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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Disaster Recovery Committee Reviews South Maui Community Plan Update – September 17, 2026

County Council & Committees — Thursday, September 17, 2026

BodyMaui County, Hawaii

SessionCounty Council & Committees

DateThursday, September 17, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:08:47

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

5:00

Will the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee meeting of September 17th come to order?

5:05

The time is now 9 05 a.m.

5:08

If everyone can please silence their cell phones or other noise-making devices, that will help our cause.

5:15

Members, in accordance with the sunshine law, if you are not in the council chambers, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle or workspace with you today.

5:27

Minors do not need to be identified.

5:30

Also, please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity.

5:36

My name is Tamara Polton, and I'll be your chair for today's Disaster Resiliency Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee meeting.

5:48

Should be joining us shortly.

5:51

We have in the chambers with us Councilmember Kawanoe Batangan.

5:56

Aloha Kakahyaka and Yorana.

5:59

Aloha Kakayaka and Yorana Kako.

6:03

We have um Councilmember Cook should be joining us in a few in the chambers.

6:08

We also have Councilmember Gabe Johnson, Yorana, and Aloha Kakahyaka.

6:12

You're not a chair, council members, community members.

6:15

There's no testifiers at the Lana'i District Office, and I'm here in Ready Work.

6:18

Thank you.

6:19

Thank you.

6:20

And online, we have Councilmember Chair Alice Lee, Yorana, and Aloha Kakayaka.

6:28

Yorana and Aloha Kakayaka.

6:31

I have no one here except animals in my office space.

6:37

And looking forward to your meeting.

6:38

Thank you.

6:39

Okay, Yorana to the animals.

6:42

Umha Kakahiyaka and Yorana to Councilmember Kiani Rawlins Fernandez.

6:50

Aloha Kakahiyaka Chair.

6:52

Aloha Kaka Hiakakako, my Molokai Nuya Akina.

6:55

I'm at my private residence.

6:56

Melting.

6:57

It's so hot here.

6:58

Um alone and uh there are no testifiers at the Molokai District Office.

7:05

There is an OHA meeting at 10:30 that I was gonna go uh check out, but also be on my phone for quorum chair.

7:12

Um, when we get back from our morning recess.

7:16

Okay, thank you.

7:17

And in the chambers with us today, we have council member Shane Sensi, Yorana and Aloha Kakayaka.

7:23

Aloha and Yorana Chair.

7:25

Um happy to be here.

7:26

No testifiers in um Hana.

7:29

Um, but I may have to um drop off at maybe around 3 o'clock today.

7:36

Yeah, thank you.

7:38

And also last but not least, Councilmember Yukile Sugimura is excused.

7:44

This meeting of the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council is located on the traditional Aina of Konaka Oebi, who never ceded their sovereignty to the United States.

7:55

We recognize that her Majesty Queen Lilial Colani yielded the Hawaiian kingdom to the U.S.

8:00

interest under threat of violence to avoid the bloodshed of her people.

8:04

We further recognize that Hawaii remains an illegally occupied nation state by the United States as documented in a 2021 scholarly article for the National Lawyers Guild Review by Andrew Reid, a junk professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

8:21

Generations of Konakamali and their knowledge systems have sustainably cared for Hawaii and continue to do so.

8:28

We are grateful to occupy this space and learn the ways in which we can contribute.

8:32

As a committee, we seek to support the varied strategies that the indigenous people of Hawaii are using to protect their land and their communities and commit to dedicating time and resources to working in solidarity.

9:04

We have deputy fire chief Gavin Fujioka and CIP coordinator Michael Arisumi from the Department of Management.

9:12

We have Executive Assistant Noah Jackson from the Department of OEV resources.

9:17

We have Deputy Director Kekai Robinson from the Department of Parks and Recreation.

9:22

We have CIP Coordinator Bill Frampton.

9:25

From the Department of Water Supply, we have Planning Program Administrator Eva Blumenstein from the Office of the Mayor.

9:32

We have Economic Development Specialist Vernon Kalanikau from Corporation Council.

9:38

We have Deputy Corporation Council Nahulu Nunokawa, Deputy Corporation Council Michael Hopper.

9:44

Other resources we have are South Maui CPAC Chair Rob Weltman and South Maui CPAC Vice Chair Daniel Kanahelin.

9:52

Members, without objection, I will designate Mr.

9:55

Weltman and Mr.

10:00

Kanahele as resource persons under Rule 18A of the roles of the council due to their knowledge and expertise as South Maui Community Plan Advisory Committee members.

10:07

Thank you.

10:08

We also have Drip Committee staff with us this morning.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%

Flood Risk Management███████████11%

Procedural████████8%

Resource Management████████8%

Land Use Planning███████7%

Environmental Protection███████7%

Emergency Management███████7%

Climate Change██████6%

Legal Counsel█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Disaster Recovery Committee Reviews South Maui Community Plan Update – September 17, 2026

The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council met on September 17, 2026, to continue its review of Bill 108 (2026), which would adopt the updated South Maui Community Plan. The committee focused on Section 2.3 (Ready and Resilient Systems) and heard a powerful presentation on flooding from former CPAC member Vernon Kalani Kao. Public testimony emphasized the need for strong, enforceable policies, especially regarding flood zones, wetlands, and infrastructure. The committee debated and voted on several policy amendments, held an executive session on legal considerations, and adjourned to reconvene on September 18, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

Jeffrey Law testified in support of Vernon Kalani Kao's presentation, advocated for a return to traditional ʻāina-based systems, and expressed frustration with being unable to fully participate in the meeting process.
Johan Law praised the presentation as compelling and stressed the importance of science-based planning and proper buffers for gulches to mitigate flooding.
James Langford urged the committee to consider the cumulative costs of poor development and called for greater accountability from developers.
Randy Wagner highlighted the need for wide gulch protection (150 feet), reinstatement of policy 2.2.37 requiring infrastructure before development, and preservation of critical wetland parcels.
Albert Perez opposed building in flood zones, especially for affordable housing, and urged strong, enforceable language rather than vague terms like "encourage." He also criticized attempts to keep the plan toothless.
Dick Mayer requested to be scheduled as a resource person for a future presentation on cumulative impacts.

Discussion Items

The committee began with Section 2.3 (Ready and Resilient Systems) after closing Section 2.2 the previous day.
Policy 2.3.1 (climate change/sea level rise) was amended to adopt the recommended language, striking "to development" to read "to minimize damages from future coastal erosion." Passed 8-0-1.
Policy 2.3.2 (proactive coordination) was accepted without amendment.
Policy 2.3.3 (shoreline protection) was amended to adopt the recommended language. Passed 7-0-2.
Policies 2.3.4 through 2.3.9 were accepted without amendment or with non-substantive changes, except 2.3.9 (renewable energy) was kept with an asterisk referencing similar countywide policies.
Policy 2.3.10 (sand removal) was debated at length. The committee adopted the recommended language adding Department of OEV Resources as a required consultant, with a note to add related action for emergency pre-authorized agreements. Passed 7-0-2.
Policy 2.3.13 was deleted because it was duplicated by Action 3.1.4 in Section 4. Passed 7-0-2.
Policy 2.3.14 (resilient transportation) had only a non-substantive change (pluralization) and was accepted.
Policy 2.3.15-2.3.16 were accepted as written.
Policy 2.3.17 (emergency shelters) was discussed; the committee left the language as adopted from the planning commission, noting that further specificity could be added via code or action items.
Policy 2.3.18 (water code consistency) was amended to the recommended language. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.19 (landscaping) was amended to include "including canopy trees to the extent practicable" after debate. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.20 (catchment/greywater) was amended to recommended language. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.21 (water as highest priority) was accepted without change.
Policy 2.3.22 (recycled water connections) was amended to recommended language, removing specific code references. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.23 (gray/recycled water in county parks) was amended to "require... when available and legally permissible" after discussion. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.24 (Maʻalaea wastewater) was accepted as written. The committee briefly considered adding a similar policy for the HECO power plant but deferred pending further discussion.
Policy 2.3.25 (injection wells) was amended from "eliminate" to "move toward eliminating" based on input from the Department of Environmental Management. Passed 6-0-3.
Policy 2.3.26 (R1 water utilization) was accepted without change.
The committee held an executive session from approximately 11:05 a.m. to 1:33 p.m., consulting with Corporation Counsel on legal considerations regarding the general plan, state law, and county ordinances. The summary disclosed that the committee discussed the awkwardness of a community plan policy that itself amends the same plan, and general support for managed retreat.

Key Outcomes

The committee completed its review of nearly all policies in Section 2.3, with several amended as noted.
The main motion on Bill 108 (2026) (recommending passage on first reading) carried over from the previous day and remains pending.
The committee will reconvene on September 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. to review revision of Section 2.3 introduction, any additional policies for 2.3, and begin Section 2.4 (Mauka to Makai Watershed Management) and Section 2.5 (Responsible Stewardship).
Written testimony remains open throughout the process.

Meeting Transcript

Will the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee meeting of September 17th come to order? The time is now 9 05 a.m. If everyone can please silence their cell phones or other noise-making devices, that will help our cause. Members, in accordance with the sunshine law, if you are not in the council chambers, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle or workspace with you today. Minors do not need to be identified. Also, please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. My name is Tamara Polton, and I'll be your chair for today's Disaster Resiliency Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee meeting. Should be joining us shortly. We have in the chambers with us Councilmember Kawanoe Batangan. Aloha Kakahyaka and Yorana. Aloha Kakayaka and Yorana Kako. We have um Councilmember Cook should be joining us in a few in the chambers. We also have Councilmember Gabe Johnson, Yorana, and Aloha Kakahyaka. You're not a chair, council members, community members. There's no testifiers at the Lana'i District Office, and I'm here in Ready Work. Thank you. Thank you. And online, we have Councilmember Chair Alice Lee, Yorana, and Aloha Kakayaka. Yorana and Aloha Kakayaka. I have no one here except animals in my office space. And looking forward to your meeting. Thank you. Okay, Yorana to the animals. Umha Kakahiyaka and Yorana to Councilmember Kiani Rawlins Fernandez. Aloha Kakahiyaka Chair. Aloha Kaka Hiakakako, my Molokai Nuya Akina. I'm at my private residence. Melting. It's so hot here. Um alone and uh there are no testifiers at the Molokai District Office. There is an OHA meeting at 10:30 that I was gonna go uh check out, but also be on my phone for quorum chair. Um, when we get back from our morning recess. Okay, thank you. And in the chambers with us today, we have council member Shane Sensi, Yorana and Aloha Kakayaka. Aloha and Yorana Chair. Um happy to be here. No testifiers in um Hana. Um, but I may have to um drop off at maybe around 3 o'clock today. Yeah, thank you. And also last but not least, Councilmember Yukile Sugimura is excused. This meeting of the Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council is located on the traditional Aina of Konaka Oebi, who never ceded their sovereignty to the United States. We recognize that her Majesty Queen Lilial Colani yielded the Hawaiian kingdom to the U.S. interest under threat of violence to avoid the bloodshed of her people. We further recognize that Hawaii remains an illegally occupied nation state by the United States as documented in a 2021 scholarly article for the National Lawyers Guild Review by Andrew Reid, a junk professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Generations of Konakamali and their knowledge systems have sustainably cared for Hawaii and continue to do so. We are grateful to occupy this space and learn the ways in which we can contribute. As a committee, we seek to support the varied strategies that the indigenous people of Hawaii are using to protect their land and their communities and commit to dedicating time and resources to working in solidarity. We have deputy fire chief Gavin Fujioka and CIP coordinator Michael Arisumi from the Department of Management. We have Executive Assistant Noah Jackson from the Department of OEV resources. We have Deputy Director Kekai Robinson from the Department of Parks and Recreation.

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