VIDEO: Mayor Says “Maui is On the Go” in New Year

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Mu4DdRQCY /] By Wendy Osher

***Video editing courtesy news/media intern, Bobbi-Lin Kalama from Kamehameha Schools – Maui.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa shared his thoughts headed into the New Year with optimism about the future of the County of Maui.

His recap included efforts at stabilizing the economy, discussion of projects producing jobs for residents, and plans for making government more efficient.

“Maui is on the go,” said Mayor Arakawa in the exclusive interview from his 9th floor office at the Kalana O Maui building in Wailuku.

“It’s been a great year,” however, Mayor Arakawa said, “This upcoming year promises to be even better.”

Kalana O Maui, County of Maui Building. Photo by Bobbi-Lin Kalama, Kamehameha Schools - Maui intern.

With the legislature set to reconvene in January, Mayor Arakawa said he hopes to get support for film production credits so that the county could get a start on its film production industry.

Mayor Arakawa has touted the film industry in the past for its potential to diversify and stabilize the economy, by producing high-paying long-term jobs, skilled workers, and a different trend than that of the tourism and construction industries.

A list of major projects are on the radar as the new year approaches including the County of Maui plans to acquire approximately 100 acres of land for county base-yard use.

Mayor Arakawa said he wants to be able to move the county’s public works, water, and environmental management base-yards into one place in the area of Waiko and Waiale Roads in Wailuku.

Plans also include negotiations for 70 acres of centrally located land for Civil Defense operations.  Efforts, the Mayor said, include the centralization of communications and the staging of equipment at a centralized location in the event of a major disaster or challenge such as a tsunami or hurricane.

The county is also in negotiations with A&B for 242 acres for the creation of a regional park, according to Mayor Arakawa.  “Working through the state Legislature, I know Senator (Shan) Tsutsui has been pushing to get another 70 acre parcel for a park in the Maui Lani area–that will couple with ours–making the whole area there about 400 acres,” said Mayor Arakawa.

Private industry projects currently under construction include the Andaz Wailea Hotel in South Maui and the Marriott Courtyard Hotel near Costco in Kahului.

Construction of the Courtyard Marriott Hotel near Kahului Airport is undereway on Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

“That’s going to be tremendous,” said Mayor Arakawa of the Andaz property saying, “about 400 people are working on that job and when they’re done in about 18 months, there will be another 200 permanent positions.”

As for the Courtyard Marriott or airport hotel, “the framework progressing very nicely,” said Mayor Arkawa.  “We’ll see another large group of employment opportunities appearing there,” he said.

Mayor Arakawa said that in addition to projects already begun, there’s also plans for the redesign of the government system.

“We’re working on a lot of changes within our system: moving people around in different departments; getting different types of work out of different areas; and putting them in appropriate areas.” One such transition, the Mayor said, is his proposed movement of ocean safety officers to the Fire Department.

He said there will also me a focus on economizing through photovoltaic and alternative energy projects at county buildings and facilities.

“We’re hoping very much to bring to you a much more efficient, much more well run, and much better organized county government,” said Mayor Arakawa.

***Further details are available in the accompanying video.