Maui Unite!

Programs to Interest You!

2009-08-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tune in to Akaku for the latest Maui Unite! programming. This next one is on Na Wai Eha.

See schedule below:

Date Time Length Title# Program Name CH#

8/22 3:00 pm 0:32:34 9337 Maui Unite! Na Wai Eha 53
8/30 10:15 pm 0:32:34 9337 Maui Unite! Na Wai Eha 53
9/07 5:55 pm 0:32:34 9337 Maui Unite! Na Wai Eha 53
9/15 7:25 am 0:32:34 9337 Maui Unite! Na Wai Eha 53
9/23 8:00 pm 0:32:34 9337 Maui Unite! Na Wai Eha 53

The most recent before Na Wai Eha is still playing. See below for times to view programming on the Maui Filipino Group.

Date Time Length Title# Program Name CH#

8/5 11:15:30 pm 0:28:32 9259 Maui Unite! Maui Filipino Working Group 53
8/13 5:15:30 pm 0:28:32 9259 Maui Unite! Maui Filipino Working Group 53
8/21 6:30:00 pm 0:28:32 9259 Maui Unite! Maui Filipino Working Group 53
8/29 9:00:30 pm 0:28:32 9259 Maui Unite! Maui Filipino Working Group 53
9/6 8:00:00 pm 0:28:32 9259 Maui Unite! Maui Filipino Working Group 53

Update Since August:

2009-02-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been awhile since we updated this blog. But we haven't been idle. Maui Unite-ers have been getting certified to host our own programming on Akaku. Channel 53 is now running our first ever Maui Unite! show, featuring Elle Cochran as host, interviewing Dick Mayer from GPAC and Angie Hoffman from Save Makena.

Dick explains the 2030 Maui Island Plan which will chart Maui's future and Angie updates us all on development issues in Makena.

Be sure and tune in to catch our first efforts which are sure to get better and better as we master this new opportunity to educate and enlighten folks on what's happening around our community.

Show times and dates are as follows:

Date Time Title# Program Name CH#

2/1 10:10:00 pm 8726 Maui Unite! 53

2/10 12:40:00 pm 8726 Maui Unite! 53

2/18 10:45:00 pm 8726 Maui Unite! 53

2/26 8:10:00 pm 8726 Maui Unite! 53

3/6 6:10:00 pm 8726 Maui Unite! 53

Help spread the word--and watch this space for notice of future shows!

West Maui GPAC Meetings:

2008-08-09T01:02:00.001-07:00

In preparation for GPAC's August West Maui meetings, Maui Unite! is partnering with Maui Tomorrow to sponsor an educational forum on the 2030 Maui island Plan. Come join us on:

August 13th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
West Maui Senior Center on Lahainaluna Rd.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about what's in the plan and how it will affect West Maui!

Charter Amendment Doesn't Make Ballot:

2008-08-08T00:51:00.000-07:00

Signatures needed to place the Charter Amendment on the ballot fell far short of the total needed. More time to get the word out and circulate petitions would have been necessary to guarantee success. However, the attempt did serve an educational purpose and Maui Unite! wishes to thanks everyone who participated in the effort. Mahalo to you all!

GPAC Meeting in South Maui:

2008-07-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

Do you have your ideas ready for South Maui? Do you know what you want to see happening--or not happening--there in the next 20+ years? Are you ready to give testimony and/or participate in the planning process?

Here's the info on where to be and when:

Thursday, July 17th, 5:00 pm
Kihei Elementary School Cafeteria
250 E Lipoa St
Kihei, HI 96753

Saturday, July 19th, 10:00 am-11:30 am
Public Workshop --same place as above
11:30 am - 4:00 pm
GPAC Meeting, same place as above

South Maui Panel Discussion:

2008-07-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Mark this date on your calendar if you want to know what's being planned for South Maui in the 2030 Maui Island Plan and how you can have a say in determining the future of South Maui:

July 10th, 6:30 pm, Thursday @ Lokelani School in Kihei: Panel discussion on the 2030 Maui Island Plan, hosted by Maui Tomorrow and several South Maui community associations. This discussion is being held in preparation for GPAC's South Maui meetings to be held the following week on July 17th and 19th.

Charter Amendment Update:

2008-06-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Our deadline is approaching for gathering signatures to put the Charter Amendment on the ballot. We must submit the petitions by the end of July. Please make the extra push to fill your outstanding petitions and return them to Maui Unite! by July 21.

You can mail them to:

Pam Daoust
190 Hau'oli St #305
Wailuku, HI 96793

Mahalo!

Panel Discussion Air Dates:

2008-06-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tune in to Tia, the Sustainable Girl on Akaku's Channel 53 for the Maui Unite! sponsored panel discussion on the 2030 Maui Island Plan. Air dates are:

6/18 8:30 pm
6/26 4:00 pm
7/4 2:00 pm
7/12 3:00 pm
7/21 5:30 pm

To pick your own viewing time, you can also go to the Akaku website (www.akaku.org) and program Channel 54. Just enter #8016 or Sustainable Girl MIP 2030.

This is an informatrive program you will not want to miss!

Special June Project:

2008-06-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Instead of a meeting this month, Maui Unite! is sponsoring a panel discussion on the 2030 Maui Island Plan for Akaku, with TIA, SUSTAINABLE GIRL, an Akaku producer who made this possible.

We have assembled a great panel to discuss what's in the plan--and what's not. The program will be geared toward helping folks understand the plan itself and how it will affect all of us for years to come. We hope to encourage others to get involved in the planning process by attending meetings, making phone calls, and/or sending emails to express their opinions. (Email Address: generalplan2030@mauicounty)

GPAC meetings will be held Upcountry during June and in South Maui in July. Check the Planning Department's website for times and dates, and also to view the plan: www.co.maui.hi.us/departments/Planning/gp2030/.

Watch this space for more information on this informative program. MAHALO NUI LOA, TIA, for all of your help on this!

EXCITING MAY EVENTS:

2008-04-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

ISLANDS AT RISK
Film on Genetic Engineering in Hawaii

When: Friday, May 30, 2008, 7:00 pm

Where: Cameron Center Auditorium, 95 Mahalani St. in Kahului

WHO: GMO Free Maui.
Dr. Lorrin Pang will be the guest speaker.

MAUI UNITE! WILL BE THERE--WILL YOU?

______________________________________________

BENEFIT REGGAE CONCERT

When: Saturday, May 31, 4-10 pm

Where: Lahaina Civic Center

Who: Maui Tomorrow/Save Makena. Concert benefits both.

Tickets are $25. in advance and $35. at the door. Ticket locations posted at www.myspace.com/savemakena.

Concert Website: www.naturalmysticproductions.com

MAUI UNITE! WILL HAVE A TABLE AT THESE TWO GREAT EVENTS.

COME SIGN A PETITION TO GET THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

REGISTER TO VOTE.

PURCHASE A MAUI UNITE! AND/OR SAVE MAKENA T-SHIRT!

2030 Maui Island Plan:

2008-04-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

How do you want Maui to look in 2030? What will we hand down to our children and grandchildren? What will we build? What will we preserve? What may be lost forever?

The 2030 Maui Island Plan is available for public viewing at: http://www.mauicounty.gov/departments/planning/gp2030/index.htm.

This plan will shape Maui's future. Take some time to study it, determine your own priorities and be willing to share your mana'o with GPAC members, County planning officials and office holders who will make the final decisions.

Meetings are long and the process is cumbersome. But what's happening in these meetings is too important to ignore.

Don't leave the future of Maui up to someone else--it's your future, too!

NEXT GPAC MEETING: JUNE 5, KAUNOA SENIOR CENTER @ 5PM.

The Charter Amendment...It's All About SPEAKING OUT:

2008-03-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Charter Amendment sponsored by Maui Unite! will allow each and every voter the chance to voice his or her opinion--yes or no--on large-scale development projects affecting all of us.

HOW IT WOULD WORK:

Suppose the County Council approves a project involving eight (8) or more acres, fifty (50) or more units, and/or changes to the General Plan or existing community plans. The Charter Amendment would require that the "approved" project be put before the voters at the next election. A ballot pamphlet of unbiased information about the project would have to be mailed to all voters prior to that election.

(Note: Affordable housing projects would be exempt from this amendment.)

Following the election, the County Council could still choose to grant final approval to the project, but voters will have had their say--and will know who has supported them and who has ignored their wishes.

Hawaiian Law requires all land use decisions to rest with elected officials. But unlike developers and those who stand to profit from these decisions, most voters cannot attend all of the meetings involving development in Maui County. Folks working two or three jobs to make ends meet may not be aware of what's planned for right next door to them until it's too late to do anything about it.

The Charter Amendment gives everyone a voice in decisions that will forever alter the landscape of Maui County.

16,000 valid signatures from registered voters are needed to get the amendment on the ballot.

ARE YOU READY TO SIGN?

ARE YOU WILLING TO CIRCULATE A PETITION AMONG FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS AND FAMILY, AND/OR HELP COLLECT SIGNATURES AT AN INFORMATION BOOTH?

WOULD YOU LIKE A MAUI UNITE! SPEAKER TO COME AND ADDRESS YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP OR ASSOCIATION?

Click the comment button below and let us know where and when to reach you! (Comments will not be printed without permission.)

Or come to the next Maui Unite! meeting! (Scroll down to see when and where.) Watch this space for other times and locations as the campaign unfolds.

If you care about Maui's future, consider donating $1.00 (or more) to help us get the word out about the Charter Amendment. Contributions can be sent to Treasurer Betty Yamashiro, 737 Iluna Pl, Kahului, HI 96732-1507.

See complete language of the Charter Amendment below.

Read Entire Proposed Charter Amendment Here:

2008-03-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

New Section
"Section 4-6. Voter Participation in Laws Involving Significant Land Use Changes

1. Any change: (a) to the existing land uses of lands of eight (8) acres or more or changes which would affect fifty (50) or more units, (b) to any previously enacted ordinance, (c) to the general plan, or (d) to any community plan shall not be effective until the same be approved by a 70% favorable vote of all votes cast of the qualified voters of the island where the land affected is situated or law or plan is designed to affect at the next regular "second special election" as used in sections 3-2(2) and 7-2(2), if one shall occur not less than ninety (90) days after its final passage by the council, otherwise at the next "second special election" occurring thereafter. "Any change" as used in this section includes the promulgation and adoption of new ordinances and community plans or the amendments of the same.

2. Council override of voters. When the council, by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership, determines that any change, that has failed to be approved by Section 1, comports with the general plan may, after the commencement of the new council term and within ninety (90) days of the same may hold a public hearing to reconsider the change. If the change, upon reconsideration, is passed by a two-thirds of the entire membership of the council, and is then approved by the mayor within ten (10) days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) of the council's approval, the change shall be considered approved and passed. If the mayor does not approve the change, the measure shall be deemed lost.

3. Ballot Pamphlet. The County Clerk shall cause to be produced a ballot pamphlet. The ballot shall contain an impartial summary, arguments for and against, rebuttal arguments, and other information concerning each change proposed to the voters in a fashion that is easy to understand or more useful to the average voter. All such ballot pamphlets shall be mailed to voters not less than thirty (30) days before the first ballot for the second special election is available to voters and the County Clerk shall disseminate the complete ballot pamphlet over the Internet. The County Clerk shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Haw. Rev. Stat. to effectuate this provision. The County shall also ensure adequate funding for ballot pamphlet in the annual budget. Failure to comply with this provision shall void any election under Section 1.

4. Affordable Housing Exempt. Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, as herein defined, shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 1. For purposes of this provision, "Qualified Affordable Housing Projects" means projects for housing that (1) qualify for purchase those households earning 120% or less of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development median income levels for the county and (2) (a) an equal number of units are available for those making less than or equal to 80%, 90%, 100% 110% and 120% or (2) (b) all units are available for those making less than or equal to 100% of the median if equal number of units are below and equal to or above 80% but less than or equal to 100%.

5. Construction. These provisions are to seek direct participation of the voters in the comprehensive zoning and planning process of the county. Provisions requiring voter participation and voter education shall be liberally construed.

19,113 Reasons For South Maui Voters to Support The Charter Amendment:

2008-03-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Wailea 670, recently approved in a 5-4 vote of the County Council is one of many projects slated for South Maui. 44 new development projects are already a done deal. 12 new development projects are currently proposed and 12 new ones are listed as designated for future development. Wailea 670 has just moved from the designated category into the approved category. Total number of units we're talking about here? A whopping 19,113 for South Maui alone!

Here's the breakdown:

1,166 Time Share/Hotel units
12, 599 single family units
5,348 Multi-Family units.

The above map shows locations: Green is approved, red is proposed, and yellow means designated. Wailea 670 should now be green. If you'd like a say at the ballot box on the other 23 South Maui projects that could possibly be approved without any input from YOU, sign the petition to get the Charter Amendment on the ballot!

54,981 Reasons For ALL Maui Voters to Support the Charter Amendment:

2008-03-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Those who came before us to these beautiful islands preserved Maui's precious land and water resources for those who would come after them. Now, it our turn to preserve what remains of these resources for future generations.

54,981 new units of housing are either already committed, proposed or designated for Maui's future. Some of these may be worthy, necessary projects...and some may not. Some may be affected by urban growth boundaries as defined but not yet eestablished in the 2030 Maui Island Plan now under review. Most already fall in areas targeted for growth. Whatever projects win approval will leave a permanent impact. Here are the breakdowns for units currently in some stage of planning or approval. (Maui County Department of Planning, July, 2007 figures that do not include projects proposed SINCE that date.)

139 projects already committed to be built
41 proposed
22 designated

Of these, 37,162 are single family units, 14,364 are multi-family units, and 3,455 are time share/hotel units.

DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A SAY ON THE 63 PROPOSED/DESIGNATED PROJECTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL?

SUPPORT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT!

Places We Will Be With Petitions:

2008-03-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

May 8th Maui Unite Meeting--see above

May 31: Kahului Harbor Canoe Club, 9-noon

June 7, Lahaina, Hanakao'o Beach Park (Canoe Beach), 9 til noon.

June 28, Kihei, Sugar Beach at the Canoe Club, 9-noon

July 12, Kihei, Sugar Beach at the Canoe Club, 9-noon

WATCH FOR US AT MANY MAUI FILM FESTIVAL EVENTS.

Stay tuned; more on the way!

Other Maui Unite! Projects:

2008-03-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

Maui Unite has more than one strategy for advancing our goals. The Maui Preservation and Sustainability Initiative is directed toward future planning through regular channels, such as determining what goes into the 2030 General Plan. YOU CAN SIGN THE PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW AND ADD YOUR VOICE TO OURS. Read all about it in the archives listed at right.

Preserving Maui's Heritage: MAUI PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE:

2008-03-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

2030 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE

WHEREAS, approximately 20,000 residential units have already been entitled for construction on Maui Island, and

WHEREAS, another 30,000-plus units are in various planning stages (designated or proposed) for Maui County, and

WHEREAS, infrastructure (schools, highways, medical facilities, etc.) is inadequate to support even the present level of development, and

WHEREAS, funds to construct the needed infrastructure are either unavailable or uncertain,

THEREFORE, because the impacts from such rapid devlopment will be detrimental to the quality of life for all existing Maui residents, we, the undersigned, hereby urge the GPAC to support and recommend, and all county officials, departments, boards, and commissions to immediately adopt, the following policies and guidelines for sustainable growth through the year 2030:

1. CONSERVATION AND PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS shall be clearly designated and protected as such in all community plans so as to provide for the present and future needs of the community, as well as the preservation of open space and scenic beauty.

2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING goals to satisfy Maui County's current needs must be met before additional luxury development is permitted to occur. (Affordable housing projects shall be exempt from these initiatives until adequate supplies are built.)

3.IMPACT FEES FOR COUNTY SERVICES PROVIDED TO ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT shall be implemented by the County of Maui so as to adequately reflect infrastructure needs generated by said devlopment. Fees should be based on an equitable percentage of market unit prices, rather than a standard fee for each unit, regardless of market price. Such fees should be set at levels that will cover fair share contruction and system improvement costs of all county-provided services, e.g. water and wastewater services, mitigation of traffic impacts, police, fire, parks and recreational services, and the removal and disposal of additional waste generated by said development. GPAC should further recommend that state agencies set impact fees for schools, highways, and health systems infrastructure and set such fees at levels that will realistically provide funding for future needs as Maui's population expands.

4. SCENIC AND TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS must be identified and set aside wherein development may not occur until county and state can acquire easements within these areas.

5. ELECTRIC POWER, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND POST OFFICES must be shown to already be adequate to provide for any new development, or funds and plans for adequate provision of these services must be shown to already be in place before said new development is approved.

6. PRIVATELY CONSTRUCTED WELLS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS serving the needs of new projects must meet the same standards set for publicly funded systems and must adhere to the county's current long range plan to reuse the majority of treated water for non-potable purposes. Such facilities must be shown to have no adverse affects on the provision of water and/or sewage treatment to current residential and agricultural users, and be shown to have adequate revenue to properly install and test the facility. Newly-constructed private systems serving large scale projects shall become part of the county system with appropriate fee schedules established to ensure their ongoing maintenance and operation.

7. MITIGATION OF CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED THREATS to Maui's land and marine environment must receive priority of funding over needs of new development.

1/WE SUPPORT THE MAUI PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE AND URGE ITS IMMEDIATE ADOPTION.

(To add your name to this petition, click on the comment button right below. Please use your full legal name and give your full legal address. OR come to one of our meetings and sign in person. Better yet, help circulate the petition and get signatures from everyone you know!)

Call To Action: E ala e!

2008-03-06T00:49:00.001-08:00

The 2030 General Plan Update has been presented to the members of GPAC (the 25 member citizen advisory committee), for their review. Maui Unite has adopted a comprehensive list of must-have items to be included in the General Plan Update. The 2030 General Plan is THE planning document for Maui for years to come, Developers know this and have already bombarded GPAC with plans they would like to see included. OUR must-have list is the MAUI PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE. (See Above.)

Come to our next meeting and learn more about how you can become a part of our preservation efforts! Maui needs you. Bring your friends and relatives. Make your voice heard. As a popular public figure and son of Hawaii has so eloquently stated, "WE are the change that we seek."

It starts with US. Will you be a complaining bystander or an agent for change? What we do here and now will leave a lasting footprint on Maui.