OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Maui County, Hawaii/County Council & Committees
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Maui County DRIP Committee Advances South Maui Community Plan Update on September 18, 2026

County Council & Committees — Friday, September 18, 2026
BodyMaui County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateFriday, September 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:23:12

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
5:00

Will the recess disaster recovery international affairs and planning committee meeting reconvene from September 17, 2026, return to order.

5:12

The time is now 9.05.

5:17

And if everyone can please silence their cell phones or other noise-making devices that would help our cause.

5:26

Members, in accordance with the sunshine law, if you are not in the council chambers, please identify by name.

5:33

Who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle or workspace with you today.

5:38

Minors do not need to be identified.

5:41

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

5:46

My name is Tamara Paultin, and I'll be the chair for today's DRIP committee meeting.

5:56

So she's excused for now.

6:00

We have with us in the chamber today.

6:03

Councilmember Kawanoe Batangan.

6:06

Aloha Kakayaka.

6:08

Aloha Kakahiakakako.

6:11

And we also have Councilmember Tom Cook, Aloha Kakayaka.

6:16

Aloha Kokyaka and Kongko.

6:19

I'm working for my home office in PA today.

6:25

My son is home.

6:28

My wife is at work.

6:30

And uh KA Regents officers uh staff today.

6:35

Thank you.

6:36

We also have with us Councilmember Gabe Johnson, aloha Kakayako.

6:42

Good morning, Chair, Councilmembers, committee members.

6:44

I'm here in my private office and ready to work.

6:47

Thank you.

6:49

By yourself, right?

6:52

Yes, alone with a snoring doggy.

6:55

Thank you.

6:55

And we also have council chair Alice Lee.

6:58

Aloha Kakayaka.

7:00

Aloha Kakayaka.

7:03

I am home alone in my workspace with my menagerie of cats.

7:08

Um I would have said if you're going to Cambodia this weekend, uh the uh greeting over there is Suste.

7:19

So you it's amazing how our language is like, you know, um similar, like in Hawaii.

7:26

It is instead of Suste, we would say I suste.

7:30

You know.

7:35

Sorry, I didn't know what you okay.

7:38

Thank you.

7:40

Thank you.

7:41

And next up, we have Councilmember Keani Rollins Fernandez.

7:45

Aye, where are you staying?

7:49

Aloha kakahiaka chair.

7:51

Aloha kakahyaka.

7:53

Uh I am at my private residence alone.

7:57

Uh, I thought Charlie was gonna go with uh shoot then.

8:05

Yeah, okay.

8:07

Next up we have council member Shane Senensi.

8:11

Aloha kakayaka and I Suce, where you stay.

8:16

Alohayakakako shoots then uh new macawale uh yeah, happy to be here.

8:30

Aloha.

8:31

Aloha.

8:32

And last but not least, we have council member Yukile Sugimura, who is excused, she may join at 1.30.

8:38

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

8:51

We recognize that her Majesty Queen Lili Okalani yielded the Hawaiian kingdom to the U.S.

8:57

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

9:01

We further recognize that Hawaii remains an illegally occupied nation state by the U.S.

9:06

as documented in a 2021 scholarly article for the National Lawyers Guild Review by Andrew Reed, a junk professor of law at the University Denver Sturm, University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

9:21

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

9:28

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

9:33

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.

9:45

From the Department of Planning, we have Planning Director Jackie Takakura as well as long-range planner Karen Komkovich.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████13%
Planning████████████12%
Flood Risk Management████████████12%
Coastal Management█████████9%
Cultural Preservation████████8%
Land Use Planning████████8%
Zoning Code Revision███████7%
Historical Preservation███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Maui County DRIP Committee Advances South Maui Community Plan Update on September 18, 2026

The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning (DRIP) Committee of the Maui County Council reconvened from September 17, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. to continue discussion on Bill 108 (2026), which would adopt the updated South Maui Community Plan. The meeting focused on Section 2 (Policy Framework) and included extensive deliberation on coastal retreat, watershed management, gulch protections, and cultural resource policies. Several policies were amended, and a number of items were deferred for further work with county departments. The committee aims to complete Section 2 review before moving to Section 4 (Implementing Actions).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Oral testimony on DRIP-25 (Bill 108) was closed on September 17, 2026, but written testimony continued to be accepted.

Discussion Items

  • Policy 2.3.6 – Coastal Retreat (Revisit): Chair Paltin proposed a policy to support land use entitlements for coastal retreat through transfer of water credits. After discussion with Water Department’s James Jensen and Corporation Counsel, the committee agreed to table the item to develop broader language with input from wastewater and other utilities. The policy will be revisited later in the process.
  • Policy 2.4.2 – Prioritize Green Infrastructure: The committee voted to amend the policy to read: "Prioritize traditional Hawaiian cultural practices, other nature-based solutions, low impact design and green infrastructure strategies rather than gray infrastructure to manage flooding and prevent surface water pollutants from flowing into streams and reaching the ocean." Motion passed 6-0-3 (excused: Sugimura, Batangan, Johnson).
  • Policy 2.4.5, 2.4.6, 2.4.7 – Gulch and Drainage Protections: These related policies were deferred after Public Works Director Jordan Mulina raised concerns about flood mitigation and the definition of low impact development. The committee directed Planning, Public Works, and Corporation Counsel to draft revised language that balances water quality goals with flood control needs, to be discussed on Monday.
  • Policy 2.4.15 (Split) – Low Impact Development: The first part (require LID) passed unanimously. The second part (encourage management of flows >5-year storm event) was debated. After Director Mulina noted that existing drainage rules already require mitigation for 50- and 100-year events, the committee agreed to drop the second policy as redundant.
  • Policy 2.4.17 – Deleted: Because the SMA permit for new restrooms at McKenna State Park has already been approved, the committee voted to delete this policy (motion passed 6-0-3).
  • Policy 2.5.1 – Native Hawaiian Access: Amended to ensure development projects provide continued access to kuleana lands and areas where native Hawaiian rights were customarily exercised, citing applicable laws. Passed 8-0-1.
  • Policy 2.5.6 – Historic Roads: Amended to separate preservation from restoration: "Ensure existing government trails and historical roads are preserved... encourage the restoration... to the extent practicable." Passed 8-0-1.
  • Policy 2.5.7 – Tree Preservation: Amended to require preservation of healthy, mature, non-invasive trees during development, with consultation with Department of OEV Resources. Passed 8-0-1.
  • Policy 2.5.9 – Use of Ike Kupuna: Amended to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge in design of new development. Passed 6-0-3.
  • Policy 2.5.11A & 2.5.11B – Historic Properties: Deferred for Planning and Corporation Counsel to refine language, particularly regarding "adjacent" vs. "same parcel."
  • Policy 2.5.13 – Community Stewardship: Amended to include "culturally appropriate" community stewardship of wahi kupuna. Passed 8-0-1.
  • Policy 2.5.14 – Deleted as redundant with 2.5.6.
  • Policy 2.5.17 – Cultural Center: Amended to support a cultural center and museum in South Maui. Passed 8-0-1.
  • Additional Revisits: Chair Paltin noted three items requiring further work with departments: (1) coastal retreat policy (2.3.6) – with Water, Wastewater, and Corporation Counsel; (2) gulch policies (2.4.5, 2.4.6, 2.4.7) – with Planning, Public Works, and Corporation Counsel; (3) a new policy on natural resources (sand, sediment, pohaku) not being moved between moku without consultation – to be drafted by Councilmember Cook, Vernon Kalanikau, and OEV Resources.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes passed on amendments to policies 2.4.2, 2.4.4, 2.4.12, 2.4.13, 2.4.15, 2.4.16, 2.4.17 (deletion), 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.6, 2.5.7, 2.5.9, 2.5.13, 2.5.14 (deletion), and 2.5.17. All passed with at least 6 ayes and no opposed votes; absent/excused members noted.
  • Deferred items: Coastal retreat policy (2.3.6), gulch policies (2.4.5-2.4.7), historic properties policy (2.5.11A/B), and new natural resources policy. These will be revisited after departments provide revised language.
  • Next steps: The committee will reconvene on Monday, September 21, 2026, to hear testimony on Section 4 (Implementing Actions) and receive guidance from Corporation Counsel on fiscal requirements. The target is to complete Section 2 review by end of that meeting.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Will the recess disaster recovery international affairs and planning committee meeting reconvene from September 17, 2026, return to order. The time is now 9.05. And if everyone can please silence their cell phones or other noise-making devices that would 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 Paultin, and I'll be the chair for today's DRIP committee meeting. So she's excused for now. We have with us in the chamber today. Councilmember Kawanoe Batangan. Aloha Kakayaka. Aloha Kakahiakakako. And we also have Councilmember Tom Cook, Aloha Kakayaka. Aloha Kokyaka and Kongko. I'm working for my home office in PA today. My son is home. My wife is at work. And uh KA Regents officers uh staff today. Thank you. We also have with us Councilmember Gabe Johnson, aloha Kakayako. Good morning, Chair, Councilmembers, committee members. I'm here in my private office and ready to work. Thank you. By yourself, right? Yes, alone with a snoring doggy. Thank you. And we also have council chair Alice Lee. Aloha Kakayaka. Aloha Kakayaka. I am home alone in my workspace with my menagerie of cats. Um I would have said if you're going to Cambodia this weekend, uh the uh greeting over there is Suste. So you it's amazing how our language is like, you know, um similar, like in Hawaii. It is instead of Suste, we would say I suste. You know. Sorry, I didn't know what you okay. Thank you. Thank you. And next up, we have Councilmember Keani Rollins Fernandez. Aye, where are you staying? Aloha kakahiaka chair. Aloha kakahyaka. Uh I am at my private residence alone. Uh, I thought Charlie was gonna go with uh shoot then. Yeah, okay. Next up we have council member Shane Senensi. Aloha kakayaka and I Suce, where you stay. Alohayakakako shoots then uh new macawale uh yeah, happy to be here. Aloha. Aloha.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com