2012 Annual Meeting Wrap Up

West Maui Taxpayers Association would like extend our Mahalo (thank you) to our members, the West Maui community, speakers and sponsors for yet another successful Annual Meeting, held Thursday night (1/12/2102).  

We also extend our thank you to Pastor Laki Kaahumanu who did a Hawaiian prayer (pule) to kick off the business meeting.   And we applaud our Board of Directors who have accepted the responsibility to represent you and your concerns that parallel our mission and goals, as well as to educate and inform the public on issues that have not yet reached the community-at-large.  

 We thank our government representatives who were able to attend with updates and initiatives:

·         Deidre Tegarden, Governor’s Representative –Maui, Governors Office

·         Senator Roz Baker – 5th Senatorial District

·          Representative Angus McKelvey – 10th House District

·         Mayor Alan Arakawa, County of Maui

·         Elle Cochran, Council Member, County of Maui

 We thank our sponsors and donors:

·         Famous Dave’s Lahaina for the delicious bbq dinner plate

·         Java Jazz for the coffee

·         Kaanapali Land Management Corporation for financial donation to offset the costs of the Annual Meeting expenses

·         West Maui Improvement Foundation

  We thank our speakers for updating us on on-going projects:

·         Pamela English – WMTA Board Member on the Lahaina Skatepark

·         Charlene Shibuya, Department of Transportation, Maui Division on 2011 projects and 2012 projects, completed and on-going. 

·         Dr. Jerome Tannenbaum, Sanderling Healthcare on the West Maui hospital

 As those who were in attendance could tell, this is a meeting never to be missed!  

 Deidre Tegarden presented a personal greeting from Governor Abercrombie.  In addition to recognizing the great importance and work of WMTA, they applauded WMTA efforts and successes.

 Mayor Alan Arakawa and Council Member Elle Cochran gave many new and exciting updates as to what is planned for the future.  In addition, Mayor Arakawa and the County of Maui presented our very own Uwe Schulz a County of Maui Proclamation for his dedicated service to the West Maui community for over 40 years! 

 We extend our condolences and prayers to the Gonzalez Family who recently lost a family member and came to the meeting with the paddling community to voice their concern of ocean safety in the community. This being the first opportunity to share their concerns in a large group setting, WMTA gave a spoke-person the opportunity to bring their issue to the community.  This is another reason why it is important to support the WMTA – it is many times the first opportunity for your voice to be heard, if not the only.  

 The DLNR is in need of a prodding for immediate action regarding the ocean safety deaths.  Senator Baker & Representative McKelvey ensured the community, that they are both introducing bills to protect all those who use our ocean – but it will take YOU, the community, to send your emails and show up to testify to push these bills forward.   

 Pam English gave an update on the near-completion of the skate park.  She provided pictures that were very exciting. There have been people sneaking in to skate, and she does ask that if anyone knows of any skaters to please let them know that it will be open SOON, so please do not enter until the final steps are completed. 

 Charlene Shibuya gave the community great presentation with great visuals as to what project have been completed in West Maui in the past year, and what we can look forward to in 2012.  

 Dr. Jerome Tannenbaum of Sanderling Healthcare provided an update of all the great steps they are taking to bring the West Maui hospital to reality.  The community response this update was well received and appreciated.  We all look forward to the next steps. 

 We also thank Paulo Faleafine Jr of the Royal Hawaiian Guard, and Liz Foote of the Kaanapali Makai Watch Program.  

 Overall, it was a great information-filled event that reached many members of the community.  

If you missed the WMTA Annual Meeting, or want to re-view the special presentations, the video clips are here!  In addition, Akaku will be airing this on Akaku CH53. See below for current running schedule.  
Please note that video has been split to allow upload on YouTube, and linked here.  Visit our You Tube channel to view larger video.  

Videos shot and edited by MAC Professional Video LLC