Collaboration and civic engagement – Ringing in the New Year
By Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins
On behalf of the Maui County Council, I’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with hope, prosperity, and resiliency.
Maui County faced many challenges in 2023, but we persevered together. In 2024, my goal is to address various community concerns with my fellow councilmembers including disaster mitigation, housing and budget allocations, just to name a few.
The council looks forward to continued collaborations and solutions with our community members on legislation that will serve the community.
The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee adopted a resolution that commits the council to develop a comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan in response to the August wildfires. The committee held a series of meetings in the Council Chamber and in West Maui to collect public testimony and hear the community’s voice.
The information received through testimony and resource personnel provided the Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee with a list of topics to be addressed by each council committee, as cataloged in Committee Report 23-113 at http://tinyurl.com/4btxyu8z. Resolution 23-194 was then adopted at the Dec. 15 council meeting, which allows committee chairs to directly refer bills and resolutions to their respective committees.
I felt the emotional impact of those speaking about this unprecedented disaster and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and suggestions with us. I encourage the public to continue providing input and engaging in these discussions to ensure the recovery process continues with everyone’s voices involved.
Moving forward with the comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan in 2024 will require us to continue to work together.
Effective communication between the council and the administration is necessary for informed decision-making. I plan to continue meeting with the Office of Recovery to receive updates on recovery efforts which will provide a forum for open communication.
Last fall, I introduced Resolution 23-226 to urge the mayor to establish a housing coordinator for Maui County. The housing coordinator would collaborate with the council, mayor and relevant county and state agencies to address residents’ immediate and long-term housing needs.
The coordinator could develop recommendations to streamline the permitting process while adhering to necessary legal, cultural and environmental protections. The resolution was referred to the Housing and Land Use Committee, and I look forward to further discussion on the proposal in that forum.
Looking ahead, the state’s 2024 legislative session begins Wednesday. Councilmembers will attend the legislature’s opening day to meet with state officials and champion legislation, including the bills in the legislative packages submitted by our council and the Hawai‘i State Association Counties, or HSAC.
Councilmembers will also attend the National Association of Counties’ legislative conference next month to discuss federal policy issues and strengthen intergovernmental partnerships. The HSAC conference will be on O‘ahu in September, allowing for information sharing with officials from Hawaiʻi County, the City and County of Honolulu and Kauaʻi County.
We have a lot of work ahead of us in 2024, but I look forward to seeing us move forward collectively. Our community is strong, and I know we can work together to make meaningful change.
*Nohe Uʻu-Hodgins is the chair of the Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee. She holds the County Council seat for the Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia residency area. “Council’s 3 Minutes” is a column to explain the latest news on county legislative and community matters. Go to mauicounty.us for more information.*
