KULA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 41 - Kula, HI 96790
http://kulamaui.com

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.

April 26, 2002

Riki G. Hokama, Chair, and Members
Budget and Finance Committee
Maui County Council
200 South High Street
Wailuku, HI 96793

Dear Chair Hokama and Members:

Re: FY 2003 Budget

On behalf of the Kula Community Association (KCA) Board of Directors, thank you for your countless hours and dedication to the detailed work required in producing a budget that will address the many critical needs of Maui County in these difficult times. We recognize that you must consider the "big picture" while focusing on the details and know that you are carefully balancing immediate and long term concerns. We know that you are aware of our community's specific concerns and requests as presented at your Budget Hearing in Kula last month, but we would like to highlight a few of our priorities for further consideration as your deliberations proceed. 

While we are disappointed you have decided at this time to not support Mayor Apana's proposal for funding to construct the Kula Community Center tennis courts, we are pleased that the concept is "still alive". We look forward to participating in the process of developing the Master Plan for the Kula Community Center Park as well as the design plans for the courts. 

We appreciate the Mayor's proposal to earmark a portion of the County's unanticipated revenues to maintain the Kula ambulance's current level of service if the State Legislature does not provide the funding. We believe as you do that, although funding for the program is the State's responsibility, we must do whatever we can to maintain the 12 hours of we have had for the past seven months. At the same time, we will continue to work with our state legislators and the Department of Health toward our ultimate goal of 24-hour service. 

Since our presentation to you in March, the KCA Board has taken a position in support of a dedicated fund for purchase and protection of open space. Accordingly, we support the Mayor's proposal for approximately $2 million for this purpose and hope that you will include this item in your proposal. As we mentioned during our presentation to you in March, open space and environmental integrity are primary concerns of Kula residents and we all recognize that they are critical to our agricultural and tourist economies as well as our quality of life.

Thank you again for your efforts on our behalf. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or would like additional information. We look forward to continuing to work with you for our community. 

Mahalo and aloha, 





Elliott Krash, President

cc: Mayor James "Kimo" Apana