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On June 24th, 2009, a small town public forum was held at the Good Shepherd Church Hall in Wailuku, Maui. The WMSA (Wailuku Main Street Association) Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center hosted the event to further educate about the community-based issues of the new plan. The program, “Maui Island Plan: How It Effects You,” was held for discussion between Maui County representatives, community stakeholders, and the public.
This meeting comes after the Draft Maui Island Plan was received for review on April 21st. The Planning Commission was given 150 days to review and modify it before passing it on to the Maui County Council.
Members of the panel expressed concern about loss of small town identity. With 1 policy to act over all areas, it was argued, there will be incongruent policy. Different areas require different approaches. Examples were cited like the differences between growing industrial towns like Kahului and small farming communities like Kula.
Community leader Jan Yagi Buen explained that the overall problem with the new plan was that it is massive in comparison to the 1990 plan, something that would be difficult to modify.
Other issues with the plan are the lack of specifics in allocating water as well as the protection of diminishing agricultural lands.
A major foreseeable problem in Maui’s future is a lack of education and future jobs. Once our kids graduate from High School, there’s really not much available to them on Maui.
Long Range Senior Administrator John Summers said, “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us still.”
Yes, a lot of work ahead indeed. I attended the Maui Planning Commission’s meeting last Tuesday at the Kihei Community Center. One of the many meetings they are holding. Maui people need to watch these meetings closely and participate (voice out our opinions) as much as we can. The schedule of their meetings can be found in the official website of the County of Maui.