Maui County Committee on Agriculture & Environment Meeting Summary – March 19, 2026
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Maui County Committee on Agriculture & Environment (Komike Aloha Aina) Meeting Summary – March 19, 2026
The Committee on Agriculture and Environment of the Maui County Council convened on March 19, 2026, at 9:07 AM HST. The agenda included an update on the Agricultural Microgrant Program, a presentation on the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) dashboard, and a discussion on the county's bilingual government transition regarding meeting agenda formats.
Agricultural Microgrant Program Update
Presentation: Director Kali Arcy (Department of Agriculture) outlined program funding of $3.1 million in FY26, with $100,000 dedicated to data collection. Maggie Batangan (MEO Executive Director) presented data on over 400 awardees from FY21-24, reporting positive trends in production, revenue, safety, and marketing. A new survey is being deployed for deeper impact analysis.
Discussion: Member Alice Lee questioned whether the program strategically addresses the county's 90% food import reliance by targeting unmet market needs. Member Yukile Sugimura asked about resource sharing and cohort building among farmers. Vice Chair Tamara Paltin (referred to as Bolton in transcript) inquired about supporting closed-loop systems (e.g., aquaponics, livestock) and scaling farm business acumen. Chair Keani Rollins Fernandez noted the program aims to build long-term capacity, as relying solely on farm income remains a significant challenge.
Key Outcomes: Item deferred. Discussion will inform budget session priorities.
Climate Action & Resiliency Plan (CARP) Dashboard Update
Presentation: Environmental Program Specialist William J (DEM) presented the Phase 1 public dashboard (live Nov 2025). It tracks 47 strategies and 167 action items. The dashboard is updated quarterly. Phase 2 is planned for FY27. The full CARP update RFP will be awarded in FY27.
Public Testimony: Joseph McCorkle clarified the update frequency (monthly vs. quarterly). Chair confirmed the code requires quarterly updates. Kai Nishiki testified about flooding in North Kihei, urging coordinated community adaptation efforts.
Discussion: Member Kawanoi Batangan inquired about tracking telework policies as a climate strategy. Vice Chair Paltin raised concerns about infrastructure design storm standards (50-year vs. 100-year) and managed retreat projects. Member Sugimura asked about stakeholder engagement for the upcoming CARP update.
Key Outcomes: Item deferred. Dashboard Phase 1 is operational. Phase 2 and the full CARP update are scheduled for FY27.
Maui County Bilingual Government Transition (Agenda Format)
Introduction: Chair Fernandez discussed bilingual agenda formatting (Charter Section 13-17, Ordinance 5758). OCS had recently changed the format from an alternating (item-by-item) layout to a Hawaiian-first, English-follows layout. Chair Fernandez expressed concern that this format did not fulfill the ordinance's mandate to promote inclusion.
Public Testimony: A significant number of educators, administrators, and community leaders (Kaala Fe Kamara, Kawaipuna Kalipi, Manuai Peters, Mailena Ehu, Lealoha Kiala Iki, Joshua Gante, Melia Kalave, and others) testified overwhelmingly in support of robust bilingual government. Testifiers uniformly argued that Olelo Hawaii carries deep cultural knowledge and identity, and its full integration into government operations is essential for equity, cultural preservation, and inspiring youth civic engagement.
Discussion: Member Alice Lee clarified her request to OCS was for easier English navigation, not removal of Olelo Hawaii. OCS Director David Ratz proposed a third option: a side-by-side (dual column) format placing English and Hawaiian together. The committee reached a strong consensus in favor of this format. Members Batangan, Paltin, Sugimura, Sinenci (referred to as Senensi), and Lee expressed support, noting it places both languages on equal footing, avoids segregation, and facilitates language learning. Chair Fernandez strongly endorsed the side-by-side format, stating it best honors the charter's requirement.
Key Outcomes: OCS directed to develop a side-by-side bilingual agenda format. Implementation may require technical adjustments with the vendor and might not be fully ready for the upcoming budget session, but the direction was firmly set. Item deferred.
Overall Meeting Outcomes
- Agricultural Microgrant Program update received and deferred.
- CARP Dashboard Phase 1 acknowledged; Phase 2 and plan update scheduled for FY27. Dashboard will be updated quarterly.
- OCS directed to transition official meeting agendas to a side-by-side (dual column) English/Olelo Hawaii format.
Meeting Transcript
Aloha Kakayaka Kako Minuke I kahala or hohola Ava Ma Umikumaiva or Malaki Ikamaka Hiki Eluako Kani Iva Kalua Kuma Ono or K I uh Okeiya Kapo Mahina or Hilo uhalu Kekumike Aloha Aina Ovao O Kiani Rollins Fernandez Kaluna Ho'O Malu Okeia Komique. Uh it is nine oh seven on March nineteenth twenty twenty-six in the season of Nana in the moon phase of Hilo. Uh will the Komike Alohaina please come to order. I'm your chair, Keani Rollins Fernandez. Uh, there are currently no testifiers at the Molokai District Office. Uh and oh, and the members in accordance with Sunshine Law, if you're not joining the meeting from the council chamber, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle, or workspace with you today, unless you're in a public place. Um that's it. Um support of the community in that capacity. Uh member Cook is uh excused. Um and then member Batangan uh Kawanoi Batangan uh will be joining us at nine thirty. Uh with us in the chamber, we have uh committee member Alice Lee. Aloha. Aloha chair and chao to everyone. Um looking forward to your meeting. Thank you. And Mahalo for the sugar. Um happy to be here. And joining us online, likely from up country, we have committee member Yukile Sagimura. Good morning, everybody. Uh, child. It was drizzling a little bit here, so we still have rain up country, and um looking forward to a productive meeting. Thank you. And is there um do you have anyone in your workspace? I have nobody in my workspace, although my husband is on this floor, but he's not in my business office. Thanks. Okay, Mahalo, and uh I did receive the note that you will need to leave at 11:30 today. Okay. Uh we have two non-voting committee members, Councilmember Gabe Johnson and Councilmember Nohelani Uuhajans, who are always welcome to join us from the administration uh joining us uh today from the Department of Agriculture, uh Kali Arcy, Director, um Koal Hava Hava, Deputy Director, Anna Mehia Vaskoles Vas Koncelos, grants coordinator, Department of Environmental Management, uh Shane Agawa, Director, William J, Environmental Program Specialist, Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division, from our committee staff, uh we have committee secretary Lori Ann Tangan, senior legislative analyst Casey Apo Takayama, Legislative Analyst Kristen Sabo, Legislative Attorney Megan Moniz, and Council Services Assistant Clerk, Lei Denin. We have three items on today's agenda. And Kalilo Anna Oke Kalanao Maui Iaupuni Ola Palua. Maui County's transition to a bilingual government. Since these items are 7B presentations with no legislative action, we will jump straight into opening remarks and presentations before receiving uh testimony. Uh so I will um ask staff to welcome our um uh resource personnel to uh the front. I think the others will be joining online um so that they can get comfortable while I do the opening remarks. Um and then the chair's intention is to complete today's agenda by noon. Uh I think about an hour per item um should be sufficient. Um the House Committee on Water and Land has scheduled SB 1432, the bill regarding the House Committee. Um, I'm sorry, the bill regarding the transition of Kalawal County to Maui County today, uh starting at 9, of course. Uh it's the last item on their agenda. So I intend to break for recess uh when that item is taken up. Uh my staff is monitoring that hearing for me. Um are there any objections to proceeding that way? Mahalo members. Okay. So our first item, Kapapa Hana Ha'avina, Kala Li Il i Nokamahi'ai, Agricultural Microgrant Program. Joining us uh for the first agenda item today. Uh we have Director Kali Arsi from Department of Agriculture, uh grants coordinator Ana Mehia Vasconcelos, uh Executive Director of the Maui Economic Opportunity, Maggie Batangan, VDC Director, Maui of uh Maui Economic Opportunity, David Daly. If there are no objections, members, I would like to designate the persons listed as resources uh resource persons under Rule 18A of the rules of the council. Are there any objections? No objections.
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