Mayor’s Event Partners with JUMPSmart Maui in Kīhei

“As EV chargers become more available across the island, electric vehicles become more appealing as an alternative to gasoline powered cars,” said Mayor Arakawa during the March 2012 dedication of an electric vehicle charging station at the AAAAA Rent-A-Space center in West Maui. File photo courtesy Gilbert Advertising.

By Wendy Osher

The next edition of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa’s “County on Your Corner” event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Piʻilani Village Shopping Center in Kīhei.

This month’s event is being held in conjunction with a membership kickoff for JumpSmart Maui, an international partnership between the County of Maui, Japan and the State of Hawaiʻi.

Officials say the JUMPSmart Maui initiative aims to improve the integration of renewable energy resources into Maui’s electrical grid and prepare the island and state for the adoption of electric vehicles.

JUMPSmart Maui is reportedly funded through a $30 million investment by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Japan’s largest public research and development management organization.

The kickoff event includes a blessing of a DC Fast Charging station at the shopping center, with remarks by Mayor Arakawa and MECO president Sharon Suzuki.

The initiative already has a DC Fast Charging station at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului, one of five initial locations identified for the service.

Joining the mayor will be Councilmember Don Couch, and the mayor’s Executive Assistants John Buck and Zeke Kalua.

“County on Your Corner” is a monthly talk-story session hosted by the mayor and held at a different location each month, which is aimed at encouraging dialogue between government and the local community.