 Are you a tenant or landlord? Do you have questions on the recent expiration of the State Eviction Moratorium on Aug. 6, the new Center for Disease Control (CDC) Moratorium - or if you qualify for federal rental relief? Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura, former Judge Joseph Cardoza and Rep. Troy Hashimoto - along with many great panelists, answer important questions on what you need to know! Help is available - don't hesitate to reach out for help.
Thank you to Akakū Maui Community Media for hosting the program!
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Maui County Residents are asked to tune in this Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 6:30 PM, on AKAKU 53 & 54 to learn about the end of Governor Ige’s moratorium, the resources available in Maui County, how to reach out for support, and the options available for both landlords and tenants. Joining State Representative Troy Hashimoto and Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura, landlord and tenant attorneys, mediation administrators, and rent and utility assistance administrators including:
“There may be assistance available to those financially impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic and we hope this round table discussion will reach out to residents who may be evicted with the end of the moratorium on August 6th,” says Councilmember Sugimura. “Special appreciation is extended to retired Judge Joseph Cardoza, Chair of the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, who put together the panelists to lead this important discussion.” For more information please feel free to contact Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura’s cell (808) 870-8047, office (808) 270-7939 or by emailing YukiLei.Sugimura@MauiCounty.us. *Yuki Lei Sugimura holds the Maui County Council seat for the Upcountry residency area. # # #
Maui County Axis Deer Roundtable with panelist:
Mayor Michael Victorino Representative Lynn DeCoite, District 13 Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser- Chairperson, Hawaii Department of Agriculture John Medeiros, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Maui Wildlife Manager Darrin Phelps- Hawaii State Director Wildlife Services and Assistant Hawaii State Director Trevor Lu Veterinarian Dr. Joshua Bell, DVM – USDA  Axis deer in my Kula front yard. Today in the Maui News is a letter to the editor about this growing deer problem for farmers and our upcountry residents. When I posted this some thought "cute". But today's LTE expresses the growing concern over the damage axis deer are out of control - feral animal problem. Call me 808 870-8047 to discuss. I am planning a zoom community meeting this month when I got an email plea from another Pukalani resident. Also the Kula Ag Park farmers asking for fencing $1.3 million; Department of Housing and Human Concerns, County has funds to go out for Request for Proposals (RFP) on Monday, January 11. Call me to discuss 808 870-8047.
 For immediate release: January 2, 2021
Press Release by: Alice L. Lee, Chair Maui County Council Maui County Council approves leadership and committees for new term WAILUKU, Hawaii—On the first day of its 2021-23 term, the Maui County Council elected Alice L. Lee of the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency area as council chair, Keani N.W. Rawlins-Fernandez of Molokai as council vice-chair and Tasha Kama of Kahului as presiding officer pro tempore today by 9-0 votes, Lee announced. Lee, Rawlins-Fernandez and Kama held the same positions in the 2019-21 term. At today’s organizational meeting, the council also voted to establish eight standing committees, installing its sole freshman member, Gabe Johnson of Lanai, as chair of the Affordable Housing Committee. “I’m very pleased with the outcome of this first meeting of the new council and the vote of confidence from my colleagues,” Lee said. “This term is bound to bring many challenges, but we are ready to work together and do our very best for Maui County.” “I deeply appreciate your support,” Lee told her colleagues at the conclusion of the three-hour meeting at which 10 resolutions were adopted. Earlier in the meeting, she joked that she hoped councilmembers would still be friends after the day’s deliberations. All of the resolutions ended up being unanimously adopted. The standing committees and their chairs established by Resolution 21-4 are as follows:
For more information on the Maui County Council and its standing committees, please visit MauiCounty.us. ### 
December 23 I stood by this courageous family to remind the community don't drink and drive! So much more to do to ask for safety and save lives.
LT HANKINS SHARED: “We’re not there yet, but we’re doing it.” So far this year, eight people have died in traffic crashes on Maui County roads, compared with 23 at the same time last year for a 65 percent decrease. Police have made 485 arrests for impaired driving this year." Photo courtesy of the Maui News - Learn more here  Walking the talk - Lahaina’s 89-unit Kaiaulu O Kupuohi slated for a May 2022 completion
Photo courtesy of the Maui News. Learn more here  Maui County Farm Bureau Member Poll Rejects Proposed Charter Amendment
KULA, HI (September 24, 2020) — The Maui County Farm Bureau (MCFB) announced the results of a recent member poll to determine how their farmers felt about the proposed charter amendment to establish a County of Maui Department of Agriculture. The results revealed a strong objection to the proposal with 84% of farmers & ranchers responding saying NO to the ballot question: “Shall the Charter be amended, effective July 1, 2022, to establish a Department of Agriculture to develop a sustainable regional agricultural system for Maui County?” The poll was taken during the first week of September. “The farmers have made a strong statement that they do not believe a new county department is necessary and that this is a terrible time to expand government when so many of our residents are jobless and county revenues are plummeting,” said Teena Rasmussen, President of Maui County Farm Bureau. Farmers’ Concerns Since it was first presented at the County Council, farmers have expressed concerns. They testified at the Council hearings that this will be yet another regulatory bureaucracy, making farming more difficult rather than helping. Farmers opposed the overarching plan that included an entire division of enforcement within the new department. Although the details have been removed, the Council did add language to allow the department to regulate and enforce against farmers. The goals of the proposed new County department duplicate or conflict with many other federal and state organizations that regulate, advocate for, and oversee agriculture activity. Farmers must comply with laws, regulations, and policies under U.S. Department of Agriculture, State Department of Agriculture, the EPA, the State Department of Health, and many others. “Establishing yet another agency to oversee agriculture is redundant and will be a burden to taxpayers of Maui County who are already under duress,” said Clark Hashimoto, owner of Hashimoto Persimmon Products. Farmers and ranchers also work closely with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others who play a role in guiding agricultural producers. Hashimoto went on to say, “There are plenty of agencies already in place who are advocating for and regulating farming. The Maui County Farm Bureau is urging all residents of Maui County to vote NO to this charter amendment when receiving their ballots.” About Maui County Farm Bureau: Maui County Farm Bureau is a grassroots 501(c)(5) organization of farms and ranch families, agricultural industries, and associated organizations dedicated to supporting agriculture in Maui County. We are affiliated with both the statewide Hawaii Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation |
