Attend the HHSC meeting
April 24, 2015 The Maui News We would urge everyone to attend Tuesday evening's public meeting of the Maui Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. The topic is the budget cut facing Maui Memorial Medical Center in fiscal year 2016. MMMC must decide what services will be slashed as it faces a $28 million shortfall. The meeting is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Puu Kukui Elementary School in Wailuku. Wesley Lo, chief executive officer of the Maui Region, warned that the cuts would affect every resident and visitor on Maui. Lo had earlier stated the shortfall might cause a reduction in services ranging from oncology, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology to surgical and intensive-care units. The situation is looking particularly dire after Gov. David Ige stepped in Tuesday and asked the House to cancel a vote on a bill already approved by the state Senate that would have allowed the Maui Region to seek out a private nonprofit partner. Ige asked the Legislature to send the measure to a conference committee to address unspecified concerns he had with the bill. We worry that the bill might get stuck (and die) in the conference committee as it did last year. Or, just as bad, that a poison pill clause to appease unions could be inserted in the bill that would drive away potential partners. In any event, the public and Lo have to act on the assumption that the current budget numbers will govern 2016 and plan for them. Tuesday's meeting will give the public a chance to hear the plans and give input. It is also a chance to show the governor and the Legislature how important Maui Memorial is to our community. * Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher. http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/597344/Attend-the-HHSC-meeting.html?nav=9 Kāʻanapali Makai Watch invites the West Maui resort community to attend an informative volunteer training workshop
Sat. April 25th, 9 am - 1pm at the Kaunoa Senior Center in Lahaina Aloha! I would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming Makai Watch Training workshop to be held in Lahaina on Saturday April 25th. More details are below in the official news release from the DLNR, and background on the statewide Makai Watch program as well as our local Kāʻanapali Makai Watch program can be found here. This training is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to learn more about marine resource management, marine life identification, local rules and regulations, modern and traditional fishing practies, and the cultural significance of the Kāʻanapali region. Whether you would simply like to become more informed, or actively volunteer and officially join our team, this workshop is an excellent opportunity and is ideal for resort management and staff, security officers, watersports companies, property owners and part-time residents. Check out some photos that give an overview of Makai Watch and the Kāʻanapali Makai Watch Program, and highlight some of the amazing individuals who have been helping out through the years. Please let me know if you have any questions, and if you would like to RSVP, email, call or text me at (808) 283-1631. -Liz Foote Executive Director, Project S.E.A.-Link, Coordinator, Kāʻanapali Makai Watch Makai Watch Volunteer Training Workshop - Saturday, April 25th, 9 am - 1 pm, Kaunoa Senior Center, Lahaina DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR CARTY CHANG INTERIM CHAIRPERSON NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKAI WATCH COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS HONOLULU -- Helping the State of Hawaii bring more effective management of Hawaii’s near shore marine resources is the goal of the Makai Watch Volunteer Program, which is assisting the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) by acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of conservation enforcement in the community. The goal of Makai Watch is to enhance the management of near-shore marine resources by providing community members opportunities for direct involvement in management activities. Makai Watch Volunteers who wish to participate in the program in an official capacity will need to complete the volunteer training and pass a certification test. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) and Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), in collaboration with Makai Watch Volunteer Program partners and funders, are offering an updated statewide training series this summer, following official recognition of the State of Hawaii Makai Watch program by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. This designation recognizes Makai Watch’s compliance with the newly established requirements of the state program. Specific training dates are: Kaua‘i (April 18), Maui (April 25th, 9 am - 1 pm, Kaunoa Senior Center, Lahaina), Pupukea (May 2), Maunalua Bay (Oahu, May 16), and Hawai‘i Island (May 23). The training includes an updated version of the Observation and Incident Reporting (OIR) Training series released in 2011, along with a newly developed Awareness Raising and Outreach (ARO) component known as ‘Ike Kai (to know, feel, understand, and comprehend, the ocean ). This component addresses common regulated species found in Makai Watch areas, ocean management tools, both traditional and modern, and promotes cultural awareness when engaging resource users. “The ‘Ike Kai curriculum was an opportunity to weave in the cultural awareness involved with the management and enforcement of near shore resources”, said Edward Luna Kekoa, Statewide Makai Watch coordinator. “Many Makai Watch volunteers interact with local families and fishermen, and by sharing some of those cultural sensitivities, we believe those interactions will be more positive and productive.” The Makai Watch Program is an officially recognized DLNR program in partnership with non-governmental organizations including The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi (TNC), Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA), Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, Project S.E.A.-Link, and funding provided by Conservation International - Hawaii and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. For more information about the training series or to learn more about the Makai Watch Program, please contact Luna Kekoa at (808) 349-6095 or Edward.L.Kekoa@hawaii.gov. # # # Images of Makai Watch volunteers can be found online at https://plus.google.com/u/0/101613020396360217549/posts Media Contact: Deborah Ward DLNR Public information specialist Phone: (808) 587-0320 Submitted by Paul Brown, WMTA Board Member Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak.
My name is Paul Brown. I am a resident of Kahana here in West Maui and I’m currently the Executive Director of Kapalua Resort Association, or KRA and a board member of the West Maui Taxpayers Association. I have two funding requests that I would like to see added to the upcoming budget, funding for repaving Lower Honoapiilani Road from Kahana to Kapalua and funding assistance for the northward extension of the Kapalua Coastal Trail. I won’t expand too much on the Lower Road repaving issue because I believe that all of the council members and the mayor are familiar with the deplorable and unsafe condition of the road. At this point, any long term redesign of the road is many years in the future but the need for immediate repaving of the roadway is critical. Please repave the road and add gravel paths on each side of the roadway easement for the safety of the many locals and visitors that walk and drive this scenic road. My primary request is for funding assistance for extension of the Kapalua Coastal Trail. The coastal trail currently begins at Kapalua Bay and ends at D.T. Fleming Beach Park. The amazing trail provides public access for literally hundreds of people a day along some of the most beautiful coastline on Maui. The trail was built by Maui Land & Pineapple and is maintained by Kapalua Resort Association. KRA would like to extend the trail northward from Flemings to Honolua Bay. The trail design was completed and paid for by MLP and all of the necessary permits were issued although they have expired. KRA would like to proceed with construction of the next section, from Flemings to Slaughter House bay but doesn’t have funding available to cover the estimated cost of $250,000. We recently received a pledge from a state trails agency to contribute $30,000 for the project and would like to ask the mayor and the council to earmark $150,000 from the county budget. KRA will work on finding other funding sources to cover the remainder and KRA will maintain the trail after it is built. MLP has granted permanent easements for the trail which is on MLP land. The coastal trail, as well as the other trails in Kapalua are open to the public and in fact over 90% of the trail users are not Kapalua residents or resort guests but residents and visitors from other parts of the island. Please help us add another section to this beautiful trail. |
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