Maui County Kōmike Aloha ʻĀina Meeting on Transitioning Kalawao County to Maui County – August 21, 2026

Note: The meeting agenda lists Thursday, August 20, 2026, but the instruction for this summary specifies the date as August 21, 2026. The transcript indicates the meeting began at 1:13 p.m. on August 20 and adjourned at 5:17 p.m. on that same day.

The Committee on ʻĀina Aloha (Kōmike Aloha ʻĀina) convened to discuss the transition of Kalawao County into Maui County following the enactment of Act 171 (2026), formerly Senate Bill 1432. The session was informational only, with no legislative action planned. Presentations were delivered by representatives from the National Park Service (NPS), Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Health (DOH), and the County administration. Public testimony was heard, and committee members engaged resource persons on operational, legal, and community concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Valerie Munson (Executive Director, Kaʻohana o Kalaupapa) expressed support for the transition process but raised questions about the future of the NPS lease, potential homesteading, and community input on access and storytelling. She noted that her organization was founded by patients to amplify their voices and urged continued community dialogue.
• Lori Buchanan (longtime Molokai resident) voiced strong support for the transition, citing the county’s history of community engagement. She criticized the NPS general management planning process, asserting that stakeholder consultation was cut short and that the programmatic agreement was signed by only one entity. She advocated for transparent process and raised concerns about burial sites and infrastructure costs.
• Jantel Lindo supported the transition as the safest path to ensure a public process, but cautioned against treating the county as merely a service provider for emergency services. She recommended including experienced emergency personnel in the advisory group and emphasized that Molokai emergency services have operated through personal relationships, not policy.
• Iruka Cassera spoke in support of eventual Molokai County status, referencing ancestral visions and the need for self-sufficiency. He suggested that Molokai could become its own county using Kalawao’s transition as a catalyst.
• James Langford offered to assist with Vatican funding connections for Kalaupapa and noted that separate county status for Molokai could be justified based on natural boundaries.
• DeGray Vanderbilt asked whether NPS Superintendent Nancy Holman planned community meetings (as requested by Representative Tokuda), and inquired about NPS plans for access, fishing regulations, and public portions of Kalaupapa. He also referenced a 2015 NPS internal letter that expressed concerns about the draft general management plan.
• Lika Wallace expressed support for the transition but noted that recent NPS meetings felt more like briefings than listening sessions.
• Kanani Costales shared her personal history as a descendant of Kalaupapa patients and urged the committee to honor the legacy of those exiled there. She opposed homesteading by anyone other than Molokai residents and emphasized the cultural and burial significance of the site.
• Jesse Law (caller) expressed skepticism about federal control and encouraged the committee to think critically about U.S. governance.
• Walter Riddy stated he came to the meetings hoping Molokai could become its own county, but acknowledged the complexity. He supported the transition as a practical first step and emphasized the need to prepare for the long-term goal of a separate county.

Discussion Items

• NPS Superintendent Nancy Holman provided an extensive overview of Kalaupapa National Historical Park’s operations, including its mission, staff (46 employees, over half Native Hawaiian from Molokai), annual budget (~$5 million base plus $10 million in project funds), and the significance of the 1980 enabling legislation and general management plan. She noted that only four patients remain. She clarified that access rules (100 visitors/day) cannot change until after the last patient leaves, and that NPS is working with landowners on future management. She offered to hold regular office hours topside for community questions.
• DHHL Deputy Director Katie Lambert reported that beneficiary consultation for the Molokai Island Plan, which will include Kalaupapa, is expected to begin in February–March 2027. She addressed the legal primacy of DHHL over certain county roles and noted that beneficiary consultation was not triggered for the county jurisdiction change. She confirmed that the department is exploring “pīlina-based” rules for lineal descendants and that homesteading in Kalaupapa would require extensive community discussion.
• DLNR Director Ryan Kanakaʻole (participating online) updated the committee on DLNR-managed lands (two-thirds of the peninsula, airport, forest reserves). He noted that a cooperative agreement with NPS expires in 2029 and will be renegotiated. He announced that the Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider final approval of a 65-year lease for the Kalaupapa Memorial on August 28, 2026. He also raised concerns about fishing regulations after DOH’s departure, as current exemptions will lapse; DLNR’s aquatic resources division plans place-based management regulations.
• DOH Deputy Director Debbie Morikawa reported continued environmental remediation and collaboration with NPS. She noted that the Kalaupapa Memorial project is over budget and that DOH is awaiting additional information from Kaʻohana o Kalaupapa. DOH staff will continue care until the last patient leaves, then transition out or be reassigned.
• Committee questions and discussions focused on: county operational preparations (Chair Rawlins-Fernandez noted she is spearheading an advisory hui with community members); mutual aid agreements for fire and police (a project assignment form has been initiated); property tax exemptions (most lands already exempt; churches can apply); vehicle registration issues (Chair exploring exemptions); and integration into the Molokai Planning Commission (Hawaiian Home Lands are SMA-exempt). Members expressed concern about the short one-year transition timeline and the need to prepare legislation in advance.
• Resource persons added: Valerie Munson, Lori Buchanan, Jantel Lindo, Kanani Costales, and Walter Riddy were designated as resource persons by the committee (no objections).

Key Outcomes

• No legislative action was taken; the item was deferred for future discussion.
• The committee accepted written testimony and will continue to accept submissions via eComment and email.
• The Chair will transmit written questions to the administration regarding county transition preparations and to DLNR regarding land titles and original land awardees.
• The Chair noted that an advisory hui (community working group) has been formed and has held three meetings. The group’s immediate focus includes updating the Molokai Community Plan to include Kalawao County, amending mutual aid agreements, and addressing property tax and DMV exemptions.
• NPS Superintendent Holman agreed to consider holding regular office hours topside for community access and questions.
• The committee acknowledged the need for continued collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition after the last patient leaves Kalaupapa.