Maui Discussion

Senate Bill 755 is one of the most controversial measures now before the Hawaii State Legislature. Critics say it guts environmental laws. Supporters say it’s a jobs bill that will get public works going again.

The 2013 Maui County Budget with revenues and expenses estimated at $626.8 million is now being reviewed by the County Council. Mauians are encouraged to comment on the financial document in April.

“This version HB2078, SD2 gets rid of the requirement that owners living out of state or on another island use a licensed rental agent to manage their properties.”

“…So in some convoluted way, they decided that if they forced non-resident owners, like myself, to hire licensed property managers to manage our condos, somehow they’d catch the tax cheats.”

“…large scale harvesting of unburned cane in Hawaii is not viable and maintaining the ability to burn is still an important factor in the survival of the company and the jobs it provides to Maui residents.”

As cane burning season begins, Maui Now aimed to get some insight into what health effects – if any – it has on residents.

Maui contractors are hanging on, hoping for better times. There’s more to bid on than in the past, but there’s more competition too.

UH economists report that the recovery in construction is slow in coming. The outlook for Honolulu is stronger than the neighbor islands. For Maui, commercial building is faring better than residential or government projects.

Maui Republicans caucused Tuesday night to select a presidential nominee.

Democrats throughout Hawaii caucused last night to conduct party elections and select delegates to state and national conventions. Maui Now visited the precinct meeting in Wailuku.

The Maui Island Plan now before the County Council has generated opposing views on many key points. When adopted the Island Plan will set land use and other guidelines through 2030.

The Maui Island Plan is a long and complicated proposed law that could direct island growth through 2030.

“The [Kihei Promenade] mall project fails to meet the conditions imposed by the LUC, conditions that still attach to the land and its title.”

Construction at Maalaea Harbor is almost finished with acres of beautiful new pavement, as well as other new construction, renovations and upgrades underway.

As Kahului Airport improvement planning moves ahead relocating the rental car base yard, expanding parking and building a new access road could total $230 million and raise prices on Maui.

Planning for the controversial Wailuku Parking Garage has been put on hold by the County of Maui. It is estimated that $720,000 has been spent on the design effort to date.

Wailuku has little to show for public money spent, and a lot of questions to answer about where it all went.

There were few bright spots in Hawaii’s economy at the end of 2011. Visitor arrivals and spending improved, but job growth and unemployment worsened.

Wailuku Town looks at its past and its future in a series of planning workshops scheduled for this week. The public is invited to participate.

“Couldn’t we do the review before we dig the hole?”