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As the pandemic cloud continues to cast a discouraging shadow, I would like to take this opportunity to shine brightly on the amazing achievements that continue to empower our community and give us hope.
With unity and determination, our community has made great strides in combating climate change, protecting the environment, promoting food security and providing affordable housing.
Tackling climate change requires a collective effort – and is now officially a Community priority, with a new chapter added to the nationwide strategic plan.
Mahalo for making decisions that make a difference, like minimizing fossil fuel consumption and prioritizing multimodal transportation options like riding the Maui bus, cycling, or walking.
We have also advanced the fight against single-use plastics that are harmful to the environment.
Thank you to everyone who last year helped establish Chapter 20.26 of the Maui County Code, which will ban the sale, use, and distribution of single-use plastic food from January 1st. The ordinance was amended earlier this year to add foam coolers to the list of banned plastics.
On another important environmental issue, work on the protection and restoration of wetlands continues. Please consider giving a written or live statement about the legislation under CARE-55 to the Climate Action, Resilience and Environment Committee on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
While federal clean water law only protects wetlands that are adjacent to navigable waters, Maui County should protect all wetlands.
With over 80 percent of our food being imported, self-sufficiency is vital to the future of Maui County.
Mahalo to Maui County’s voters for helping create our own Department of Agriculture. The new agency will start work on July 1st and will be dedicated to helping local farmers – creating a more economically profitable, greener agro-industry that improves residents’ access to healthy food.
Special thanks to everyone who has worked to help local farmers and other Maui County’s businesses. Buying locally increases community health and safety, protects farmland, keeps money circulating in the local economy, and, perhaps most importantly, supports community cohesion.
Affordable housing remains one of the most critical problems facing our islands. Maui County set a new record median single-family home sales price of $ 1,117,500 in June, according to the Maui Real Estate Association.
Kudos to those who prioritize projects that provide truly affordable housing in Maui County, including community-minded developers, citizen-friendly residents, and state and county officials.
South Maui is looking forward to several new affordable housing developments – including Liloa Hale, Hale Kaiola, and Kaiaulu o Halele’a – after the village of Kaiwahine, which residents moved to last year.
Liloa Hale, managed by Hale Mahaolu and approved by the council last year, will have 101 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments on 3.6 acres near Hope Chapel.
Seniors up to 60 percent of the area’s median income ($ 58,500) are eligible for rent. The Liloa Hale project is funded in part by the County of Maui Affordable Housing Fund and the State of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
Further north in Kihei, on Ohukai Street and Kaiola Place, the 3-acre Hale Kaiola work housing project will include 40 units.
The project, also approved last year, will include two- and three-bedroom units priced starting at $ 295,000. Households earning between 80 and 140 percent of the median income of the region (78,000 to 136,500 US dollars) are eligible to apply for Hale Kaiola.
The Kaiwahine Village and Kaiaulu o Halele’a projects provide affordable housing for families with incomes of 60 percent or less and are environmentally friendly, “LEED for houses” Community.
Kaiwahine Village is a 120 unit community consisting of 64 two bedroom units and 56 three bedroom units and Kaiaulu o Halele’a will provide 64 rental units including two, three and four bedroom units.
I would like to thank everyone who supported Bill 60, the proposed moratorium on building permits for new visitor accommodation. We must continue to work towards a new vision of tourism – for the health of our fragile island ecosystem, to deal with the climate emergency and to protect the quality of life of its residents.
If you want to get more involved, the council is seeking applications to the newly created South Maui and Pa’ia-Ha’iku advisory committees by Thursday.
Mahalo for making Maui County no ka ‘oi!
* Kelly Takaya King chairs the Climate Action, Resilience and Environment Committee. She holds the council seat for the residential area of ​​South Maui. “3 minutes of council” is a column that brings you the latest news on legislative affairs in the county. Visit mauicounty.us for more information.
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