Maui County Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee Meeting – August 31, 2026

The Maui County Council’s Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks (WASSP) Committee met on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. The sole agenda item was an update on the Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study (MauiWES), including its latest report, “The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires.” The Committee received a presentation from the study’s principal investigators, Dr. Alika Maunakea, Dr. Ruben Juarez, and Dr. Christopher Knightsbridge. No legislative action was taken.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Travis Liggett testified about the need for disinfection infrastructure and genetic testing, urging a $1.8 million budget amendment for CBS 1169, unrelated to the agenda item. He stated he could find a donor for construction.
• James Langford, a wildfire survivor, shared his personal experience and emphasized the need for the county to produce educational videos on how to communicate with wildfire survivors. He expressed support for the study and called for incorporating community-led approaches.

Discussion Items

• The presentation summarized key findings from the MauiWES, which has completed more than 4,000 appointments involving over 2,500 children and adults. Progress was noted: employment increased from 62% to 81%, insurance coverage rose to over 90%, and temporary housing declined from about 40% to 30%. However, severe food insecurity remained at about 25%, PTSD symptoms persisted at 30%, stage 2 blood pressure in 31% of participants, and lung function worsened (FEV below normal in 20% of participants). Social support declined from 60% to 50% of participants reporting strong networks.
• The team introduced Hoʻala (Health Outreach ʻĀina-based Labor Alliance), a strategy to turn study findings into lasting health infrastructure through free community screenings, care navigation, and workforce capacity. They requested assistance from council members to identify community spaces for events, particularly for children.
• Councilmembers asked about funding (secured via Maui County and NIH for the next year), school partnerships (difficult due to DOE bureaucracy, but prioritizing children), coordination with the Office of Recovery and Department of Human Concerns, and barriers to care such as language and transportation.
• Dr. Knightsbridge noted that the most severe mental health concerns worsened among children: severe depression increased from 11% to 15%, severe PTSD from 2% to 4%, and low self-esteem from 13% to 26%.
• Councilmember Johnson suggested using county parks for outreach, but Dr. Maunakea reported that parks had denied permission due to blood collection from adults. A potential resolution through the parks department was discussed.
• Councilmember Batangan highlighted prior interagency efforts (e.g., with DOE and teens CERT training) that had stalled, and the Office of Recovery confirmed a new dedicated position for health and human services coordination would be posted.
• Dr. Juarez noted that a Kaiser Permanente charitable insurance program had reduced the uninsured rate among Latinos from 40% to 3%, but the program is limited to three years and enrollment opens November 1.

Key Outcomes

• No formal action or vote was taken; the item was deferred.
• The committee agreed to follow up with the study team to schedule meetings in each council district to identify locations for future Hoʻala events.
• The Office of Recovery will re-engage on previously stalled initiatives (e.g., teens CERT, school-based mental health normalization) and is filling a health coordination position.
• The parks department issue will be addressed to allow use of county parks for health screenings.
• The study team will post a public schedule of events on their website and continue hiring community facilitators and paid high school interns.
• Councilmembers were encouraged to help connect the team with schools, community organizations, and sports leagues for outreach.