Earlier in the year, Climate Action and Resilience committee Chair King and Vice Chair Shane Sinenci introduced an economic recovery resolution: Supporting 'Aina Aloha Economic Futures Initiative and Transition to a Circular Economy. We are happy to announce that the resolution passed during the third quarter of 2020.

In contrast to the 'take-make-dispose' linear economic model, a circular economy is regenerative by design, keeping products and resources in the economy for as long as possible. It aims to help us gradually transition from the consumption of finite resources, opening the door to a “use and reuse economy.”

This systemic approach to economic development is designed to benefit local business, society and the environment. We believe it will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis while preserving natural resources and combating climate change.

In September, CM King introduced a bill to include an environmentalist/climate change expert as a member of the planning commissions and community advisory committees; the bill exempts the Lana`i Planning Commission due to difficulty with the small participation pool of the island. CM King introduced the matter in the CAR committee and passed it on to the full council. The bill states that the County's commissions and advisory committees must have a member with a background in conservation, natural resources or climate change. This is an amendment to a bill that already requires at least one member of each planning commission and the Hana advisory committee to have expertise in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices.

The online meeting format has enabled our CAR Committee outreach to include specialists from around the country to share their insights and innovations. This summer, we brought together experts from various municipalities around the country to discuss climate action plans, policies, and initiatives that are benefiting their individual communities as well as the global climate change situation.

This nationwide exploration of climate action initiatives featured presentations about environmental justice, climate change policies, sustainable development, energy laws and building codes, sea level rise and inspiring solutions-based climate action initiatives. Experts from communities as diverse as California's San Mateo County and New York City provided ideas and inspiration for policies our committee can consider to help Maui County thrive and to make our contribution to greenhouse gas reduction. The meeting can be viewed by clicking here. All of the Climate Action and Resilience committee meetings can be viewed by following this link.

CM King's mission of improving local government was advanced this year when the Council approved seven Charter Amendment proposals to be placed on the General Election ballot in November.

CM King proposed four of the seven amendments, and voted in favor of putting all on the ballot. Maui voters finally have the option to decide how they want their county government to operate.

CM King proposed the Charter Amendment to reorganize the Executive Branch to establish an Office of the Managing Director, with the Managing Director as the County’s Chief Operating Officer, and the Mayor to function as the County’s Chief Executive Officer. Contrary to some of the negative messaging being paid for by a super PAC, the Managing Director proposal is designed to make our county administration more efficient and professional so we can get more done with less waste.

She also proposed the establishment of stricter term limits for Councilmembers and the Mayor. In addition, CM King proposed the extension of the Affordable Housing Fund which is set to expire at the end of 2021. This proposal would also increase the amount going into the fund from 2% of the property tax revenue to 3%.

The Charter Amendments will appear on the upcoming ballot in this order:

Affordable Housing Fund

Establishing a Managing Director

Stricter Term Limits for Council Members

Interpretation Conflicts in the Charter

Charter Commission Changes

Stricter Term Limits for the Mayor

Establishing a Department of Agriculture

An easy-to-read summery sheet of the 2020 proposed Maui County Charter Amendments is available online. This document lists each amendment as it will appear on the ballot and includes information on what it means if the proposal DOES pass, and what it means if the proposal DOES NOT pass. If approved by the electorate, the Charter Amendments are effective January 2, 2021, with the exception of the CA establishing a Department of Agriculture, which is effective July 1, 2022. Additional information on all of the Charter Amendments can be found by watching CM King's “We the People” webinar with Councilmemebers Shane Sinenci and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez discussing what a vote on these amendments means to Maui County.

CM King continues her community outreach and engagement in the time of COVID-19 in a variety of arenas, including our new webinar series which shares solutions-oriented efforts that can improve our lives. Our first three webinars focused on Food Security. This quarter, July's webinar explored backyard gardens and growing your own food. In August, our guests included leaders from the Maui Food Bank and Maui Food Hub discussing access to food. In September, we shifted focus to Community Engagement, welcoming Councilmembers Shane Sinenci and Keani Rawlins-Fernandez to discuss the Charter Amendments on the upcoming ballot. Our webinars are hosted on Zoom, which is open to the first 100 people who sign on. They are also streamed live – and archived – on our Facebook page.

Inspired by the positive response, our office has used the Zoom platform to host socially distanced Town Hall meetings. This quarter, we reached out to the South Maui community to hear their concerns about a new workforce housing development, Kilohana Makai. The project, by developer Aina Lani Pacific LLC and its president Howard Kihune Jr., aims to build 28 single-family homes on about 7 acres fronting South Kihei Road, across from Keawakapu Beach. This webinar was “standing room only” with more than 100 residents getting answers to their questions from the developer. The PSLU committee voted to approve a list of conditions based on community concerns and the item will now go to the full council for a zoning change approval.

When community concern arose over the upcoming filming of Temptation Island at the Andaz in Wailea, our office fielded many questions about how and why this project would be allowed to happen. CM King hosted a Town Hall so the community could get information on the proposed Covid-19 protocols directly from the show’s producers, medical consultants and our own Film Commissioners. Following the Town Hall meeting, Kelly met with the General Manager at the Andaz for an on-site walk through of the resort and its grounds. Though we are very concerned about the impact to the community, our office is cautiously keeping an eye on the production; we also have learned that a local West Maui resident Leonard “Junya” Nakoa has agreed to oversee the project on-site to be the eyes and ears of the community. Mahalo, Junya!

Youth civic engagement has always been a priority for our office, so CM King joined with her fellow Councilmembers to support a contest for middle and high school students, Imi Pono: the Greatest Challenge. The Council will be awarding prizes to students for bold, innovative ideas that would help us build a sustainable and diverse economy. The idea can be a new invention, service or product presented in a variety of creative ways -- film, photography, oral presentations, etc. Councilmembers demonstrated their dedication to engaging students with creative outreach in the County Council's new music video.

CM King is passionate about engaging our youth and will be discussing the Imi Pono Challenge with students at Kihei Charter School; our office has Zoom meetings with the students in the works and everyone on our team is looking forward to learning more about their ideas and priorities for Maui.

Our office continues to work closely with State House Representatives Tina Wildberger and Angus McKelvey, Senator Rosalyn Baker, and the South Maui liaison from the Mayor's office Bill Snipes to address the needs of our residents in a collaborative manner. We always appreciate your involvement and we encourage you to stay engaged by attending our webinars, testifying at Council and Committee meetings, engaging in social media, reaching out through email and phone calls -- and voting!

In remembrance of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, we want to share one of Kelly's favorite quotes: "To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you, that’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself but for one’s community.”

Our office can be found on the 8th floor of the County Building, suites 819 and 820.

Our staff is working remotely but we are available by phone (808-270-7108) or via email during regular business hours.