Maui to Rollout of Remote Testimony Sites in December

Maui Council Chambers. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Residents of Hana, Lanai and Molokai will soon have the opportunity to testify at County Council meetings without having to travel to Wailuku to attend in person.

On Dec. 6, the council and its committees will begin accepting oral testimony at the Council Chamber in Wailuku from the three locations via interactive communications access.

“Making these remote testimony sites available will allow a broader cross-section of our county’s communities to be heard without having to travel to Wailuku,” said Council Chair Danny Mateo in a statement today.

The initiative was passed by Maui voters as a charter amendment during the Nov. 6 general election.

Mateo said that by approving the amendment, voters “clearly signaled their support of increased opportunities for input on the work of the council.”

“The vote confirms that the people of our county recognize we are all in this together, and that the people of Hana and Lanai, and my neighbors in Molokai, should more easily be able to voice their opinions to the council,” said Mateo.

County officials say that initially, they will utilize telephones for testimony, which will be provided at each of the district offices.  Locations include: the Hana Community Center, 5091 Uakea Road, Hana; the Lanai Community Center, 8th Street, Lanai City; and 100 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai, Molokai.

Due to limited facility size, staffing, and other constraints, county officials say other district services cannot be available while oral testimony is being accommodated.

Written testimony can be submitted on any item at any time, based on current guidelines.

The new remote testimony offerings will start on Dec. 6, 2012 at the Council’s Economic Development, Agriculture, and Recreation Committee. The service is expected to be offered again the following day for the council meeting, and thereafter for meetings held in the chamber.

“We welcome the communities’ participation from these remote testimony sites and ask for everyone’s patience as we continue to improve our interactive capabilities along the way,” said Mateo.