cook. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, raise your hand and say aye.

Chair, I'm seeing seven ayes, zero noes to excuse. Members Sinensi and Betongan. Oh, I apologize. Yeah, seven ayes, zero noes to excuse. Motion passes.

Chair Lee, did you have something additional to add?

No, I was just waiting for him to stop talking so I could put my hand down.

Oh, okay, great. I'm glad you can put your hand down right now. Okay. Moving on to the next one, I was just looking if there is a definition of pu'u honua in the definition section. I'm not seeing one, but the... Action item 2.15 right below has a Puʻu Honua in there. This is a CPAC original action item and it reads, Build at least one Puʻu Honua with proper sanitation and utilities for those with no or very limited income. This is a project type, high priority, short timing. County lead agency would be human concerns. It looks like they're saying cost of 10,000 per unit. and funding sources would be the county and state. I see Ms. Komkowicz has her hand up. Go ahead, Ms. Komkowicz.

There is a definition. It's under the English words because it is defined not completely in alignment with Olela Hawaii. It says, means a temporary place of refuge, sanctuary, and asylum designated by the county, including, okay. Page 161, I see it.

Page 161. Okay, so as Ms. Komkowicz said, definitions are on page 161 in the English definitions, which... I never would have thought, but it says, means a temporary place of refuge, sanctuary, and asylum designated by the county, including a safe place where large tents are set up and basic necessities are provided, including showers, bathrooms, garbage removal, animal care, and safe storage of personal property and vehicles. So it's not a translation of, Puʻuhonua as a ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi word, but I guess what possibly the CPAC's intent was in calling what they're wanting to be built as a Puʻuhonua. I think when we had this conversation previously, such as when puʻuhonua o nene came about and people were saying that doesn't meet the definition of the puʻuhonua, perhaps we can get some input from Director Molitao on the proper way to proceed in kind of, I guess, the word and putting a different definition on it than what the definition actually is, I guess. Director Molitao, thank you for joining us. If you could give us some guidance on how to proceed forward in a respectful way. I mean, for us to be respectful in the way we proceed, not for you to tell us, you know, respectfully, sorry.

You know, the interesting thing wording of Pūhonua and the context in which it's utilized and the definitions that are given to you could be taken in many different avenues. When we think about Pūhonua and we look at the historical context of what it was utilized for, during the time of pre-Western contact, folks would utilize Pūhonwa as places of sanctuary. And in these places of sanctuary, the reasons why they would go to these sanctuaries were for different kinds of things. They may have broken a kapu or a law that needed them to have a time of respite to be able to regroup and later come back into society. That is one of the generalized context of Pu'uhonua and what it was utilized for. Today, we see the terminology of Pu'uhonua providing all of these different kinds of safe place and an area for them to have the basic necessities. And that is a very similar space for Puʻuhonua. So depending on how you folks want to go ahead and utilize the terminology Puʻuhonua within this context of the framework, it would have to be within that manaʻo, the manaʻo haole or the English manaʻo that could equate to this terminology of of what we have today is . I'm not trying to necessarily guide you either way. I just want you to be very mindful about how you're utilizing the term .

I guess for me, one of the major conflicts is if we're creating a safe space for folks and traditionally, if someone was in Apu'uhonua as a sanctuary, they wouldn't be taken out of their against their will until the time had come up and so like you know if within a county run safe space there was um i guess i don't know some sort of violence or breaking of a law drugs or what have you we would need to address that to keep it safe for the other residents in that safe space. And would that be a confliction of the way the term is used?

Not necessarily. Thank you very much for that question, Councilmember. When we think about the term Pu'uhonua, within the safe space, there are still laws, there are still ways of behavior, decorum, that need to be acknowledged and utilized within the Pu'uhonua. You know, you just don't run to the safe space and, you know, make any claim. I guess that's a great slang to be able to utilize, right? Yeah, there's a level of decorum, there's a level of behavior, there's a level of expectation within the Pu'uhonua so that you can then get yourself makaukau to get back into our kaiāulu, into our communities. And that is the level of designation of what Pu'uhonua is for.

you know again not to make any kind is probably a good way of looking at that space okay so it a little bit seems like it potentially could be a policy decision and in that case What are the members feeling? Do they want to try and utilize the Puʻuhonua word to define what it is that we're describing? Or would we like to come up with a different word to describe the more modern aspect? Member Rollins-Fernandez.

Mahalo Chair, and I guess this question may be for CPAC since CPAC is who suggested it. Like, is there a reason that Puʻuhonua was chosen instead of just like safe space?

Mr. Kanahele, do you recall the conversation on why Puʻuhonua was chosen?

Yeah, I was suggested by one of the CPAC members raised in Kihei, culturally active in Kihei, is Polynesian. CPAC was about five of us that are Polynesian, Hawaiian, Samoan, and It seemed, when that word was first brought up, it seemed like we were fine with it. And I think it was, it was approved unanimously. Everybody that was at the meeting approved this action using that word. So, you know, I was at, Now the City of Refuge, like two weeks ago, I was walking around in there. And I could imagine in those days, you know, what it was used for hundreds of years ago. Now we're in these days. How do modern day Kanaka Maole Hawaiians, you know, Kanaka o Iwi, look at things and how do we handle them today? I think we would handle them maybe in a way that applies to our time and our needs. And maybe we're using a term that was used differently then, but perhaps we can apply it in a similar way, but not exactly. We're not talking about breaking kapus, but providing a safe space for people that need safe spaces because they don't have a house, and they are at risk at being, especially if you're a female, you're at risk of being out in the open without some sort of security. Anyway, I'm just talking, but yeah, we felt good about it.

Okay, and we also have Mr. Kalanikawa raising his hand. Would you like to hear from him as well?

Oh, yeah, he was on the CPAC as well. Aloha, Mr. Kalanicka. Yes. Mr. Kanahele, were you in at Honaunau for Labor Day weekend?

Oh, no, I was there when Hurricane Lowell was passing just south of the islands. It was that weekend. Was it Labor? Oh, yeah. No, no, you're right. I was there.

I was there for Labor Day. I was at Honaunau at the same time.

Yeah, when they're having the canoe races. Yeah, from King Cam, Kamehameha, all the way to the City of Refuge and then back again. Yeah, I was there at that time.

Yeah, I did that race. I was there too. Okay, Mr. Kalanicko, I guess before you speak, and then maybe you can speak to this as well. So one of my concerns, you know how... On wastebaskets, you know, around in parks and stuff, they would have a sticker like mahalo, right, for throwing away your trash. And then people who don't olelo Hawai'i associated mahalo meaning trash. And so... I guess, you know, when we start using things and, like, people start associating words with only that, you know, so when they're only seeing mahalo on the trash can, they're thinking that, oh, mahalo must mean trash. And so, like, uh, uhonua is, um, uh like um like only means a shelter or associated with uh those unhoused um i guess you know like the the fullness of the um the term um in our culture i yeah okay mr kalaniko yeah thank you um so uh the few polynesians that we had in this cpac committee

And I can speak for them also. When we came up with uhonua, it just was going to be that. It wasn't looking to shame or disrespect that word. I know personally for me, that my vision about the Pu'uhonua is taking care of those in the community that needs help. I know if I can get them to the land, to this Pu'uhonua, I know our kanaka value is going to kick in and help with mental illness because we do it within our families anyway for generations. We do it and we continue to do it. Anyway, so on a larger scale, it was based on our kanaka values, Keani. I know what you're trying to say because it is a thing. And I'll just say it. We don't want to pimp our words in a different direction because it does go that way. So that was solely on our Polynesian na'au. that this is what we need in our community. And I will say also for South Maui, it's not like the other communities. We is totally disconnected, hands down. So we kind of got to get that thing going again for what we have left. So that was the whole idea, Keani. Listening to Kumu, he nailed it. And also, we don't have to use that because something's going to happen anyway with the word or not. I know with the OEIWI department, they have an idea of a Pu'uhonua style. traditionally with Hale platforms, and then they're gonna have rules, right? And if we like go with the rules, I mean, if you don't come to Opu Honoa, you don't follow the rules, you gotta go. And traditionally, they probably stone you to death or something, right? But we're not gonna go that far. So we're just in one different time. We're just in one different time how we carry our place, our existence, our culture, our Ike, our Manao. That's what it was meant for, Kian.

And I think if it was going to be like more traditional style with like Hale Pili, like you're saying, you know, like it would probably match and like that style of, you know, managing that site. But if it's just like, you know, like an American like shelter or something, I don't know. Then I don't know. It doesn't fit.

Yeah, and then where we stay now, you know, that was what, two years ago, our plan and stuff like that. So where we stay now, I know going to have changes and because, you know, we have Margaret, we have Kumu, we have stuff coming up. Mahalo.

Mahalo, Chair. Thank you. And before I go to Ms. Kamkiewicz, I did want to recognize Council Member Batangan, aloha kakahiaka and hapadee.

Aloha kakahiaka and hafa adai kakou. What culture is hafa adai from?

It's we only are working half a day on Duke committee. Might be tomorrow, I don't know. Tomorrow? Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Yeah. Mahalo chair. In case you go to Guam this weekend. And it's also the first day of fall and National Ice Cream Cone Day. So go have an ice cream cone on you. Ms. Komkiewicz.

The original wording for this action as CPAC proposed was build at least one managed encampment with proper sanitation and utilities for those with no or very low income. It was changed very quickly to manage Puʻuhonua, but if you wanted to use the original language, that might solve this dilemma.

I'm open. I just do recall a lot of unhappiness about referring to the Kīpūʻola o Kauhale site or Kīpūʻola Kauhale site as Puʻuhonua o Nene at that time. I think, did members, did you have your hand up? Did you have something to add?

Yeah, I was gonna inquire with whatever just transpired with the CPAC member, so thanks.

Oh, okay, so same question then. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm okay with if we keep it the way it is. If we keep it the way it is, my recommendation is to include Puʻuhonua in the Hawaiian language vocabulary and make a note to see page 161 because it's not a literal translation of ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi, but that's where I would go to look for it in the booklet. I mean, as you saw, I did. So that would be my recommendation if we continue to use it. But I see Director Willis with her hand up. Go ahead. You got to unmute.

You would think I would have this down by now. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate this discussion because it's something that I have had conversations in the community about, and there's no agreement about what a pūhūhonua would look like. And so I would ask maybe if we could say pūhūhonua or similar low barrier. that might be helpful, because I think what I don't want to have happen is, we develop something and then the part of the community doesn't think we've met this goal because they don't define what the solution is as a pūhonua. And so perhaps broadening that might be a way to be inclusive of different solutions that still meet the same goal.

Okay. Member Cook?

Thank you, Chair. I'm supportive of that concept too. I think that we, one, I am like a thousand percent supportive of us becoming very proactively providing the land, sanitation, safe space, and a variety. And I don't think that one size necessarily is going to fit all. I think that the department and the community striving to work collectively together to identify all the various challenges that people currently are experiencing that is putting them on the street or in a campsite. So the more versatility we can give it and the less less categorized, then I think it would give us opportunity to provide the services to people. So I just want to, like, that's broad strokes. I don't have any wordsmithing for it, but I think that we need to be as open and loving and embracing as we can. It's just like as Director just stated, we don't want to get to a situation where people who both want to help the unhoused and people who are experiencing these deep challenges, we're arguing over

whether we're, you know what I mean? We're all on the same page, but the name could be divisive and we don't wanna have any division when we're kind of essentially on the same page. We don't want the name of it to divide us. Mr. Kanahele may have something to help us through here.

I think, yeah, I don't think we should be stuck on a name. You know, their action is there. I think we would be open, I think I would be open, I think the CPAC would be open to another name. That's just a name that we happened to come up with at the time and we agreed on. And I'm happy that you consulted with the Office of OEV Services. I was thinking that would probably happen in this meeting to get some Mana'u from us. So yeah, I think we would be open to a word or whatever, people, everyone would be comfortable with. We don't want to use a word that would be a stumbling block in the future, right? Divisive as you use, that would impede this action from happening. So if anybody can suggest another word for it, I think we'd be open to that.

Okay, Member Rollins-Fernandez.

Well, sure. I first just want to express a lot of gratitude to Mr. Kanahele and Mr. Kalanikau for their mana'o and openness to figure out what would work best here. So I think I think Director Willis's suggestion may work and then that way it's broader and this action could be accepted as satisfied when it is. So one, pu'uhonua or culturally infused low barrier encampment?

Shelter. Low barrier shelter. Culturally infused.

And I'm suggesting culturally infused because it is, I heard that that's something important to the two CPAC members that, you know, conveyed the discussion from their meetings.

Yeah, I think that's good. I guess some of the things that I had been kicking around in my head was potentially build at least one low barrier shelter with proper sanitation and utilities for those with no or very limited income based on traditional, kanakoiwi values associated around Puʻuhonua. But I mean, either way, Because same thing I heard that it's kind of the value system about like, you know, you're going to go in there and it's going to be a time for you to like reflect and get ready for when you come out, how you'll live among society and that there are rules and and ways of living to follow while you're in there it's not just make any kind and and kind of a place for us to as either government or human concerns to meet you where you're at and to like you know try to assist but I think the main point is we don't start off with verbiage that's gonna be divisive in the community as we had seen occur with the puʻuhonua o nene, especially given that It is in South Maui and everybody may have a different idea in their mind of what a Puʻuhonua is. We don't want to just create that sort of division on such a sensitive topic right off the bat because our goal here is to assist people and get everyone on board. So I guess I'm... I'm open to a motion to amend if someone would like to make it.

What you read?

What I just said. You want that?

Is that what you're suggesting? Is that your recommendation?

I mean, I'm just throwing it out there and whatever you folks want to choose to recommend or I mean to move. I'm not trying to control the motion. I just giving options and you know, this is your committee too. So whichever one is preferred or even a third option that hasn't been named, I'm open to it. But I think we should like have some sort of qualifier to not begin the conversation in division or the project.

Mahalo Chair. Oh, I see Member Cook. I was going to make the motion that with the language I suggested, that way it's, you know, I hear what Mr. Kalanikau and Mr. Kanahele shared about what was preferred and the disconnect that some kanaka, maoli may feel in South Maui and like just like reclaiming that space for our culture since you know so much of it um has been kind of like paved over um and so i would i would like to support that and if that's the preference of like um having a space for not just shelter but healing to okana kukanaka um and uh so my motion would be for for that, for Puʻohonua and low barrier, you know, culturally infused low barrier.

Okay, go ahead, make your motion. Unless, Member Cook, did you want to say something before?

Second. I did. I just wanted to... I just wanted to throw out there and put in the word safe space as part of it. Just because that seems to be the sort of overarching aspect of it for me personally, is for people to have a place, men, women, old, young, healthy, unhealthy, to have basically a safe, sanitary space to call their place their home temporarily so anyway i just wanted to put it out there as far as the the intent in the verbiage to some extent thank you adding safe before the low barrier part safe low barrier and i think director willis we can maybe weigh in i mean so she's she's going to be driving this boat and uh with all of us on board so Anyway, I'm really glad we're having this conversation, and I think having it in detail is warranted. I think the budget is too low, but that's okay, because first we have to have a clue what we're gonna do, and then we can price it accordingly. Thank you.

Staff, can you read back to us what you got the motion made by Member Rollins-Fernandez, seconded by Chair Lee, what you have as the motion?

Chair, as of right now, I have built at least one culturally-infused low-barrier shelter, or Puʻuhonua, with proper sanitation and utilities for those with no or very limited income based on traditional... Oh, I'm sorry. I think I'm getting the language wrong. I apologize.

Okay, Honohulu with the language right.

Build at least one Puʻuhonua or culturally infused low barrier shelter. Safe low barrier shelter. Safe low barrier shelter with proper sanitation and utilities for those with no or very limited income.

Member Rawlings-Fernandez, does that adequately capture your motion?

Yes, and I don't know if we would wanna just check with Director Molitao to make sure that- Okay, yeah, let's check with Director Molitao and Director Willis if you're okay with that verbiage.

I think the language captures both intentions overall. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Director Willis. Are you okay with that language?

Chair Polden, I love that language. Thank you. I think it's great.

Okay, so the motion was made by Member Rollins-Fernandez, seconded by Chair Lee. Discussion, Member Rollins-Fernandez to be followed by Chair Lee.

Mahalo, Chair. No further discussion. Oh, I don't know if you want to check with the CPAC members to ensure that it captured the intention since that was what I was trying to do. Mr. Kalanickal.

Oh, no, I was just going mahalo you, Kayani. Thank you.

Mr. Kanaheli, you're okay as well?

Oh, it's a beautiful collaboration. So I love it. Thank you.

Awesome. Okay, Charlie, did you have a discussion?

Yeah, I just wanted to say I support the proposal. I think it's a good one. It needs to be broad because You know, we shouldn't be trying to name various projects and so forth in the future because we don't know what changes are coming and we don't know what the needs are going to be at the time the facility is built. So let's not restrict it. Let's keep it open. And the way it's proposed, I think it's perfect.

Thank you. Member Cook, did you want to amend the 10,000 per unit up?

Yes, I would like to triple it. I mean, basically what we're doing is we're creating a budget and it's going to have to be addressed. But I think that put it in perspective, it's not going to buy any land, but it should be able to provide some services. Thank you.

Okay, any objection to a friendly amendment to the cost being 30,000 or just say 30 per unit instead of 10 per unit?

No objection, but can we hear from Director Molitao too?

Sure, Director Molitao.

Mahalo nui. Just point of clarification for the terminology of Pu'uhonua. It is not considered a name framework. I just want you to have full understanding of that. It is considered a mana'o of what that framework could look like. It does not determine the name actually to be Pu'uhonua.

Yeah, it can have any name like, you know, Kala'iola, Kilohana, whatever you want, you know. Yeah, okay. Thank you for that clarification. We can vote on this if there's no further discussion. And then I was going to talk about like where the placement of the definition goes next. So all those in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Aye.

Chair, eight ayes, zero noes, one excused. Member Johnson, motion passes.

Thank you, members. So I guess Director Moli Tau, On page 161 in the English vocabulary, we have Puʻu Honua means a temporary place of refuge, sanctuary, and asylum designated by the county, including a safe place where large tents are set up and basic necessities are provided, including showers, bathrooms, garbage removal, animal care, and safe storage of personal property and vehicles. Would that be incorrect to put under the Olelo Hawai'i definitions? Would you be supportive of putting just the word Puʻu Honua in the Olelo Hawai'i definitions and then say, see page 161 in the Olelo Haʻole definitions? Or do you have a... preference or guidance on how it should be because for me as a lay, semi-lay person, I would see the word Puʻuhonua in the goal or action item and I would go to the Hawaiian dictionary part of the appendix. And so do you think there's a problem with just putting the word Puʻuhonua in the Hawaiian language part of it and say see page 161?

I'm just recapturing your question. And if I understand it correctly, I will say this from my mana o Hawai'i side. And this is an opportunity to go ahead and just have them refer to the appendix of definitions for clarity of the word pūhonua.

Yeah, I mean, the definition in the English side would not be appropriate to put in the Olelo Hawai'i side because it's not an Olelo Hawai'i definition. It's a Olelo Haole definition, but the word itself is Olelo Hawai'i. So like for ease of clarity to also have it in the ʻOlelohe Waʻi side with a reference to where the definition as it's being used in this booklet is.

Yes, from the original draft plan on February 2024, the terminology Pūʻonua only has a place of refuge. That's the original part of the plan. And then it got expanded after the Department of OEV was able to take a really good look into all of the into all of the mana o Hawai'i. And so to be able to expand that a little bit more for the understanding of the definition of the term pōhonua, that's what you see currently on page 161. So for those that need to go back to the appendix or to the terminologies, I think that that's an easy reference.

Okay, so I will then entertain a motion to insert the word Puʻuhonua in the appropriate place on page 167, and then say, please refer to page 161 for the definition as the term is used in this booklet. Does that sound okay, Director Molitao? Aye. Yes, mahalo. So we're acknowledging the word is an Olelo Hawai'i word, but the definition being used is more American or Olelo Haole, but people can find it. So anyone willing to make that motion? Member Uuhajins, followed by members, or seconded by members Sinensi. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, raise your hand and say aye.

Chair, eight ayes, zero noes, one excused. Members to nancy, motion passes.

Members to nancy, I see members.

Member Johnson, motion passes.

Okay, they do look alike. Ms. Komkiewicz, was your hand up from before? Okay, Mr. Nunakawa, was that your hand up or you're just, oh, okay. Oh, she was leaving her hand up without taking it down, so it's your turn.

I just wanted to say, Chair, if this is a term that might be used in the future, it might be good to flag this and potentially look at whether to add a... Into the code? Into the code or into the general plan, something so that... you avoid having different definitions in the different community plans so that you have something, it doesn't necessarily need to be overly defined just so that you don't have.

Conflicting definitions. Okay, staff, can you add that to our list for post SMCP actions to take? Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Nunokawa for pointing that out. We're moving right along page 123 in our booklet, which corresponds to page 26 in our attachment. This was a CPAC original, which did not have any changes made to it. Is Director Mitchell on the call? He's getting on, okay. So action item 2.16 reads with no change from the CPAC version, prioritize infrastructure improvements for 100% affordable housing developments reserved for resident households earning 140% AMI and below that are supported by the community and the community plan. I guess, Either, Mr. Kanahele, I'm having a little trouble understanding the intent of this goal. Usually our affordable is 120% and below with 120 to 140% being the gap group, I believe. But then you're talking about prioritizing infrastructure improvements for 100% affordable housing programs. housing development, so I'm not sure how the interaction of this was intended by the CPAC. Did you have any clarity? And then afterwards, if we can get Director Mitchell's take on the policy 2.16.

How am I? I don't remember the discussion on this. I would defer maybe to planning if they remember this discussion and why we came up with the numbers, 140% AMI, but I really don't remember.

Okay. Planning, do you recall how this action item came about and what is meant by it. Like, I mean, admittedly, I'm no expert on this subject, but I don't understand what we're trying to accomplish here. Because if you have a 140% AMI development, I would imagine it's not to keep all the 100% AMI people on one side and the above 100% AMI people on another side. So how would we then, would we prioritize infrastructure improvements by house? if you originally purchased it at 100%, I just am a little confused. We can try and check in with Director Mitchell if he understands, or oh, Member Cook, do you know what was intended by this?

I don't know, but what my interpretation is because of the various conversations and whatnot that we've had in the community is to address the need for, what's been called gap housing before, but 140% AMI for Maui is 145,000 a year for two is 165. So that to me is a lot of people in our community who are professionals, police, fire, et cetera. I mean, a lot of people in our community get above the end of that range and prioritizing, to me, it's like prioritizing for working people as well as simply for the low income. Does that make sense?

Sorry, I did just read it again. I think what they're referring to is like maybe 2.97 projects for the 140% and below. I probably should have gone to Director Mitchell first. Director Mitchell, do you understand this action item 2.16 as written and are you supportive of it? I thought it said 100% AMI, I misread. So it's prioritized infrastructure improvements for housing developments that are 100% affordable reserved for resident households earning 140% AMI and below that are supported by the community and the community plan. So most of our 100% affordable housing developments are to the 120%, right? Or would 2.97 cover 140% and below 100% affordable?

Thank you, Chair, for the question. Would you mind if I asked for the language to be put back up on the screen, please?

Sure. Mr. Ramirez, page 26 of attachment 3C. And it's the second one down. That's the language we're working on currently.

This should be a policy and it's not an action for the Department of Housing. The reason for this is, if you look at the matrix that has the South Maui Community Plan, the Countywide Policy Plan, and the Maui Island Plan, there are policies that say to prioritize infrastructure for 100% affordable housing. what has been developed a lot especially in south maui are affordable projects with luxury and nothing in between and so this was to say prioritize the infrastructure but it's not just existing it was trying to get at the idea of the new infrastructure should also be for people who live here

Okay, so it's not an action item. It's a policy. Director Mitchell, do you have any comments on it as a policy?

Thank you, Chair, for the question. The Department of Housing is supportive of prioritizing infrastructure for 100-cent affordable housing developments because, as you know, the infrastructure is a fundamental part and what i would call a condition precedent something we need in advance of developing the affordable housing and without that infrastructure and i think it might mean in this instance i can't quite tell what the intent was not just the roads but water and sewer all of the infrastructure requirements the sidewalks so that we can move forward with cost-effective affordable housing development. It's not clear to me who bears the burden of the infrastructure improvement costs here, because sometimes we shift it to the developer. but it's imperative that as a policy, I think the county prioritize infrastructure improvements, particularly around 100% affordable housing developments reserved for residents.

And so you're saying that we can take out the earning 140% AMI and below, so it would read, I guess we would move it over to 2.2 policies and say prioritize infrastructure improvements for 100% affordable, and workforce housing developments reserved for resident households that are supported by the community and community plan, something along those lines?

That would work, Chair.

Okay. Member Uu Hodgins?

Thank you, Chair. I'm happy to support the language for this or something similar. My question is either for planning or for those on CPAC. When you folks said supported by the community and the community plan, I'm wondering if you could provide us definition. We seldom see housing projects, even if it's fully affordable, that have unanimous support. So I wanted to hear from you folks how you wanted to define community and how we can prepare for that as somebody has to write up the report and when they were looking at that, how would you like to define community in this section? Mr. Kalanicko?

I was going to say, um, uh, it's not my thing. And, uh, if that helps, I mean, I, you know, listening, taking all this info in at that time, it's like, uh, You guys know it's a lot, but I don't know how you figure that kind of stuff out.

I guess the easiest way would be to say it's supported by the community plan because then it either is part of the community plan or it's not. I don't know what else to do if you have like half-half or 80-20 or 99-1. So, how about this?

Is there something we can come back or, I mean, where else would we get, like Daniel, I mean, where else would we get more resources on, more care, you know?

Chair, can I also add real quick to the conversation, and I don't mean to be rude in any way, um but these community plans sometimes um you know we're supposed to do them every 10 years obviously we know we don't um for communities like kihei and i mean this with the full respect and some other communities they change out um lot you know we have they change out pretty quickly longer than um the where we're supposed to change the community plan and so i do want to be cautious and and trying to be as precise as we can while giving us some some wiggle room, but I don't know how, if somebody was to create a report on how a project is meeting these conditions, that would be easy to define. So I just, I do want to caution us, and I'm happy to figure out some sort of language, but yeah, especially when we have a community that kind of changes often. I do want to be very careful on how we say community.

It might be best just to take out supported by the community and put in supported by the community plan land use designations.

Okay, so With that being said, I will entertain a motion to strike action 2.16 from page 123 of our draft community plan booklet and add it to policy goal 2.2 and I'm easy on where in the 2.2 section you add it to, but it should be under the livable for all section of 2.2. And it would say prioritize infrastructure improvements or housing developments that are 100% affordable or workforce housing reserved for resident households that are supported by the community plan land use designation. Staff, you got that okay? Okay, so I'll entertain that motion made by Nohe Uuhajins, seconded by Member Sinensi. Any further discussion? We're taking this and moving it to the policy section with minor tweaks to the language. Oh, and I'd like to welcome Member Johnson in person, half a day, aloha kakai.

half a day, if you could just repeat the motion, I would.

Oh sure, staff, could you help us out with that? We're moving it from an action item to a policy in 2.2 livable for all section, and then it would read as follows.

So member Johnson, the full motion is striking action 2.16 and instead inserting a new policy in the livable for all section 2.2 to say prioritize infrastructure developments for housing developments that are 100% affordable or workforce housing reserved for resident households that are supported by the community planned land use designation.

Oh, just prioritize infrastructure improvements. and incorporating any non-substantive changes and revisions. It was motion made by UU Hodgins, seconded by Sinensi, and I see Member Rollins-Fernandez with her hand up.

Real quick. Supportive of the motion. So I guess my understanding of workforce is it's inclusive of affordable. Affordable being like, what, 100% and below, and then workforce being 100% and above. So it would, workforce is both?

No? It's not, that's fine. workforce i thought was well we have director mitchell on so um okay yeah yeah director mitchell can you clarify for us um the workforce definition um i guess stats is it 100 to 140 or 120 to 140

Sorry, Chair, I'm multitasking here. Your question I heard was about the workforce definition.

Does workforce include affordable? Does workforce encompass affordable? So should it just say workforce, housing, and that'll include affordable housing or workforce housing?

And what are the EMIs correlating to workforce?

So my preference, Chair, would be for the language you're looking at, I think 2.16, is that correct?

Yes.

2.16? To say both affordable and workforce housing, and workforce housing is between 120 and 140.

Okay, that is the language as we had stated it, correct, folks?

Oh, thank you.

Okay, it was just a clarification from Member Rollins-Fernandez, who wasn't talking to us, right?

Sorry. Sunshine, disclaimer, my mom just stopped by my house. Oh, everyone's waving to you, mom. Oh.

Okay, so that is the language that we had, affordable and workforce, and we're taking this action item, we're moving it to the policies. Ms. Komkowicz, is that a new hand up? Old hand up, okay. All right, any further discussion from the members before we take a vote? All those in favor, raise your hand and say aye.

Chair, eight ayes, zero noes, one excuse. Member Sukimura, motion passes.

Cool. Okay. We've reached the midway point. Any objections to like a five-minute recess? Maybe come back at 10.35? Okay. 10.35 recess. Will the DRIP Committee return to order from our recess? Thank you, members. The time is now 10.39 and we left off on action item 2.17, which was a CPAC original. And in speaking with the planning department over the recess, they had thought that this action item may have been addressed when we passed, I think it was maybe Bill 104 that allowed for kitchenettes. And we also passed, I think at the end of last year, the bill that allows for two ADUs on any residential property and that ADUs could be attached or detached. So... I don't know if Planning wants to read the definition of duplex, but just checking in, do you feel that this action item has been met by previous items or previous legislation that Council has passed to allow for kitchenettes and ADUs attached or detached?

A duplex means the same as a two family dwelling unit. So dwelling unit, two family or duplex. Two family dwelling unit means a building consisting of only two dwelling units designed exclusively for occupancy by two families living independently of each other.

Okay, and so do you feel that this has been met with previous council legislation on kitchenettes or ADUs, whether they're attached or detached?

Yes, I would advise taking this action out.

Okay, this legislative action that had been passed by the council happened after the CPAC review, so we've made it easier to allow two families to live in a single structure. I'll entertain a motion to amend, action item 2.17 from, by striking action 2.17 from page 123 of the draft South Maui Community Plan, including any non-substantive changes or revisions. Member Cook?

So moved.

Second. Moved by Member Cook, seconded by Chair Lee. Any further discussion?

Member Cook. I think this and some of the other roles that we've changed somehow some way need to be communicated to the community because I don't think it's common knowledge and a lot of people that are currently like enclosing garages and other things I think can now become legal.

Oh yes, and also one of the other things that we changed was to increase and kind of standardize the ADU square footage as well. So, you know, I don't know. I guess we're not busy out there creating press release for all the wonderful work we're doing so that people can know that they can take advantage of it. So, I don't know. People can do that, I guess. Member Cook.

I think not just the general public, but possibly the ZIAD for planning department as well as public works, the building inspectors, because it is a major change. Things that people would get cited for before this now all of a sudden is a legal right. And so it's just building is everybody needs to serve you. Okay. As far as the building inspectors go, some of the plumbing and the electrical compliance is going to need to be adjusted for health and safety. So a little bit of elasticity, education, patience, and enforcement blended together so people have safe living areas, but we have more density immediately. Thank you.

Sure thing, any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, raise your hand and say aye.

Chair, seven ayes, zero noes. To excuse members Rollins, Fernandez, and Sukumar, motion passes.

Thank you. Moving on to 2.18. This is also another CPAC original. It reads, develop and implement a green waste collection and compost use program, a program with high priority. Timing is ongoing. Environmental management would be the lead agency cost 10 million and county would be the funding sources. Do we have Mr. Rollins on the line? While we wait to see if it's Deputy Director Peterson or Mr. Rollins, I would like to go to the CPAC resources to clarify what was meant by a compost use program. I understand develop and implement a green waste collection. I'm not sure if I understand what is meant by develop and implement a compost use program. If that could be clarified for us, what is meant for us to do when we develop and implement a compost use program?

Sorry, Chair, I don't believe we see a representative from DEM online.

Oh, okay.

Well, a lot of the residents in South Mali do create a lot of green waste, and a lot of that goes right into the landfill. If there was someplace, You have to remember we were coming up, reviewing these policies and actions four years ago. And so like with the last one we were talking about, things have happened, transpired since then. So we're looking at a place that we could take our green waste in South Maui and then they could compost it and then people could go there and use the compost for land use purposes at their home. So yeah, that's a good use of green waste, turn it into compost. Some people do it at home, they can do that at home. you collect a large quantity of green waste, and if someone could do it locally, and I don't know if someone is doing that now in South Maui, someone may well, there may be a business like that right now, but that's kind of the idea.

Okay, so someplace where you could either purchase or get the compost is what's meant by a compost use program. Okay, Member Cook?

Thank you, Chair. It has evolved since then. There's currently one company doing extensive composting, pretty remarkable. In Waikapu, when you're driving along on the way to work, you'll see them on the left-hand side. One of the challenges that they're facing is the county takes green waste to the landfill still. I think I've heard it's partially because solid waste needs to go and has enough organic matters, et cetera. But it seems like the county is subsidizing or their price for dumping green waste at the dump is less than what the market needs to be for a marketable one. And so I think we need to decide whether we're going to have private practices do it or whether we're going to maintain a subsidized county composting program. But the good news is, since they looked at this, there is multiple places to go. The county isn't composting it. They're just doing it in landfill, whereas the other people are grinding it and turning it into mulching compost. Made a lot of progress in this. We just sort of need to I guess they need to somehow make it economically viable. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Yes, I do pass the Waikapu compost. I think it doesn't meet their desire to have it in South Maui because Waikapu is part of Wailuku, Waihe'e area. And there used to have been one in South Maui, and I think that the landowner... wanted their land back and so that had to shut down at that time. Mr. Kalanikau, is that kind of along the lines of what you were going to add?

Yeah, they had one near the wastewater facility above Pilani Highway that shut down. And the business that we have now in like a pool, They also have a facility that does recycle construction material in Kihei also. So they're in Waikapu. So yeah, we don't have a place like we used to where people can take their green waste in South Maui. So that, I think this was that discussion, like where can this happen, this program? And And I think where the green waste facility is in Waikapu, I think that's South Maui District. So just gonna go back on real quick one, because I know I was at the beginning part. This is a challenge for us kanaka to do things in alignment because our district got divided, right? And then when you pass Kealia Pond, you know, Kealia Pond, Malaya, and I think part of Waikapu by the golf course, I think that's all South Maui, which is weird. So you're having, I mean, I don't like do nothing in Waikapu without checking with the kupuna over there if their resources is being mismanaged at Kilia Pond or something, but... That's our district, just kind of.

So you're considering Waikapu as within South Maui and that this action item is already met?

I think it's in our district, that location, yeah? Cook, Tom, right? I think that's our map, where that green waste facility is at in Waikapu.

Ms. Komkowicz looks to be shaking her head in the negative. But I mean, if you guys are okay with the Waikapu location, I mean, I'm not trying to tell you what you shouldn't be okay with, but if the desire was to have one in the South Maui Community Plan area, that isn't exactly... Oh, go ahead, Ms. Komkowicz.

That one is definitely outside of the South Maui Community Plan area. It is new and it does seem to meet part of the intention of this action item. There was also a pilot program run by DEM in Maui Meadows to collect green waste. So it was more proactive than what's currently happening. People didn't take their green waste, it was just being picked up.

for them with a separate bin yeah with a separate bin and then they I think moved that pilot program to like the Spencer housing or something and then I lost track of it um So I guess was the intention in the CPAC discussion that the county would run a program or a facility or anyone would run? Like the one in Waikapu, I guess if somebody had the desire to start a business like that in South Maui and they had the proper land use entitlements, the proper permits and like that, an individual and land, know-how, an individual could run a program like that. Or was the intention more that we go back to like a three-can plan as not a pilot? Was the intention that there be a facility similar to the one in Waikapu, more located within the South Maui Community Plan area? we're not clear or I'm not clear at this point what the CPAC's intention specifically was for this action item. Was it for the county to develop a program like the one in Waikapu in South Maui? Was it for the county to implement the results of the pilot program with the three-can plan for all of South Maui? which, I mean, I don't know, there were challenges, but that's, I think, what Member Cook was saying about a subsidized program. To some extent, I mean, when we're talking about economic diversification, if the county were to subsidize a program like that, then we're taking the opportunity away from a business person who may wanna do that work, like how it is being done in Waikapu, So we wouldn't want to subsidize a program that would undercut a business opportunity. But if nobody is doing that business opportunity or they don't have the land, we could support in other ways. But just trying to get to the root of the intention with this action item. I don't know if that's a legacy hand up from Ms. Komkowicz that she wanted to add something or she already added what she wanted to say. I put my hand down. Okay, Mr. Kalanicka.

Yeah, I think the intent was to have a setup in South Maui. I don't think we focused on county or private. It's just we need one. And yeah, that is private at Waikapu. So I do know that that private that go ahead.

Maybe if the intention was something like wake up who in South Maui, it's more of a policy than an action item to support. support like land use entitlements for composting, commercial composting within South Maui or something along those lines rather than an action item. Because if the intent is to have something like they have in Waikapu in South Maui, we can't take an individual and say hey you're gonna start a compost green waste program you know we can support them in land use entitlements or things like that but um okay we can't force an individual to start up a business like the one in wake up yeah absolutely so the guy in waikapu he he he's wanting to do a location

in South Maui whenever that happens. So that's his plan. So again, you know, this is what our vision was a couple years ago, is to create a space, whether it's through county or someone privately, to have a facility in South Maui, if that helps.

Okay.

I mean, policy makes sense. I mean, it makes sense, the policy. Dan, you still on, or Hila?

He's still here. You wanna hear from him as well?

Yeah, Dan, you got anything to reflect on this?

Well, yeah, the three-can plan was pilot program in my meadows in central Kihei, and one of the cans we use for green waste, which the idea was keep the green waste out of landfill. We wanna keep things out of the landfill so that we can reuse, repurpose them, and we like that idea. We still like that idea. and the green waste is a resource. It can be used for other purposes, not to fill the landfill unless you wanna create more methane gas, and you can use the methane gas for power, but whether it's business, private business, or whether it's government, There's a resource and it's not being used. And we as taxpayers are kind of footing the bill one way or the other. If it goes into the landfill, there's a cost. And if the government supports a recycling program, there's a cost. And the question is, what happened to the curbside recycling plan that was part of the big picture Islandwide plan? Why is that not being looked at again and whatever happened to it? So that's a bigger question I guess the community would like to know.

Okay, and being that the county is currently landfilling our green waste, I think that's the answer to what happened to any pilot three-can plan programs because we don't compost with, was it equal anymore because we are landfilling the green waste. So I guess that's the answer to that until at which time the county can go back to composting the green waste that there's probably a hold on that three-can plan program. But Member Cook.

Thank you, Chair. The previous composting facility in Kihei was a private enterprise. And the reason that they were, it wasn't very well capitalized or funded. And so the landlord didn't renew their lease. So that's what happened with that. It was both of them were private. When you drive by that, if you look at the facility, it's land-intensive, water. They need water. They have water over there. And it's kind of dusty and funky. It's like not something you'd want to be anywhere near a subdivision. It's unreasonable to think that you're going to just cover it all the time and blah, blah, blah. So anyway... I'm a big advocate of whoever does it, it's turning into compost and not simply being buried. I'm glad we're having a conversation and thanks. That's my comment.

Yeah, it's difficult. I mean, I also support composting. We had a compost facility across the highway from our subdivision. a few years back and there was a smell that came through our division at times, which I mean was real minor in the course of things. What was more concerning was the number of times that facility caught on fire. The smell was just, you know, you can live with it, but it kept catching on fire and That was concerning even before Lahaina burned down because it's across the highway from where I lived. But generally supportive of composting. Mr. Kalanikau?

Yeah, this is just for Karen. So Karen, looking at our map in the community plan, it does extend. way into Waikapu and also Upamehame. Is that the same map? Because it does show the facility in Waikapu in our South Maui community plan. And that was it. I just wanted to clarify that.

Ms. Komplowicz.

I'm not looking at the map, but if Vernon says so, then it's true.

Okay. Yeah, all good. Thank you.

Does that help, Ms. Komkovic?

This action would probably be a policy as well, since you're discussing that it could be a private action and not a county-led action. If the CPAC members are fine with it, it's really a policy decision for you guys.

Okay, okay. That being said, then, oh, Member Cook, go ahead.

I just wanted to end closing. It's a highly regulated by the Department of Health. So they have like testing documents, any composting operation. So I'm just, that's one of the barriers of entry for anybody to do it. Thank you, Chair.

Yeah, if we still wanna keep this and we wanna keep it as a policy, we could move it to goal 2.2 in the livable for all section and it could say something along the lines of support land use entitlements for a green waste collection and compost use program within the South Maui Community Plan area. Do you guys like that? Okay, so I'll entertain a motion to amend page 123 of the draft plan by striking action item 2.18 and moving it to section two, goal 2.2, livable for all section to read Support land use entitlements to implement a green waste collection and compost use program within the South Maui Community Plan area. Moves by Member Cook, seconded by Member Sinensi. Any further discussion? Seeing none, raise your hand and say aye.

Chair, eight ayes, zero noes, one excused. Member Sukumura, motion passes.

Okay, thank you. Okay, moving right along. Mr. Nunakawa.

Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to mention if this was something that the body was interested in looking at further, it might be something to look at whether to do something in the general plan. Uh, I'm not sure the idea was, uh, just specific to the South my community plan. The discussion seemed to be related to sort of how composting across the island. That might be another thing to flag for. when you're looking at things that might go into the general plan as general plan amendments.

Thank you very much. Yeah, I think it would help with cutting down on invasive species too, which, you know, we have 40 acres of little fire in my neighborhood as well. So can you please put that on our action, our post SMCP action list? Okay, perfect. At this time, Mr. Ramirez, can you show us page 27 of attachment 3C, which corresponds with action item 2.19 on page 123 of our South Maui Community Plan draft. So the original, as proposed by the Department of Planning, was to develop a feasibility study for the use and development of the county-owned parcel adjacent to the Kihei Police Station, taking into account the preservation of willy-willy forests, avoiding impacts to cultural resources, and minimizing grading due to geology. What CPAC recommended adds in as a passive park with emphasis on open space and preservation of natural habitat, and they put the priority is high. And then per drafting guidelines, it was just minor tweaks, taking into account and putting include, and then instead of due to geography, saying because of geology. I think there was another action item for the, for the area next to the police station about the feasibility of camping facilities. which I mean, I'm not sure if camping facilities are a passive park use. And then I think with public quasi public being suggested as community plan designation, there was talk about potential fire station relocation outside of the Slorexa or the SMA area. There had also been talks about potential for affordable housing and other things. I think the total acreage of that county property is in the 150 acre ballpark. So I mean, potentially all things could be done on separate um pieces of the 150 acres was was that kind of along the lines you were thinking or was it like 150 acres of passive park except for what was for the campground facilities or was it there could be spaces of passive park with an emphasis on preservation of the willy-willy forest or what was the CPAC mindset that a section could be passive park or 150 acres passive park or? Mr. Kanahele.

Part of that 150 acres is district police station, so.

I'm the one that... Oh, is the police station inclusive of the 150 acres? Or is it adjacent? Oh, I'll remember.

The police station's on 10 acres of it. It's a 150-acre parcel and 10 acres is the police station.

Okay, okay. So that part has already been developed. So there's 140 acres that haven't been developed yet.

It's also been surveyed and has soil borings and stuff from when they did the police station. So it is a rocky, challenging parcel. It's also the largest piece the county has in that area to do things. But I'd like to hear what the CPAC's perspective is. Make your turn.

Okay. Mr. Connor-Heller?

So I'm pretty familiar with that area because I've hiked it, I've walked it. The Passive Park idea for that area comes out of the current community plan. It's the language used in the current community plan as a possible use for that area. There is a remnant dryland forest there, that's why you see willy-willy trees on the eastern part of it. And the dryland forest is one of the areas It's listed as one of the top 20 endangered ecosystems in the entire country. And so you have woolly, woolly trees are an indication that there is a dry land forest there. And there are also what I would describe as possibly undocumented historic sites. I don't know if they've done a survey there, but adjacent or within that dry land forest are what I observed as historic properties that maybe a survey will give us greater understanding of the significance of that. And what runs there right along that property is Kamaoli Gulch. And I've walked that gulch sections of it from South Key Road all the way up past where this project is. And there are also historic properties, in my opinion, in the gulch too, along with native plants. Because usually gulches are places where native plants are, they find a place to survive. So, The area has some importance in term that, yes, there is a gulch that runs along there, quite a large gulch, and there is a remnant for the willy-willy or lowland forest, and there are historic properties in the northern part. So having a passive park is one potential use for it. We don't have a Pacific Park in South Maui, to my knowledge. Also, we don't have any overnight camping areas in South Maui. Some people used to like to camp out in McKenna, but you can't camp out in McKenna anymore, or at the state park. Maybe that's a use they're looking at as part of the overall plan for the state. Not involved in that anymore, so I don't know if that's still something they wanna do in McKenna State Park. But yeah, I would say for all those, the uses as a passive park as a possible camping area.

Was it ever discussed on the passive park acreage? It seems that there's 140 acres that have been undeveloped. Was there any conversation about that? the entirety of the 140 acres or maybe the willy-willy portion and the open space along the edge of the gulch as intended by the previous policy which we haven't gotten to yet? Or was the idea everything save the campsite or was acreage discussed at all?

I don't think acreage was necessarily discussing how you would divide it up, but if you're going to preserve the remnant forest and whatever sites are there, you could conceivably have walking trails in there, right? Some parts of it are rocky, because there are ah-ah there. And then of course you have the gulch, and the gulch is much easier to walk along or even within. So that could be potentially part of, I don't know who owns the Gulch, if county owns half of it and then maybe the ranch owns the other half and that's how it's divided. That's kind of like when you were talking about the Kilohana Park. There's a gulch on the south of it. You could conceivably have walking trails in that gulch. It could be a passive park where people could go down and walk along it on a trail system and perhaps something like that in this area too. But I think there's enough acres there to do several things. If you have 140 acres, you could do a lot of things with that.

Okay, I guess is Mr. Jackson on the line? from Department of Management or does Mr. Mitchell know of or Mr. Jackson, do you know of the county's intent for the I guess remaining 140 acres near that the county owns near the adjacent to the police station?

Thank you, Council Member or Chair. Council Member Cook mentioned it, but it is the largest parcel within PA that we have control over. So there's always conversations about what could be. The rock that was mentioned is challenging. So, and I see Director Mitchell put his hands up, so he can chime in here as well. But there would definitely be hesitancy to saying, let's put all of that 140 acres into a passive park because I think there are other means that the county is foreseeing that could be, that that space could be utilized for.

Director Mitchell, you want to chime in? Please enlighten us with whatever you know about the council we're discussing.

Thank you, Chair. And to follow up with what Mr. Jackson just said, he's correct that the county has been looking at that parcel for a variety of different needs, including affordable housing. In addition, the Department of Housing is in the midst of preparing a pre-development RFP for that property for affordable housing. uh and we are acutely aware of the challenges with the parcel because of the amount of blue rock but it is one of several county parcels that we're looking at for housing development okay and um you're aware of the native willy willy forest on the parcel north and and was that um inclusive of your rfp Part of the pre-development RFP is to ensure that we correctly identify all of the cultural resources that we need to protect and avoid. And so I'm personally not aware of where they all are and the RFP has not gone out, but we are trying to ensure that before we do anything, we identify all those resources.

So Director Molitao, have you or your department identified cultural resources on the county-owned land adjacent to the police station?

Mahalo for the question, Councilmember. We have not physically been on site to identify. I will check with county archaeologists to see if there has been any potential surveys that have been done in the past, and I can go ahead and report back to you.

Awesome. Thank you very much. Member Sinensi, did you have your hand up?

That was my question. Thank you.

Oh, okay. All right, so going back to the action item, it was develop a feasibility study for the use and development of the county-owned parcel adjacent to the Kihei Police Station as a passive park with emphasis on open space. and preservation of natural habitat include the preservation of the willy-willy forest, avoiding impacts to cultural resources, and minimizing grading because of geology. So in light of the Department of Housing putting out an RFP, And, you know, the significant need for affordable housing, close to good jobs and whatnot. Miss Komkovic, did you have some guidance for us?

Maybe to both address both of those if you look at the parcel It's only about a third of it is willy-willy and then there's the two Gulch's that run through the land which so you could say Include a passive park with an emphasis on the preservation of natural habitat or include the preservation of the willy-willy forest and

And I know that we haven't, we need to revisit the policies designating 100-foot buffer for open space around gulches. But for the county-owned parcel, we can say that we do want 100-foot buffers for that without touching the policy section that we need to revisit. if that's something we wanted. So we could say something like include the preservation of the Wiliwili Forest and a 100-foot buffer along the gulches, avoiding impacts to cultural resources and minimizing grading because of geology or something along those lines if that was the preference. Mr. Mitchell, are you aware if that 100-foot buffer language has been included in the RFP? It was very similar to the West Maui Community Plan language. Except for I think exceptions were made for low impact development or bridges or crossings. Do you think that the RFP, if it doesn't include that language, could be amended to include that language? Would you be supportive?

Thank you for the question, Chair. The RFP has not yet been released. So yes, it could be amended to include the language.

And would you be supportive of a 100-foot buffer along the Gulch? We saw some footage as prepared by Mr. Kalanikau of, you know, what happens along these gulches as the water sediment, et cetera, comes down. We have, since the development of this plan, seen a house fall into the gulch in Eow. And I guess, you know, those types of things where we're a bit concerned about, you know, the safety of putting housing within 100 foot of the edge of a gulch.

Thank you for the question, Chair. The determination of the distance was made by what body? I didn't quite hear that part in your statement.

It's a policy that we're still working on for South Maui Community Plan. It was a similar policy was adopted for the West Maui Community Plan about development within a hundred foot of the edge of a gulch being designated as open space. And while we haven't solidified the policy yet for all of South Maui, we do kind of have the authority or control over a county-owned parcel that is adjacent to a gulch. And so while we have yet to make the decision as a policy, we can protect it on county-owned property without it being a policy. And that seemed to be the desire of the CPAC to protect a 100-foot open space buffer along the edge of a gulch. So I guess the question is, are you amenable to including the protection of the Willy Willy Forest cultural resources and 100-foot buffer along the edge of the gulch as an action item for the county-owned policy or county-owned parcel?

Thank you, Chair, for the question. The short answer is yes, but I just want to qualify that by saying One of the internal policies in the department is to ensure the protection of cultural resources and to be environmentally sensitive and to not pursue any project, period, that puts those principles at risk. And so if that is the will of the body in terms of the setback, the department will gladly support that because we want to ensure that our pursuit of developing affordable housing is culturally sensitive, environmentally sensitive, and makes financial sense for the community. So the short answer is yes, but there's a lot more thinking that our team explores as we try to push for the production of housing.

Okay, we can pause on this now or we can go ahead with it. Would giving the Department of Housing and the Department of Management some time to consider the implications of preserving the Willy Willy Forest, having a 100-foot buffer on the gulch and avoiding impacts to cultural resources give, management, OEV, and housing time to, I guess, figure out the implications of what a action item to that effect would look like. Mr. Jackson.

Thank you, Chair. Just looking at the draft map, I'm just wondering, you know, the short of it is the definition of a gulch, because I know there's multiple different kind of lines of open space through that property, at least in the draft map.

Page 105 of the draft plan talks about gulches and drainage ways as...

as laid out here.

And so the consideration in a different section talks about those remaining in open space. There's also, I think, a different item considering the feasibility of a campground site on that parcel as well, or other parcels. So just wanted to get everyone on the same page before we take an action that may or may not be supported. So we can give Department of WVU Resources, Department of Management, and Department of Housing some time before, and then you can guide us better on creating this action item for the county parcel. Mr. Kanahele?

Just a few comments. The Kamoli Gulch is a major drainageway. A lot of water runs in it, and it comes out between Charlie Young Beach and Kamauli One. If there's enough water, it often blows out the beach, just the sand. The dry land forest, the Wiliwili Forest runs along. The Kamauli is south of the land area, and the Wiliwili Forest, much of it runs along the edge of the gulch. The 100 foot buffer, Mauka-Pe'elani Highway would be good, because it's all undeveloped, there's nothing developed there. You often find historic properties along gulches, along the edge of gulches. That's one of the first places I look. I spend a lot of time on the leeward side of the islands, studying archeology. Yeah, so I just wanted to share that with the idea of the 100 foot buffer. would help preserve the Woolly Woolly and potential historic sites along there and also the use of that area as a major drainage way. There's also another gulch on the north side of the police station that the gulch comes out where the Cove Park is. There's a outlet at Cove Park.

Waipuilani Gulch. Okay, Mr. Jackson.

Chair, would it be okay if I just shared my screen for 30 seconds?

It's okay with me.

Just for purposes of our internal conversation, I see the upper gulch here and the lower gulch here. Would these open space lines that run through, would those be considered gulches? And I know you referenced the definition of gulch, but I just want to make sure I'm clear as we're having these internal conversations.

Yes, per the legend on page 97, I think those green spaces would be considered as open space.

But not necessarily gulches? Or is that

Yeah, if you look on page 97, it's very similar to what you have up on your screen. And per the legend, blue would be public, quasi-public, and green would be open space.

So would there need to be a 100-foot buffer from anywhere where there's green, I guess is the question.

The smaller green are drainage ways and those would need low impact development around them. But the larger, well, depending on what policy you adopt, it would be advisable to have low impact development around those drainage ways. And then the two larger ones are defined as gulches and those would benefit from a 100 foot buffer.

Thank you. That answers my question. And we would be happy to have a conversation with Housing and Department of OED Resources offline.

Okay.

But I don't see terms with it at this point.

Okay. Mr. Kalanickal, did you have something to add?

Yeah. So hearing Noah bring that up, so there's testimonies on gulches. So this is the part. where we have to be careful. Because you're seeing the, you guys saw the small one, yeah, in the middle. And then you see the two gulches on the side. So when I look at this, I call it a kahawai. So when you follow this kahawai, go up high, yeah, it's a gulch. You know, it does get skinny when it reaches Makai of South Maui. Good one is Kulani-Hakoi, wine. I still call that a gauch, but I always refer makai as a kahawai because some of these veins are not as active, but can be active, you know, and it does what it's supposed to do, even the smaller ones too. So that's why I know in the CPAC, it was a thing with landowners and even private residents, how are we gonna label this correctly? And I know it was mentioned that each case should be handled by each case. I do know in these maps, there's a lot of this going down. I walk many areas just like Daniel. I document a lot of it, and some of these will be in our maps in our CPAC plan. We're going to see that it's labeled as a gulch when it's only three feet wide and one feet deep. So this one here is beginning to become more active, both sides of that property. And it's all because what's happening at Malka, not to say we can call this a gulch, but it comes from a gulch of Malka. Anyway, just sharing that distinct of when we gonna be talking about the streamways and our buffers, but this parcel, And it's open. I'm just going to say it's just open for an opportunity if it's housing.

Okay. So it sounds like, thank you, that we'll need to give housing management and OEV resources some time to discuss the policies that we've mentioned whether it's a policy that the county follows or everybody follows, that was kind of the will of the South Maui Community Plan, as well as the action items about the feasibility of it for use of a campground or the feasibility of open space, passive park use. And if you can get back to us, I guess, you know, as soon as possible, because we were going to do a revisit at the end of each section. If you miss that revisit opportunity, there is a revisit at the end. of our review as well. So Mr. Jackson, does that sound like something we can entrust to your stewardship, the discussion between OEB management, housing, and whoever else that you'll need to pull in to consider action item one, two, three, 2.19 on page 123, as well as our gulch policies, which, you know, I don't know if we're going to enact for the entirety of the South Maui Community Plan or not, but consider if we were to adopt them just for the county-owned parcel or for everything, not too sure yet, but consider the language there. Does that sound like a good pathway forward to Mr. Jackson and the members? Okay. All right, we're trusting you, Mr. Jackson, with our lives. Or our reputation, something. Okay, so I'll mark 2.19 as a revisit awaiting feedback from the administration. Okay, no objections to that.

No objections, Chair. I'm supportive. And I just wanted to add that Mr. Kanahele, I've known him to walk the entire 190 miles of the island during the Kaupuni Alamo. So he comes with a lot of experience when he talks about each of these gulches and his walking. So mahalo for his expertise. Thanks.

Okay, yeah, and I'm not sure who Member Rollins-Fernandez was pointing to. Was it Member Sinensi? Oh, okay, all right, good. All right then, moving on to action item 2.20 on page 123 of our draft plan, and that is found on page 28 of our attachment 3C. Mr. Ramirez, could you put page 28 attachment 3C up on the screen for the viewing public? Thank you. So this started as a department action item. originally numbered 2.11, and it was originally said to partner with federal and state agencies, private landowners, and community groups to develop a management plan for the shoreline areas of Kealia. The plan should address coastal resilience, recreation, resource conservation, possible relocation of the North Kihei Road, and other applicable issues. The CPAC changed possible to the inevitable relocation of North Kihei Road and other applicable issues. And then per drafting guidelines should turn into May. So the plan may address coastal resilience, recreation, resource conservation, the inevitable relocation of North Kihei Road and other applicable issues. And that's how it landed. This is a high priority in a short timeframe. The lead agency would be planning department, and the cost was 500,000 funding sources, county, state, and federal. So it's to partner with these other agencies on a management plan for the shoreline areas. We did previously discuss having North Kihei Road meet up with a new road off of Veterans Highway. And that would be, I guess, the relocation of the North Kihei Road portion of it, or taking up under the Kealia Bypass item that we had previously taken up. Member Sinensi.

could we include the MPO as the agency so the board could prioritize the project?

Yes, I have no objection to MPO being added as a lead agency. Planning, do you have any objection to adding MPO as a lead agency to co-lead with you folks? They gave us a thumbs up that they're supportive of that. I'm not sure, I guess, Mr. Jackson, any feedback for us on this action item 2.20 as I guess Department of Management would also be involved or I guess planning is currently the lead agency. How would you guys go about implementing this action item? Can you repeat the question?

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, Mr. Jackson, I guess you can go first. We're discussing, we have planning and possibly MPOs lead agencies. You heard the action item. I guess, do you think that management should also be a lead agency and how would planning and management move forward with implementing this action?

Thank you, Chair. I would defer to planning on this. Yeah, I don't think we need to insert management into this. Specifically, planning is good at coordinating with other departments as they need, and they can rope us in if we need to. That's my two cents.

No Department of Management planning. This is an action item and you're the lead agency currently. Any input on this action item? Like, is it something that you can handle? Where would you start? Any feedback? It's a high priority with a short timeline, which I think is one to five years.

It would start with discussions with the private landowners and seeing what the options are. It's something that needs to be done, but it's going to be difficult. However, as we're seeing with Lahaina and the shoreline retreat, it could be better to get started earlier.

And I think the private landowner would predominantly be Mahi Pono, because that was the landowner when we talked about having Veterans Highway connect to North South Key, sorry, to the North Kihei Road that would come out on Honua Piilani by the junction as another option for how to get into South Maui for those coming from West Maui so they don't have to drive all the way to Mokulele or Veterans Highway when trying to enter Kihei when North Kihei Road is no longer passable due to sea level rise or erosion or storm.

Thank you, Chair, for the question. I haven't reviewed the Pohakea Watershed Management Plan in depth in a long time in order to respond more fully to this. However, I would say in general, although the department certainly is in support of the concepts presented in this action item, the two could kind of get conflated, at least in my mind, because typically when we look at management plans, the state of the land as is and how we want it to be modified, and so there can be very clear goals listed within that. For the relocation of North Kihei Road, that is an entirely different function that the Department of Planning can certainly be partnered with DPW to assist with, but we certainly are not the ones that would lead such a daunting CIP project, typically. So that's where I am getting nervous in terms of us being signed up to lead a CIP project. Certainly, obviously, we help advise, direct the infrastructure, what have you, so it's appropriate that it's in the community plan. Are we looking for this policy or this action item to be more of a management plan for the state of the land as is? Or should this be crafted to have a more clear goal of the CIP being requested of the relocation of North Kihei Road? It's kind of my questions.

Yeah, I think the... action item that was in regards to creating a Kealia bypass would be more so about the relocation of the road in particular. I think we marked it as a revisit because DPW wasn't available until Thursday. So this would be the management plan and I guess it would go from where it currently is to when it's no longer viable to use that road and how we manage each stage of that process, I guess. Member Johnson?

Thank you, Chair. You know, I'm looking at the action item here, and it just says, partnering with the federal, state, and agencies, private landowners, and community groups to develop a management plan. And it's my assumption that the feds don't help us with plans. They'll fund it if you have a plan. In fact, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coastal Zone Management Act, they have 65% matching funds. They'll fund us if we have a plan, but I don't think they fund us creating a plan. And that's kind of, we talked a little about that in another, it's a theme that they seem to do, that you gotta have a plan before we give you the money. So when it says here in this action, It says that partnering with federal to develop a management plan. Is that the right way to say it? Or is that, maybe planning can speak on that. It seems like they have something to say.

Planning?

From recollection, I believe that the intention was to partner with NOAA and other federal agencies that would have knowledge in coastal resilience. So then the funding for the plan could come from the federal government, but the partners would be the knowledgeable agencies.

Does that clarify it for you, Member Johnson, partnering with a specific entity? I don't know if it needs to be called out as NOAA or something.

I agree. We don't really have to call it out. But I mean, you're saying they would be the subject matters to help us influence when we create our plan? Is that what you're saying? Okay. And I saw Council Member's hand up. Thank you, Chair.

Member Batonga?

Thank you, Chair. So there are some federal grants that can allow for us to create the plans, including federal highways. There are some of their funds that are used in the Hana Greenway Master Plan, for example. So I agree that we don't necessarily need to call out who in the federal government we need to partner with, but to the question as to whether or not we can use federal dollars to create the plans that we're proposing here, there are some that are available.

Okay, because the two that I looked up was the Army Corps Engineers and the Coastal Zone Management Act, which I think is under NOAA, but that's okay. I just want to know, is that a thing that they do? And it sounds like maybe they do. Thank you, Chair.

Okay, so your question was whether we should take out or leave in federal. Other than that, I don't necessarily have any issue with this. I would be amenable to entertain a motion to add in MPO and DPW as partner lead agencies to the county. I'm not sure if 500,000 is the appropriate amount, but that was put in, I think, from planning, so you guys must be okay with it. I don't, does anyone else have amendments for the verbiage? No, okay. So the motion would be I would entertain a motion to amend the county lead agency to give planning a hand by adding Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization and Department of Public Works. moved by Member Johnson, second by Member Uuhajins. Any further discussion? Mr. Kanahele, did you have discussion?

Maybe should put back should. Inevitable was put in there by one of our members of CPAC who, grew up in Malaya and noted how much of the beach is no longer there from what he was, that he saw growing up. But I say should because we could have easily lost both lanes instead of just 600 feet of the Makai Lane. We could easily have affected both lanes and right for the two weeks and probably would have taken longer for the repair work to have been done. Everybody would have to go around. Now it's open, both lanes are open. So yeah, it is inevitable and it's just a matter of when. And it could happen during this storm season. But it will happen.

I think if the intention is to go to a higher degree than me, we would utilize the word must. must is stronger, so it would be instead of the plan may address coastal resilience, recreational resource conservation, inevitable relocation, blah, blah, blah. If we wanna go stronger, it would be the plan must address coastal resilience, recreation, resource conservation, the inevitable relocation of North Kihei Road and other applicable issues. Does the planning department have an issue with the plan must rather than the plan may?

Chair, thank you for the question. It's not that we have an issue with it. It's just based on just different capacities and issues that can come up, it's, in my mind, better for us to have the flexibility. And we certainly have the community's intent here to perform on these measures. We wouldn't oppose you folks changing it to must, but I would encourage giving these different departments more flexibility because the complexities that could come up with this, we may not know what they are. And so that's why I would like to ask for flexibility. Thank you, Chair.

Would should be better than must in that case?

Should is against the drafting guidelines as advised by OCS, Chair.

or against the drafting guidelines. Okay, it seems as though it's a little bit of a policy. decision if we would like to use, I think must is okay with drafting guidelines and may is okay with drafting guidelines, should not so much. We do have a motion on the floor. Is there any preference to amend that motion to include must instead of may? or do members wanna leave it as me and give the flexibility to the planning commission or planning department as they asked for it? I'll leave it to the members. I couldn't read that lips.

Sorry, I was just saying Member Johnson made the motion and I'm happy to support what the maker of the motion wanted to do. I understand both sides of the language. I'll be honest, it doesn't necessarily matter to me. I understand where the planning department is going, but I also understand where CPAC was really trying to be as strong as they could. So I'm happy to do whatever Member Johnson wants to do as the maker of the motion as a seconder.

No pressure, Member Johnson. No pressure.

I was just about to say the same thing.

But it seems your colleagues are deferring to you.

Okay, restate the options.

The option is to leave it as the plan may address blah blah blah or the plan must address blah blah blah.

Well, In that particular place, we know it's coming, so I would say must.

Okay, so the motion has been friendly amended to say must as opposed to may. Any further discussion from the maker of the motion or the seconder? Oh, Member Lee, go ahead.

I just wanted to say that I'll vote with the motion, but I really wanted to support the departments with may. Thank you.

Okay, so she really did wanna support you, but she'll go with the majority. Any further discussion? That's like a warm hug. Okay. A hungry one. A hungry warm hug, where she's being so kind, but she's a bit hangry. All those in favor, raise your hand and say aye. Aye.

Chair, eight ayes, zero noes, one excused. Member Sugimura, motion passes.

Okay, I think this will be our last one for today on page 124. This was recommended by the planning department and then they made some slight changes per drafting guidelines and it's... It's as you read it here on page 124, action item 2.21. Work with the Maui County Arborist Committee to designate as exceptional trees all trees or groves of trees that have historic or cultural value or that represent an important community resource. Include trees that are exceptional by reason of age, rarity, location, size, aesthetic quality, or endemic qualities. This would, I think, provide protection probably for the remnant native willy-willy forest on the county-owned parcel and other parcels. The lead agency would be Parks and Recreation, I think, because do they house an arborist in there? The type would be a program, priority, medium, timing, ongoing. not applicable cost or funding sources because the action would be to just designate as exceptional trees, trees meeting those criteria. Mr. Kanahele?

In the description, it does a note under CPAC that we voted to remove commiteeing. It was just work with the Maui County arborist and we voted to remove the ward committee.

Oh, okay, that wasn't noted. I'm okay with that. It's easier to work with just the arborist than the committee. Is that a possibility, member or Ms. Komkowicz?

The Maui County Arborist Committee is the body that recommends exceptional trees to the council, and they are under the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Maui County Arborist takes care of county trees, and he is currently under the Department of Public Works. There may be additional arborists in the future, but that's the current situation.

Sorry, Chair, I misspoke. That was in that, it was another one. Sorry, it was 214, my bad.

Oh, okay. Member Patongan?

Oh no, I was just gonna mention that the arborist, the county-employed arborist got move to public parks.

But the committee is still under Parks and Recreation.

Yeah, so there's been a little bit of a disconnect with the county policy making in this regard because the arborist is no longer allowed to help the Department of Parks and Recreation who has most of the trees in the county. I was going to note that part. It's been an ongoing conversation amongst parks and public parks.

Oh yes, I've been getting multiple calls about Laniapoko coconuts.

But for the purposes of this, all I wanted to do was note that the arborist moved departments. So if we were going to be focusing on...

The arborist rather than the arborist committee.

The arborist than the committee, then we gotta change the lead agency.

Okay. So I have no recommendation for change, being that it's the arborist committee. Maybe we can make a note on our post-South Maui Community Plan actions to take up a... getting Parks and Arborists or allowing Public Works Arborists to help the Arborist Committee under Parks and Recreation. That's a real world revisit for after we do all this work. No rest for the weary. So with that being said, is everyone okay with 2.21 as it is? Okay. I'll make a note that we're ending our review at 2.21 on page 124 of the draft booklet. We do have some revisits with Parks and Recreation. We didn't check in with our friend, Mr. Frampton in Kenai, so we can save that for another day. I do want to get you guys off to lunch in a timely manner so that we're not cutting into member Batongan's time. So... We will continue with review of implementing actions on Wednesday. We have canceled the posted meeting, but we will continue this recessed meeting and continue to accept written testimony. Thank you, members. The Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee is now in recess until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026. We will reconvene on the same Teams link and our in-person viewing location will be here in the Council Chambers. This concludes today's Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee meeting. Thank you very much everyone. The time is now 11.59 and this meeting is in recess.