Agriculture, Environmental, and Transportation Committee Reviews FY26 Budgets — March 12, 2026

The Agriculture Diversification, Environmental, and Public Transportation Committee met on March 12, 2026, to conduct operational and budgetary reviews of four departments under its jurisdiction: the Department of Agriculture, the watershed protection grants administered by the Department of Water Supply, the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division of the Department of Environmental Management, and the Department of Transportation. The meeting was informational only, with no legislative action taken. A small number of public testifiers spoke, and committee members discussed departmental priorities, staffing needs, grant management, and challenges including feral chickens, watershed protection, recycling, and the planned Maui County ferry.

Public Comments & Testimony

• JC Law of Kulaoka testified in support of the Department of Agriculture and expressed a desire to find agricultural work, noting transportation difficulties and frustration with inconsistent government responses. He also thanked the Department of Water Supply for its work.
• Johan Lal (via Teams) testified on watershed conservation, emphasizing the need for more funding to create jobs for local youth and reduce turnover, calling it a "win-win-win-win" because water supports housing and agriculture.
• Royal House of Hawaii (via Teams) asked whether original title holders from the Mahele have been contacted regarding lands used for county projects, stating they have not.
• M (via Teams) asked for clarification on whether funding for open space reserves would fall under EPNS.
• JC Law testified on the Department of Transportation, thanking the Maui Bus operators and noting the service's importance for workers.

Discussion Items

Department of Agriculture

• Director Kelli‘i‘e and her team presented a $16.4 million budget (a 99.5% increase from FY25). The department manages 136 active grants but has only three grants staff. A feral chicken pilot program trapped 451 birds at $30.55 each; a second round is planned. Committee members discussed:
  • Feral chickens: No state funding materialized due to a veto; the county is funding the pilot. Cost per chicken is high ($30.55).
  • Grants: 91 applications received for FY26 competitive grants, but only 61 were awarded. The department seeks an accountant and more grant managers.
  • Ag parks: The booster pump station ($3.96M construction) will break ground in March 2026; a $17.375M contract for a 2.4-million-gallon reservoir was awarded to Goodfellows.
  • Food security: The Lāna‘i Farmers Market launched October 2025; a food stimulus program for 350 low-income households began January 2026. A Food as Medicine RFP will be released in April 2026.
  • Code changes: Bill 160 and revisions to Chapter 22 are in progress to update agriculture codes from the plantation era.

Watershed Protection Grants (Dept. of Water Supply)

• Robert D. Wopeless presented the program: 10 current grantees covering hundreds of thousands of acres. FY26 awards total ~$3.51M; FY27 proposals total ~$4.64M, but requested funding is ~$3.86M. A new applicant (Kula Community Watershed Alliance) is pending 501(c)(3) status. Committee members discussed:
  • Staff turnover and wages: Hard work and low pay in watershed conservation make hiring difficult; grantees are exploring internships and endowments (Pū‘ala‘u Kui established the first private endowment).
  • Wildland-urban interface (WUI): Work is focused in West and East Maui; South Maui not yet included due to less direct connection to water supply sources.
  • Efficacy study: A consultant may be hired to evaluate grant effectiveness.

Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division (DEM)

• Deputy Director Mike Peterson and Manager Cecil Powell presented a $9M grant program. FY26 competitive grants received $1.8M in applications for only $460K in environmental/green grants; similar high demand for wetland restoration, renewable energy, and recycling grants. Committee members discussed:
  • Recycling: Commodities go off-island; the division is exploring on-island remanufacturing (e.g., glass crushing for fill, pulp for insulation).
  • EV battery disposal: Safety concerns with lithium-ion batteries; a solution is expected within a few months. No producer-responsibility bill has been introduced this session.
  • Composting: Permit application for co-composting at Central Maui Landfill (including sewage sludge) will be submitted soon. Partners include Hawaiian Compost and West Maui Green Cycle.
  • Grant streamlining: EPNS plans clearer guidance and standard procedures for FY27 to reduce procurement delays.

Department of Transportation

• Deputy Director Diane Yogi presented the department's FY26 operations, covering Park Maui, the ferry program, the Maui Bus, and human services transportation. Key points:
  • Ferry Program: Environmental assessment (HEPA/NEPA) is expected to take 1–2 years. An RFP for the environmental study closes April 9, 2026. The county joined the Public Ferry Coalition.
  • Park Maui: Paid parking launched in Wailuku (August 2025) and Lahaina Harbor. South Maui implementation is projected for April–May 2026.
  • Maui Bus: Driver shortages persist. New hybrid buses are arriving, but expanding frequency is challenged by a lack of CDL drivers and a west-side hub.
  • Air Ambulance: County share remains $672,215; DOH has not requested additional funds.

Key Outcomes

• All four agenda items were deferred without objection, meaning no immediate legislative action was taken; the reviews are informational in preparation for FY27 budget deliberations.
• Multiple departments identified critical staffing needs: DoA requires more grant managers and an accountant; EPNS needs continued support for expansion positions; DOT has three vacancies and is recruiting for a planner, contract assistant, and grants coordinator.
• The ferry program timeline is uncertain; a committee briefing may be scheduled later in 2026 to update the council on progress.
• The Department of Agriculture will present testimony on state bill SB 2798 to expand agricultural crime enforcement to Maui County.
• The Council Chair expressed intent to advocate for increased funding for the Nāulu Cloud Bridge (Cohoa Lave wetland restoration) and for ferry-related federal appropriations, noting alignment with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda's interest.