Ask the Mayor: Bus Shelters Planned in Lahaina and Kīhei

Bus shelter in Kahului, file photo courtesy County of Maui.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: Why can’t I sit down on a bench or stand in the shade and wait for the bus at my stop in Kīhei? I use the bus regularly and have spent a lot of my hard-earned money to do so, including purchasing daily and monthly passes. I can’t afford any other mode of transportation (apart from my bike, which I use as much as possible), and I know I’m not the only person on the island in this situation.

A:  While it wasn’t clear from your email which stop in Kīhei you use, I can tell you that new bus shelters for Kīhei are currently in the design process with construction tentatively slated for next fiscal year. The Kīhei locations include both sides of Kamaʻole Shopping Center and Kamaʻole Beach III.

Construction of new shelters this fiscal year is focused on the Lahaina area, which does not yet have any bus shelters.

The shelters and benches are provided as a convenience to Maui Bus passengers, and while they are not required by law they are extremely helpful for our residents and visitors who utilize the Maui Bus.

I appreciate your support for the Maui Bus and encourage you to send e-mail, written or personal testimony to the Budget Office, our county Transportation department or the County Council to ask for additional funding that would allow us to work toward improving services, including additional bus shelters.

You can also voice your request at the upcoming Community Budget Meeting in Kīhei on Monday, Oct. 6 or at any of the other budget meetings; the schedule of meetings in each area is listed on the County website at www.mauicounty.gov/Budget.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.