Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will host a community meeting this Wednesday, March 27 from 6 to 8pm at Pukalani’s Mayor Tavares Community Center. The focus of the meeting will be on a potential water source development agreement between the County of Maui and Free Market Ventures, LLC.
The meeting should be of prime interest to residents of Kula, Haiku, Makawao, and Pukalani. However, all Maui residents may be affected by the agreement since water rates may rise countywide. Sugimura announced that the County Council is reviewing a resolution to authorize Mayor Richard T. Bissen’s administration to enter into an agreement with Free Market Ventures, LLC. The agreement would involve Free Market Ventures, LLC drilling wells in Kula and the County purchasing water from the private source. “Water is always such an important subject for our communities, particularly Upcountry,” said Sugimura, who is also the vice-chair of the council. “This agreement could potentially provide an added source for Upcountry, but it is important that we provide our residents with as much information as possible before making any decisions.” Participating in Wednesday’s meeting will be Department of Water Supply Director John Stufflebean and representatives from Free Market Ventures, LLC. Also speaking will be Dick Mayer who will be providing a critique of the proposed 30 year agreement that has many long-term and potentially expensive provisions. “I want to thank Director Stufflebean and Free Market Ventures for participating in our evening meeting,” said Sugimura. “An agreement such as this has wide-ranging impacts, and I appreciate these resources for taking the time to explain these impacts directly to our community.” Wednesday’s meeting will be televised and streamed by Akakū. Sugimura holds the council seat for the Upcountry residency area. She is also the chair of the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee. Mālama Kula is an action-oriented, results-driven organization that was formed to provide disaster relief in response to the Kula Fire, but also also aims to address current challenges facing the Kula community. At the last board meeting of KCA Kyle Ellison, Executive Director, Mālama Kula, asked us to share the following links with our email list.
The Maui WES (Wildfire Exposure Study) will be taking place at Kula Lodge this Saturday, Feb 17, and here is the link to sign up: https://www.mauiwes.info The Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study, is the most comprehensive study to understand and mitigate the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. By joining this study, participants not only gain insight into their personal exposure risks but also contribute essential data that supports community resilience throughout the recovery phase. We are recruiting adult participants living in Maui who were directly or indirectly affected by the Maui Wildfires. Participants who qualify and complete the questionnaire and health metrics will receive up to $100. The health metrics include saliva, urine, height, weight, blood pressure, and a small amount of blood (30ml or about 3 tablespoons). The other link is for the free Kula Curbside Recycling program for HI 5 beverage containers, and you can sign up at the link below: https://www.malamakula.org/kula-curbside-recycling Please contact Kyle Ellison for further information: malamakula@gmail.com Upcounty Residents Examine Post-Fire Land ManagementThe Kula Community Association will host a community meeting for KCA members and all Upcountry residents at 7 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at the Kula Community Center. Light refreshments will be available from 6:30 pm. Come and meet your neighbors.
From our prior KCA October discussions it became very apparent that there is a need to adapt upcountry land management. The meeting will explore ways to better manage our lands to both prevent wildfires and to contain those that get started. We will hear presentations by the Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization, Kula Community Watershed Alliance, and Malama Kula, -- all organizations focusing on stewardship and restoration as a community response to wildfires. This meeting is the first in a series working to create a path towards a fire resilient and water secure Upcountry community. Future KCA’s community meeting topics will focus on Upcountry Infrastructure and Community Response, respectively. Remember Covid and flu season is still upon us, so please stay home if you aren’t feeling well. For more information contact Jordan Hocker 808-495-1700 jhocker07@gmailcom Kula MEMA meeting has moved to Tuesday nights, 6 PM, in the Kula Elem. Cafeteria.
Mayor Richard Bissen announced today that weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings will launch Upcountry this week for Kula residents impacted by the August wildfires.
The weekly meetings, beginning on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, will be held at the Kula Elementary School cafeteria. They will continue weekly at 6 p.m. every Thursday in November and December as debris cleanup progresses, with the exception of holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2023. The Kula Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings will cover progress, schedule and common community questions. Kathy Ho, Deputy Director of Environmental Health for the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, will be in attendance at this weekʻs meeting. Representatives from the county, state and federal agencies will be available after the meeting to answer questions and offer informational materials. The Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings will be live-streamed and archived on the County of Maui Facebook page. Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings for Lahaina residents began last week and will be held weekly at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Lahaina Civic Center. To notify Kula residents of nearby debris removal activities, the Kula Community Watershed Alliance and MEMA have compiled a schedule. It is now on-line and will be updated by the Watershed Alliance. You may view the schedule at https://bit.ly/KulaPhase2
The County is holding a Community Meeting tonight from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Eddie Tam Community Center to discuss the ongoing debris removal and recovery process Upcountry. Apologies from Yuki Lei Sugimura for such short notice but they just recently were able to finalize all of the logistics. This meeting is being held by the Mayor's Office and the Maui Emergency Management agency, in partnership with Yuki Lei’s office. Her office has been fortunate to help facilitate meetings with owners who lost property in the wildfires and responding agencies. She has been pushing for a broader community as well, and hope that you can join us tonight.
Kula Community Watershed Alliance has notified us that the Phase 2 Debris Cleanup began this week at the burned house sites in Kulamanu subdivision. They have asked Kula residents to please stay safe and avoid this area if you can. From what they can tell from the Department of Health fact sheet, use of PPE is recommended in the area. Kula Community Watershed Alliance invites any concerned residents living near burned building sites to complete a survey (https://bit.ly/KulaDebris) which will help them keep neighbors informed of cleanup schedules. Right now, those who gave Right of Entry to the Army Corps of Engineers are the only people being informed, but they are hoping to change that to include neighbors in the surrounding areas. If you are a neighbor who is concerned that the ash from cleanup sites may reach your living space, please complete this form to help this Hui coordinate communications and understand community need:https://bit.ly/KulaDebris Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimora sent us this announcement today.
Aloha Everyone, We are holding a Community Meeting tonight from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Eddie Tam Community center to discuss the ongoing debris removal and recovery process Upcountry. I apologize for such short notice as we have only just recently been able to finalize all of the logistics. This meeting is being held by the Mayor's Office and the Maui Emergency Management agency, in partnership with my office. My office has been fortunate to help facilitate meetings with owners who lost property in the wildfires and responding agencies. We have been pushing for a broader community as well, and hope that you can join us tonight. Kula Community Watershed Alliance has notified us that the Phase 2 Debris Cleanup began this week at the burned house sites in Kulamanu subdivision. They have asked Kula residents to please stay safe and avoid this area if you can. From what they can tell from the Department of Health fact sheet, use of PPE is recommended in the area.
Kula Community Watershed Alliance invites any concerned residents living near burned building sites to complete a survey (https://bit.ly/KulaDebris) which will help them keep neighbors informed of cleanup schedules. Right now, those who gave Right of Entry to the Army Corps of Engineers are the only people being informed, but they are hoping to change that to include neighbors in the surrounding areas. If you are a neighbor who is concerned that the ash from cleanup sites may reach your living space, please complete this form to help this Hui coordinate communications and understand community need: https://bit.ly/KulaDebris Due to drought conditions, the Department of Water Supply has issued a Stage 2 Water Shortage as daily demand in Upcountry is exceeding supply by 20%. This declaration requires Upcountry water users to stop using water for irrigation, watering lawns, washing vehicles or other nonessential activities. Also, the use of temporary construction meters is prohibited. At this time, there is no change to water rates. The Upcountry service area includes Makawao, Upper and Lower Kula, Pukalani, Kaupakalua, Ulupalakua, and Kanaio. For more information follow this LINK.
The official County of Maui website for recovery efforts related to the August 2023 fires on Maui has had a successful launch. Those impacted are encouraged to visit the site for important information and ongoing updates. Please review important safety information for returning to fire-impacted areas.
Follow this LINK for the new website. COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Water Supply has lifted the Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula, removing the two remaining areas, UK-2B and UK-5. Water serving buildings and homes in Area UK-2B and UK-5 is declared safe for unrestricted use effective October 31, 2023. At this time, the Department is requesting all Upcountry, Maui water consumers to refrain from using water for irrigation, lawns, personal washing of vehicles, or other nonessential activities. If the water demand can be reduced then no further restrictions will be necessary.
For more information follow this link. This project update was sent to the KCA today by Michael Reyes Senior Ecologist/Principal, Maui Environmental Consulting, LLC. He asked us to share it with our members. Please view the attached pdf file at this link. At the very end of the pdf file you will find a link to the text of the draft version of the Maalaea Bay Watershed Management Plan.
Fifty members of the Upcountry community came together to explore and learn from the opportunities, dilemmas, and experiences we faced during the wildfires and the immediate and ongoing recovery efforts.
The KCA facilitated three rounds of dialogue with a focusing question for each round:
Follow this link for a synthesis of the major insights. Also included is a listing of insights by question and photographs of the tabletop templates where participants shared their manaʻo throughout the rounds of dialogue. Upcountry Residents to Meet to Discuss the Impact of Wildfires
Aloha KCA members!
The Kula Community Association will host a facilitated community conversation on the recent upcountry wildfires, both the impact and a way forward, for KCA members and Upcountry residents at the Kula Community Center on October 18th, 2023 at 6:00pm. Unlike our traditional general membership format of a panel of speakers, this will be a facilitated meeting where we will talk story and begin community problem solving through rounds of questions and small group discussions. Attendees will have an opportunity to process the impacts of the fire on our community while focusing on three key questions:
The goal of this meeting is to collectively begin to create a path towards a fire and water resilient Upcountry community. As the facilitator, KCA will gather participant input and organize our needs into an Upcountry Fire and Water Resiliency Plan. Seating is limited. Please wear a mask as Covid and flu season is upon us. Contact Name: Jordan Hocker Phone: 808-495-1700 Email: jhocker07@gmail.com Website: https://www.kulamaui.com The County of Maui just announced The Unsafe Water Advisory has been removed for those in Zone UK-4. Zone UK-2A and Zone 1 were previously removed from the advisory. As of, October 10th, Zone UK-2B, UK-3, and UK-5 remain under the Unsafe Water Advisory. Please see the updated interactive map here, to check what Zone your home or business is in.
The County of Maui just announced The Unsafe Water Advisory has been removed for those in Zone 2A. Zone 1 was previously removed from the advisory. As of, October 6, Zone 2B, 3, 4 and 5 remain under the Unsafe Water Advisory. Please see the updated interactive map here, to check what Zone your home or business is in.
Councilwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura has announced a Resource Fair to be held from 1:00 - 7:00 pm at the Kula Community Center.
FEMA and other agency representatives will be available to answer questions and provide assistance. Amended Upper Kula Unsafe Water Advisory 9-12-2023
(use this LINK for the full Advisory) Effective September 12, 2023, the Department of Water Supply announces that the Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula has been amended to remove Zone 1 from the affected area. Water serving homes and buildings in Zone 1 has been determined to be safe for unrestricted use. To determine if your address is in a specific zone, please refer to the interactive map at the following link: Zone Map The latest test results for Upcountry Water Testing have been posted on the Maui County Water Department website. https://www.mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=12755
The Kula Community Association will continue to follow progress on water testing and other issues impacting our residents. Please follow our FB page! https://www.facebook.com/kulacommunityassociation/ Maui County Officials are reminding you to sign up for Emergency Alerts. Maui is still in an active fire season and the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) urges you to sign up for MEMA alerts to receive emergency notifications. The alerts are sent to registered users via text message, email, pager and/or voicemail, based on preference. The alerts provide emergency notifications and direction. To sign up follow the links here: https://www.mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=12209
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Our Vision
The vision of the Kula community Association is to preserve open space, support agriculture, maintain a rural residential atmosphere, and to work together as a community. The specific purpose of this association is to improve the quality of life for the residents of Kula, to promote civic welfare and generally to benefit the community of Kula. |
Kula Community Association
P.O. Box 417 Kula, Maui, Hawaii 96790 Webmaster: Chuck Carletta Please use "Contact Us" form to send your message. Photo Credit: Dawn Jernaill, St. John's Church photo in headers. |