Ask the Mayor: Why Isn’t the Vegetation Along Ha‘ikū Roads Being Cut?

West Kuiaha Road. Graphic by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor,

Q: I would like to know why the vegetation along the Upcountry area roads is not being maintained. I live in Ha‘ikū and on our street the vegetation has not been cut in at least 6 to 8 months. We walk the streets in our neighborhood and the two-lane road is now just one lane. There are sight distance issues which make it very dangerous to walk.

This same problem is all over the Ha‘ikū area roadways. The streets I have noticed are North Holokai Road, Pono Road and South Holokai Road, along with East Kuiaha and West Kuiaha roads.

A: Mahalo for your question, as it underscores the need to educate land owners on their responsibility to maintain roadsides when the property is less than 15 acres in size. According to Maui County Code 12.02.010-020, owners, managers, administrators and others that have control or possession of privately owned property that “abuts or adjoins a county street shall continually maintain and keep clean, passable and free from weeds and noxious growths, the sidewalk or shoulder areas which abut or adjoin” the property.

Our Department of Public Works helps maintain the brush along county roadways that abut agricultural properties that are larger than 15 acres, but the vast majority of the overgrowth you are seeing is likely on smaller properties that should be maintained by the owners.

To file a complaint about a particular property, you can use the Request for Service (RFS) system at www.mauicounty.RFS.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

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