WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MAYOR MAUI COUNTY?

RETIRED JUDGE RICHARD BISSEN TOPPED CURRENT MAYOR MICHAEL VICTORINO IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

BUT WITH LESS THAN 40‑PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS, THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS HAVE YET TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE.

FROM HOUSING TO OVER‑TOURISM, TO DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THE PLANS THESE CANDIDATES HAVE TO MANAGE MAUI COUNTY.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M DARYL HUFF.

TONIGHT WE HAVE THE REMAINING TWO CANDIDATES FOR MAUI COUNTY MAYOR JOINING US.

THEY WERE THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS OUT OF A FIELD OF EIGHT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

RICHARD BISSEN IS FROM KAHULUI AND SPENT 30 YEARS AS AN ATTORNEY AND JUDGE IN MAUI COUNTY, SERVING AS CHIEF OF THE MAUI CIRCUIT COURT UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 2021.

BEFORE BECOMING A JUDGE, HE WAS A FIRST DEPUTY IN THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE.

MIKE VICTORINO IS FROM WAILUKU HEIGHTS AND IS THE CURRENT MAYOR OF MAUI COUNTY.

PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED MAYOR HE SERVED FOR 10 YEARS ON THE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

HE IS A FORMER YOUTH SPORTS COACH AND DIRECTOR OF THE MAUI COUNTY FAIR.

WE'LL START BOTH THE SAME QUESTION.

AFTER YOUR TIME BEING THERE, WHO NOW IS THE FIRST PRIORITY YOU WANT TO ATTACK AFTER IF YOU WIN THIS ELECTION?

>> IF I WIN THIS ELECTION, THE FIRST THING I'LL ATTACK WILL BE HOUSING.

WHICH WE'LL ALREADY IN THE PROCESS.

THE OTHER AREA IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

VERY IMPORTANT FOR MAUI COUNTY.

THAT'S WHY THE $1 BILLION BUDGET IS MADE TO MAKE THESE THINGS COME TO FRUITION.

KICKED CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR SO MANY YEARS.

>> NOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE GOING.

CREATING DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY IS NUMBER 3.

>>Daryl: LET ME JUST STOP YOU FOR A SECOND.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BACK TO FIRST PRIORITY.

I'M ASKING ABOUT.

SO WHAT DIFFERENT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT HOUSING?

>> I THINK I WOULD DO MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE WITH THE PANDEMIC, IT STOPPED US AND SLOWED US DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.

NOW WE'RE RECOVERING.

OUR SUPPLY CHAINS ARE GETTING BETTER.

UNIONS AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPERS ARE REALLY WANTING WANTING TO WORK ON MAUI IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE HOUSING.

REALLY ON A GOOD PATH.

BILL 107 ANOTHER PART WHERE WE HAVE RESTRICTED AMOUNT OF PAYMENT THAT ANYONE HAS TO PAY FOR THEIR HOUSE.

IN THE 80% AND LOWER INCOME BRACKET.

A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

GOT 5,000 UNITS IN THE PIPELINE.

700 RIGHT NOW.

I'M FEELING VERY GOOD THAT HOUSING BEING TOP PRIORITY IS BEING ACHIEVED RIGHT NOW.

>>Daryl: RICHARD BISSEN, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

TOP PRIORITY?

>> FOR SURE HOUSING IS IMPORTANT.

FOR US, WHAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT NEXT 15 TO 25 YEARS, IS WATER.

FOR US, TO HAVE HOUSING MAKE SURE OUR WATER SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING.

WE HAVE ENOUGH.

TAKING CONTROL OF OUR WATER AND MAKE SURE WE CAN MANAGE THAT CORRECTLY IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY.

COMES TO HOUSING WE WANT TO APPROVE 100 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN THE FIRST 180 DAYS OF OUR CAMPAIGN.

THAT IS THE QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST WAY TO BUILD HOUSING FOR US RIGHT NOW.

TODAY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, DIALED IN THOSE LOCATIONS PEOPLE'S HOME, AGAIN, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IS ACROSS THE STATE ALL THE COUNCILS.

COUNTY COUNCILS HAVE APPROVED THIS.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY WE CAN GET PEOPLE INTO HOMES.

AGAIN, PLAN IS TO TO PREAPPROVED FLOOR PLANS, STUDIO ONE BEDROOM, TWO BEDROOM.

TO PREAPPROVE THOSE AND HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL HOOK UP TO WATER, AND COUNTY SEWER, TO GET THOSE BUILT AND AGAIN, IN THE QUICKEST WAY.

>>Daryl: LET ME FOLLOW UP ON HOUSING WITH YOU.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME KIND OF NIMBY EFFECT ON MAUI.

PEOPLE WILL SAY, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT HOUSING THERE.

IT'S A FLOOD ZONE.

CAN'T PUT HOUSESING THERE SOMETHING ELSE.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE OVERCOME?

PEOPLE HAVE GET USED TO THE IDEA THERE WILL BE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MORE HOUSES NEAR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> TO GET MORE HOUSING BUILT.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDS MORE COSTLY.

CHEAPER TO TEAR ALL DOWN AND BUILD FROM SCRATCH AGAIN.

WATER IS AN ISSUE IN EAST MAUI AND WEST MAUI AQUIFERS AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SYSTEMS.

GOING BACK TO MY FIRST RESPONSE, WITH HOUSING, WE NEED TO BUILD AND IN SOME AREAS, GO UP FOR FIVE STORIES.

A LITTLE MORE VERTICAL THAN ALL SPRAWL.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AGREED TO THAT BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE MORE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT AND ACCOMMODATING THESE UNITS AND NOT AS COSTLY.

COUNTY IS COMMITTED ADMINISTRATION TO BRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE PROJECT BOUNDARIES AND LET THEM BUILD FROM THERE.

>>Daryl: ANY OTHER HOUSING INITIATIVES YOU HAVE IN MIND?

>> AGAIN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY DIME.

ONE OF THINGS, WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING HOUSES ON MAUI, TWO ISSUES THAT COME UP IS WHERE TO BUILD IT, AND WHO WOULD BUY THAT.

WOULD WOULD BE IN THAT HOUSE.

NOT JUST BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSES THAT WE'RE BASICALLY ON ELIGIBILITY OR COST, WHAT OUR PLAN IS KAMA'AINA HOUSING WHICH IS TO GET RESIDENTS INTO THOSE HOUSE.

PEOPLE FROM MAUI.

BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE NOT FROM HERE, DOES NOT SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BELIEVE.

OUR PLATFORM IS BASED ON KAMA'AINA HOUSING.

AGAIN, ONE OF THE SHORT TERM I THOUGHT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.

BENEFIT OF BUILDING IT EXISTING VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS THAT THERE IS EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY THERE.

WATER, SEWER, PARKING.

OF COURSE, LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE AT.

YOU KNOW, I THEIR DEVELOPERS WILLING TO LOOK INTO THESE TYPES OF RESTRUCTURING AND REPURPOSING.

I DON'T WHEN I SHOULD COME IN WITH ATTITUDE THAT WE CAN'T DO IT.

SHOULD COME IN WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT WE CAN FIND THOSE SOLUTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT.

AS FOR AS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHERE TO BUILD THESE INVENTORY OF LANDS, BEEN IDENTIFIED IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

CENTRAL MAUI, WAIKAPU AREA LOTS OF BUILDING COMING UP THERE.

SOUTH MAUI, WEST MAUI.

THEY'RE ALREADY PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

>>Daryl: LET ME MOVE ON TO THE WATER ISSUE AGAIN.

IT STRIKES ME THAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, UPCOUNTRY, THEY WERE FORCED TO CONSERVE WATER BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS UP THERE.

IS THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEEDS UP THERE AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE ALSO COMPLAINTS THAT RESORTS HAVE WATER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE WATER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE THE CENTRAL WATER SYSTEM SERVES ALL OF SOUTH MAUI, INTO ALL OF CENTRAL MY.

WEST MAUI HAS OWN SYSTEM UPCOUNTRY HAS OWN SYSTEM.

UPCOUNTRY SYSTEM HAS BEEN 80% SURFACE WATER.

SO JUST ABOUT EVERY SUMMER, ESPECIALLY LATELY HAD EXTREME DROUGHTS WATER HAS BECOME A REAL ISSUE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS STARTING TO DEVELOP WELLS THAT WE COUNTY SHOULD BE DEVELOPING NOT DEVELOPERS.

ALSO, WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER THAT'S COMING IN FROM OTHER SOURCES LIKE EAST MAUI AND OTHER PLACES, IS BEING USED JUDICIOUSLY AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESIDENTS AND FARMERS ALIKE IN THE UPCOUNTRY AREA.

>>Daryl: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF WATER SYSTEM AND QUALITY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> OBVIOUSLY, INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO BE REVIEWED.

I MEAN, WE HAVE 76‑MILES OF WATER TRANSMISSION THAT GOES FROM EAST MAUI, COMES BACK INTO UPCOUNTRY AREA.

AND THAT, THOSE LANDS CROSS PRIVATE LANDS GOVERNMENT LANDS BUT THAT MAINTENANCE OF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S COUNTY, IF THE COUNTY DECIDES TO TAKE OVER THE WATER SYSTEM IS GOING TO HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO WE KNOW THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT MAINTENANCE, THERE IS WORK THAT SHOULD BE DONE ON THAT.

WITH REGARD TO WATER, AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE ISSUE THAT WE CONFRONT IN THE NEXT 15 TO 25 YEARS FOR SURE.

NEED TO BE THINKING IN TERMS OF GENERATIONAL THINKING.

>> NOT TWO YEARS AN FOUR‑YEAR THINKING.

WE NEED TO THINK IN TERMS OF TWO AND FOUR GENERATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

WHICH THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING,.

>>Daryl: WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE THOUGH?

IS THERE NOT ENOUGH WATER?

OR IS THERE JUST NO INFRASTRUCTURE?

HOW MUCH INVESTMENT DOES THAT REQUIRE.

>> I'LL ANSWER IT THIS WAY.

PEOPLE LIVE IN ONE PLACE AN THE WATER IS IN ANOTHER PLACE.

ONE OF THINGS WE SHOULD CONSIDER DOING IS DEVELOPING WATER SOURCES FOR DROUGHT PRONED AREAS AND HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS.

THAT WOULD TEAM TO MAKE SENSE.

TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT THINKING ABOUT DOING.

THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS JUST HAPPENED ON MAUI.

ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

WE HAVE A RULE ON MAUI THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A BE ON THE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM AND HAVE CATCHMENT.

WHY THAT IS BECAUSE OF BACKFLOW ISSUES.

BUT THAT'S ONLY IF YOU CONNECT ON THE SAME LINE.

WE SHOULD ALLOW FOR THERE TO BE GO CATCH AMOUNT SYSTEM IN TIMES OF DROUGHT, PEOPLE HAVE CATCHMENTS CAN USE THEIR WATER FOR THEIR ANIMALS, FOR THEIR GARDEN, FOR CARS.

AND STILL HAVE POTABLE WATER.

SO AGAIN, NOT NEW ISSUES.

>>Daryl: WE HAD THE ISSUE WHERE THE PERMITS ARE TAKING FOREVER BECAUSE, UPCOUNTRY ISSUE ALSO, RIGHT?

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU DONE DURING LAST FOUR YEARS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE?

>> UPCOUNTRY WATER METER LIST.

DEVELOPED BACK IN LATE 80 ACRES EARLY 90s.

STILL TODAY, STILL WORKING ON THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE LIKE 2,000 PLUS ON THE LIST.

IN THE PAST, 3 YEARS, BEEN ABLE TO GIVE A LITTLE OVER 325 NEW WATER METERS.

THAT IS A START.

BUT NOT NEAR AS MUCH AS WE NEED GET.

A LOT OF IT IS THE IMPROVEMENT THE SYSTEM, AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS NOW, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE PUT ONE METER HERE, THAT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS TO GO THERE AT ONE TIME, WE HAD PROPOSED IN THE COUNCIL TO SHARE COST.

THAT WORKED WELL FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT THEN SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA AT THAT TIME.

SO THEY CHANGED IT BACK.

SO WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT IS THIS EXISTING FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

AND NOW THAT EMI AND A&B ARE TRYING TO DIVEST THEMSELVES OF WATER SYSTEM, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WATER AUTHORITY TO MANAGE NOT ONLY EAST MAUI BUT ALL MAUI COUNTY WATER SYSTEMS.

>>Daryl: GET QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS.

THIS WAS JOHN FROM KIHEI.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT REDUCING NUMBER OF RENTAL CARS ON MAUI TO LESSEN TRAFFIC.

STARTS WALKING TOWARD THE ISSUE OF OVERTOURISM.

I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WEREN'T ANY RENT A CARS ON MAUI FOR A WHILE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA?

RENTAL CAR REGULATIONS OF POPULATION TO A CERTAIN EXTENT?

>> I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RENTAL CARS WHAT WE NEED TO DOING FOCUS ON ELECTRIC CARS.

HAVING DISCUSSION WITH RENTAL CARS ABOUT MAYBE 25% OF THEIR FLEET GOING ELECTRIC.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CARS AT ALL, THEY SHOULD BE THOSE TYPES OF CARS.

BEFORE WE CAN ELIMINATE ALL OF THAT, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A COUNTY WIDE POLICY.

ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE DO HAVE PUBLIC TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER.

BUT PERHAPS WE CAN INCREASE THAT IT ALLOW FOR TOURISTS TO USE MORE OF THOSE SHUTTLES BETWEEN HOTELS FROM THE AIRPORT, AGAIN, WE HAVE SHOULD INCREASE THAT, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING AND IN OUR CAMPAIGN, OF DRIVERLESS VEHICLES, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WORK ON IT RIGHT NOW.

U.H.

MAUI COLLEGE AND AGAIN, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IS ACTUALLY REFERRED TO.

HAVE THOSE.

>>Steve: JUST TO GET SPECIFIC.

SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE FEWER CARS TRANSPORTING TOURISTS ALL AROUND.

>> YES.

>>Daryl: AND GREENER SITUATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>Daryl: MAYOR, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> ALREADY STARTED ON THAT PROCESS.

HAD OUR FIRST SIX HYBRIDS WHICH USE ELECTRICITY AND DIESEL.

DECEMBER TOLL CHARGE ELECTRICITY BAT IRYS.

HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

BRIDGE TO GETTING MORE ELECTRICITY VEHICLE.

>>Daryl: BUSSES.

>> BUSSES YES.

OPEN TO EVERYONE INCLUDING OUR VISITORS.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BUSSES IN THESE RESORT AREAS SO PEOPLE CAN CATCH THE BUS AND CATCH GO TO TOWN OR GO TO THE BEACH OR GO WHERE THEY WANTING TO.

WITHOUT TAXING OUR ROAD ROADWAYS.

DRIVE TO LAHAINA, TWO OR THREE CARS.

VISITORS STAYING AT DESTINATION.

TAKING TOURS OUT OF THAT DESTINATION, RESORT ENJOYING.

YES, I THINK WE CAN START WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

ELECTRIFYING OUR FLEET, STARTING THAT WITH THE COUNTY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BUYING ELECTRIC CARS.

WE ARE PUTTING EV CHARGERS IN SO THEY CAN UTILIZE IT.

THIS IS PART OF OUR WHOLE MASTER PLAN OF ELECTRIFYING OUR FLEET AND BUSSES, AND OUR VEHICLES WITHIN THE COUNTY ITSELF.

>>Daryl: HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IF YOU HAD THAT MANY RENT A CARS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHARGED?

>> THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO WORK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE PART OF IT AS I WAS SAYING BEFORE, WE ELIMINATE RENTAL CAR, AND REDUCE THEM, WE SHOULD HAVE MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT ALLOWS FOR OUR VISITORS TO GET AROUND.

OR INCREASE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.

THAT'S GOING TO NECESSITATE HAVING MORE CHARGING STATIONS BUT THE REAL BENEFIT DARYL IS YOU KNOW, RENTAL CARS, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THEY START TO SELL THEIR FLEET, USUALLY SELL IT TO THE LOCAL POPULATION.

SO WHAT THAT DOES, IS CONVERTS OUR LOCAL POPULATION OVER TO MORE PURCHASING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS WELL.

THAT REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO OVER TIME.

UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION.

HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, NOT JUST COUNTY FLEET, IN PEOPLE'S HOMES.

AND AGAIN, PEOPLE RELUCTANT TO BUY THEM INITIALLY.

BUT THE COST AND OF COURSE ATTACHMENT BENEFITS TO DOING SO,‑TAX BENEFITS.

BUILD UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I THINK IT STARTS PARTLY WITH YOUR QUESTION, WITH RENT A CAR COMPANIES.

>>Daryl: MAYOR VICTORINO, ANOTHER JACKSON FROM KIHEI.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN ON WORKING ON THE BACKLOG OF PERMITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON MAUI?

IS THERE A BACKLOG OF PERMITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON MAUI?

>> NOT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AREA.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EXPEDITING THAT.

OUR NEW MAUI AUTOMATED PLANNING PROGRAM, MAPS WE CALL IT, TAKE HOLD WHERE YOU AS INDIVIDUAL OR CONTRACTOR OR DEVELOPER, CAN GO ONLINE AND CHECK WHAT STATUS YOUR PARTICULAR PROJECT, HOUSE, EXTENSION, WHATEVER, IS AT ANY GIVEN POINT.

IT'S AUTOMATED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME IN, DON'T HAVE TO CALL, GET ONLINE.

AND YOU CHECK.

YOU SEE WHERE EVERYTHING IS AT.

THAT IS ONE STEP.

WE ALSO WANT TO REDO OUR ORDINANCES BECAUSE MANY OF OUR ORDINANCES AND POLICIES WERE BUILT BACK IN THE LATE SIXTIES AND EARLY 70s.

ANTIQUATED.

WE NEED TO MOVE AND IMPROV THAT.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON VERY DILIGENTLY.

AND MY NEXT ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CHANGE THAT TAKE TO THE COUNCIL, GET IT APPROVED SO WE ARE MODERNIZED IN OUR PLANNING DIVISION.

>>Daryl: DO YOU SEE THE SAME LEVEL OF IMPROVEMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION?

STILL A PROBLEM TO GET PERMITS?

>> WELL, ANECDOTALLY THERE IS.

DON'T KNOW THE STATISTICS.

COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PERMITS PENDING APPROVED LAST 3, 4 YEARS.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOMETHING WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION'S INFORMATION TO HAVE THAT.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES THAT VERY IMPORTANT.

PUBLIC BELIEVES THESE AREN'T BEING BUILT OR BUILT QUICK ENOUGH.

I'M NOT PUTTING ALL THE BLAME ON ONE DEPARTMENT OR THE OTHER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE REASON.

BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE WAY WE DO PERMITTING IN TERMS OF HAVING DIFFERENT PHASE OF PERMITTING.

IF YOU'RE COME FOR A BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT, YOU GO INTO A CERTAIN LINE.

IF YOU'RE HERE JUST ADDING ON ADDITION, GO TO A CERTAIN LINE.

I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY HAS TO STAND IN THE SAME LINE FOR ANY PERMIT.

OR IF WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IN WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME FOR THEIR SERVICE.

>>Daryl: ANOTHER QUESTION THAT COME IN FROM A VIEWER.

ANONYMOUSLY.

HOW DO YOU CONTROL B AND B SHORT‑TERM RENTALS?

I REMEMBER HEARING QUITE A STRIKING FIGURE OF HOW MANY SHORT‑TERM RENTALS ON MAUI.

I WON'T SAY SUBDIVISIONS WHOLE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ALMOST ALL SHORT‑TERM RENTALS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING.

RECENTLY, WE SIGNED ABOUT AGAIN YEAR‑AND‑A‑HALF AGO, AGREEMENT WITH AIRB&B AND EXPEDIA.

TO TAKE OFF ALL THESE ILLEGAL RENTALS THAT SHORT‑TERM RENTALS THAT WERE ONLINE.

THEY TOOK OFF SOMETHING LIKE 1800 SO FAR.

AND WE HAVE MONITORS NOW AND WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE THAT CONSTANTLY GO BACK IN TO CHECK THIS OUT.

REDUCE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS AND WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING, TRYING TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SHORT‑TERM RENTALS IN OUR RESIDENT AREA.

>>Daryl: ILLEGAL ONES.

>> ILLEGAL AND MAKING SURE LEGAL ONES WE WE PUT IN THE NUMBERS.

WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, DECIDED TO PUT 400 ENTIRE ISLAND OF MAUI.

400 LEGAL SHORT‑TERM RENTALS B&B'S.

AND THAT'S IT.

BUT WE WERE UP TO LIKE 25 TO 3,000 AND WE'VE GOT THAT DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.

CONSTANTLY WORKING AT IT.

THANK OUR WORKFORCE PEOPLE MONITORING THIS.

>>Daryl: HOW MANY LEGAL ONES DO YOU HAVE?

WE FIGURE RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY ABOUT 5 TO 600.

THAT WE KNOW OF.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE LEFT NOW.

WE CONSTANTLY, NOW, REMEMBER, THESE ARE THE ONES WE KNOW OF.

CONSTANTLY GOING BACK IN AND CHECKING THE WEB PAGES BECAUSE THAT IS IT HOW THEY GET THE WORD OUT.

THROUGH THE WEB.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT GROUPS THAT DOES THAT.

THEY'RE UP 8, 9, 10:00 AT NIGHT.

SOMETIMES 6, 5:00 IN THE MORNING.

GO DIFFERENT TIMES TO SEE WHO IS DOING WHAT.

>>Daryl: DO YOU THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT?

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT NUMBER?

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE?

IS THERE A PROBLEM ON MAUI.

>> I THINK YOU ASKED LEGAL ONES THE I THINK THE ANSWER ILLEGAL ONCE.

CON TRIED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF VACATION RENTALS CAN BE ON DIFFERENT ISLANDS MAUI, MOLOKAI AND LANAI.

CAP ON HOW MANY THERE CAN BE.

BUT THE REASON THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IS BECAUSE WHEN THERE ARE ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS, THOSE, IMPACT THE RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND JUST THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER 2, PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY TAXES AND GIVE NOTICE AND PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

MAKING AN INCOME OFF OF A BUSINESS.

AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY THAT.

THAT IS NOT HAPPENING WHEN IT'S ILLEGAL.

SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A CRACK DOWN THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII.

NOT JUST ON MAUI.

TRYING TO LESSEN THAT NUMBER.

I THINK STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN.

TO AGAIN, ADDRESS THAT AND REDUCE THAT.

THERE ARE LEGITIMATE ONES THAT ARE BEING PEOPLE MAKE THEIR LIVING OFF OF THAT.

PEOPLE OUR OWN RESIDENTS THAT THAT IS THEIR INCOME.

HOW THEY DO IT.

NOT TO CAST ALL OF THEM IN THE SAME CATEGORY.

IT'S ILLEGAL VERSUS LEGAL.

TALKING ABOUT LEGAL, CAN BE CONVERTED TO THE LONGTERM RENTALS.

DON'T GET SHUTDOWN AND CLOSED DOWN.

HAVE TO CHANGE FROM BEING SHORT‑TERM RENTALS TO BECOME A LONGTERM RENTAL.

>>Daryl: WHAT OTHER, THAT IS ANOTHER REGULATING OVERTOURISM.

DO YOU AGREE THAT THERE IS A SENSE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY VISITORS ON MAUI?

AND YOU NEED IT TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE THERE?

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I AGREE.

THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE TOO MANY TOURIST ON ISLANDS.

>> NOW, WE ALL UNDERSTAND, TOURISM IS OUR MAIN ECONOMIC DRIVER.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO TAXES OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGAIN, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO I THINK FOR WHEN THE VISITORS IMPACT THE RESIDENTS, AND KAMA'AINA, THAT IS IT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THAT SENSE THAT THERE'S NO ROOM AT THE BEACH.

ROADS ARE CROWDED.

AREAS THAT ARE NORMALLY LOCALS GO TO, ARE GETTING OVERRUN BY VISITORS.

AND SO I FEEL THAT WHEN WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THERE IS A MAUI NUI DESTINATION PLAN ONE FOR MAUI, MOLOKAI AND LANAI.

AND STAKEHOLDERS BROUGHT TOGETHER.

ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

OF AGAIN, YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER.

KINDS OF TOURISTS WE WANT IT ATTRACT.

>>Daryl: LET ME GET MORE SPECIFIC.

SPECIFIC THING THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF PREVENTING TOURISTS FROM COMING?

>> FROM COMING?

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN‑ >>Daryl: FROM STAYING THERE.

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AND IT'S BEEN DONE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IS LIMITING ACTIVITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU NEED A RESERVATIONS GO HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK.

YOU JUST CAN'T GO THERE AT ANY TIME.

YOU GOT TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS IF YOU'RE A RESIDENTS.

VISITOR, EXCUSE ME.

I THINK LIMITING TOURISTS RELATED ACTIVITIES IS PROBABLY THE QUICKEST WAY, MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LIMIT THEM ACTUALLY COMING TO OUR ISLAND.

>>Daryl: DO YOU FEEL THAT WAY TOO?

THERE IS SOMETIMES TOO MANY OR IS IT JUST SEEM LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS HAVE YOU DONE AND WILL YOU DO TO MANAGE THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE RIGHT.

TIMES WHEN THERE ARE TOO MANY.

HOSPITALITY HAS BEEN GOOD TO MAUI, BUT TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING IS BEGINNING TO RESONATE.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS ALSO WORKED WITH STATE AND OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THE NATIONAL PARKS, AND MADE RESERVATIONS FOR WAIANAPANAPA AND HALEAKALA, WAI KIPAHULU SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE FULL.

YOU CANNOT COME.

NO SPACE FOR YOU.

OTHER THING IS MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF WITH PARK MAUI AND OTHERS, WE START DEVELOPING WHERE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE FREEDOM TO COME AND HAVE PARKING AT OUR BEACH PARKS.

SO THAT THE VISITOR HAS TO PAY AND OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE FREE.

THAT WAY, THEY UNDERSTAND ONE THE THINGS FIRST INSTITUTED CAME IN IN 2019 WAS SATURDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.

I MEAN, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.

EXCUSE ME.

SUNDAY AND HOLIDAYS.

NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN OUR BEACH PARKS.

SO THAT YOU COULD GO THE BEACH PARK AND NOT HAVE SURFBOARDS AND SCUBA GEAR AND WIND SURFING LAYING OVER THE PARK TO TRAVERSE IT.

PARKS ARE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE CONTINUE TO WORK THAT TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE, OUR RESIDENTS, HAVE THAT ABILITY TO ENJOY WHAT THEY WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD.

>>Daryl: I WANT TO MOVE ALONG.

BASED ON WHAT MY VIEWERS ARE ASKING.

I WAS GOING TO GO THERE ANY WAY.

DON'T FORGET MAUI COUNTY INCLUDES LANAI AND MOLOKAI.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THOSE ISLANDS, WHAT ARE THEY ASKING FOR FROM THE COUNTY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE NOW?

>> MOKULELE AIRLINES.

THEY WANT THERE TO BE MORE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SCHEDULES OR NUMBERS OF FLIGHTS.

NOW, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT IS PROBABLY THE FIRST.

I DID MENTION THE MAUI NUI THINGS PLAN HAS ONE FOR EACH OF THE THREE ISLANDS.

>> MOLOKAI LANAI AS WELL.

REFERRED TO OUR COUNTY AS MAUI NUI OR MAUI COUNTY.

WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THOSE.

WHEN YOU TALK TO RESIDENTS ON LANAI, TALK RESIDENTS ON MOLOKAI, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY ASK YOU.

BEFORE THEY UNDERSTAND ONCE YOU EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT IS EITHER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW,.

>>Daryl: AIRLINE.

>> AIRLINES THEMSELVES.

TUA THEY WANT TO KNOW IS HOW CAN THE COUNTY ASSIST IN HAVING MORE FLIGHTS SO THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE INTO THE JUST THAT, BUT PRICES, VERY LITTLE COMPETITION.

WE NO LONGER HAVE THE MOLOKAI FERRY, OF COURSE, LAHAINA HAS ITS EXPEDITIONS.

HAVE THAT ALTERNATIVE.

TO THE AIRLINE.

BUT MOLOKAI IF WE COULD OFFER MORE.

>>Daryl: ANY THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN DO THAT?

SO MANY JURISDICTIONS BEYOND THE COUNTY.

TO GET ANOTHER AIRLINE TO COME.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AN HAVING THOSE MEETINGS NOT JUST WITH THE STATE OR THE DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION OR THE GOVERNOR, CERTAINLY WITH THE AIRLINE.

COME TOGETHER TABLE.

AND EXPRESSING THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THOSE RESIDENTS.

>>Daryl: TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE AIRLINE SITUATION FIRST.

I'LL ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THOSE AIRLINES.

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THINGING.

>> AIRLINE ESPECIALLY FOR MOLOKAI, SO ACUTE, ONLY HAVE MOKULELE.

NO ALTERNATIVES ON LANAI, MOKULELE.

LARRY ELLISON PRIVATE PLANES.

BRINGS GUESTS IN.

SOMETIMES CAN UTILIZE THAT.

THEY HAVE THE FERRY FROM MANELE HARBOR TO LAHAINA HARBOR.

STRUGGLING.

STRUGGLE NOW IS WORKING WITH BRIAN SCHATZ, SENATOR BRIAN SCHATZ AND OTHERS TO LOOK FOR PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN MAKE MOLOKAI ESSENTIAL AND MAKE IT UNDER THE ESSENTIAL PROGRAM THAT THIS IS THE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IN AND OUT.

SO WE CAN GET NOT OPEN FEDERAL FUNDS BUT WE CAN GET THE AIRLINE TO UP THEIR ANTE AS FAR AS COMING IN, SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>>Daryl: WASN'T IT UNDER THAT DISTINCTION BEFORE?

>> HANA HAS IT.

NOT MOLOKAI AND I'M WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FAA, AND THE AIRLINE, NOW TALKING ABOUT THAT AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

>>Daryl: KEVIN VIA FACEBOOK ASKS, WILL THERE BE SMALLER ISLAND.

DO COUNTY JOB OPENINGS, COUNTY JOBS OR COUNTY JOBS.

ANY WAY, NEW COUNTY JOB OPENINGS FOR MOLOKAI, LANAI OR MAUI.

DO YOU HAVE JOBS ON THOSE ISLANDS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED?

IS THERE WORK OUT THERE?

I AM SURPRISED THAT THAT QUESTION BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN MANY SEGMENTS OF OUR COUNTY.

DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE FOUND JUST LIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HUGE SHORTAGE PEOPLE WANTING TO TAKE ON JOBS.

MILLENIALS DIFFERENT.

NOT LOOKING FOR LONGTERM.

BENEFITS HAVE CHANGE AND ALSO LOOKING AT INCENTIVES AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN ATTRACT.

COUNTY WORKERS.

OR WORKERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK HERE.

LIKE FOR SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, SHORT NOT ONLY PIPE FITTERS AND PIPE LAYERS, WE SHORT OF ENGINEERS AND OTHER CRUCIAL PERSONNEL THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAVING A CHALLENGE.

THAT'S UNIVERSAL.

HOTELS ON OAHU, ALL STATE, ACROSS THE NATION REALLY ACUTE SITUATION.

>>Daryl: HONOLULU, TAKING SIX MONTHS TO HIRE SOMEONE IN HONOLULU.

IS THERE ANY SETBACK OR ANY BARRIER LIKE THAT FOR MAUI COUNTY LIKE DOES IT TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET HIRED AT MAUI COUNTY?

IS THAT WHY PEOPLE MAY NOT TAKE THOSE JOBS?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 100 VACANCIES IN THE MAUI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S JUST FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND POLICE OFFICERS SERVE ON LANAI.

AND MOLOKAI.

AS WELL AS MAUI.

RADIO TRANSMISSION OFFICERS ARE DISPATCHERS.

ALSO I WOULD AGREE THAT THERE ARE LIKELY OPENINGS ON EACH OF THE ISLANDS.

ALL THREE ISLANDS.

FOR COUNTY JOBS AND ANY OTHER JOBS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

WHETHER IT'S VISITOR INDUSTRY, OTHER TYPES OF WORK, SO ANSWER TO, I THINK YOU SAID, HIS NAME WAS KEVIN WOULD BE YES, THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE, AS FAR AS WHETHER IT WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS TO FILL.

I WOULD DOUBT IT WOULD BE SIX MONTHS PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE STANDARD.

>>Daryl: WHAT'S IT TAKING NOW TO ON BOARD SOMEONE IN THE COUNTY.

>> MOST OF THE JOBS BETWEEN 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

DEPENDING ON DRUG TESTS ON OTHER PROCEDURES THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

BACKGROUND CHECKS.

DEPENDING ON YOUR JOBS.

VARIABLES.

I CANNOT SAY SPECIFICALLY.

SOME MAY TAKE 2 OR 3 MONTHS.

SOME MUCH QUICKER.

>>Daryl: FOR THOSE DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT, ARE THERE ENOUGH JOBS ENOUGH DIVERSE JOBS ESPECIALLY ON THOSE SMALLER ISLANDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL THE ISLANDS RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD PROBABLY FIND A JOB WALKING INTO ANY RESORT, ANY AREA FARMING, I KNOW RIGHT NOW, OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY STRUGGLING TO GET ENOUGH WORKERS TO GET THEIR AGRICULTURAL.

>>Daryl: DO THOSE JOBS PAY ENOUGH TO LIVE ON MAUI.

THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

LIVABLE WAGES NOT THERE.

KEEP WORKING AT.

>> SOME OF OUR FARMERS PROVIDING HOUSING FOR THEIR WORKERS.

THAT COME TO MAUI TO WORK.

HAVING SPOKEN WITH THE FARMERS, I BELIEVE THEY'VE HAD THE OFFER THAT AS AN INCENTIVE TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM OTHER EMPLOYERS.

I THINK ANY EMPLOYER ON MAUI, MOLOKAI, OR LANAI, MOLOKAI, WANT TO ATTRACT EMPLOYERS PROVIDE THEM SORT OF HOUSING, SHORT‑TERM RENTAL, WHATEVER IT WOULD BE, I THINK THEY WOULD FIND, SHORT‑TERM.

I DON'T MEAN SHORT‑TERM VACATION.

GIVE THEM EVEN FOR PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

GIVE THEM HOUSING BEFORE THEY CAN FIND THEIR OWN HOUSING.

>> VERY ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER.

I THINK TO OUR RESIDENTS.

>>Daryl: TWO QUESTION.

ONE ANONYMOUS.

ONE BARBARA FROM KIHEI.

ASKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE.

HEALTH CARE SITUATION.

RIGHT NOW.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HEALTH CARE SITUATION PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOSPITAL CARE ON MAUI AND WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

>> DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

I KNOW BEING A PRODUCT OF HOSPITAL HAVING PATIENT THERE, THEY'VE HAD EXCELLENT CARE, NOW THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME YEARS AGO.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT HOSPITAL AGAIN, FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, HAS TO BE A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND BY DISCLOSURE, MY WIFE AT ONE TIME DID WORK FOR THE HOSPITAL BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY A NEW ENTITY.

KAISER.

BUT I THINK THE SENSE PEOPLE HAVE IS THAT WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE SERVICES BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN NEED FOR A WEST MAUI REQUEST FOR WEST MAUI AT LEAST URGENT CARE.

IF NOT A FULL‑FLEDGED HOSPITAL.

THE REASON I SAY IT THAT WAY, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE FILLING OUR MAIN HOSPITAL WITH NURSES AND DOCTORS AND STAFF.

SO BEFORE WE TAKE ON ANOTHER I THINK WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE STAFFING OF THAT.

>> BUT CERTAINLY, THINK OUR MEDICAL CARE IS VERY GOOD ON MAUI.

>>Daryl: YOUR FEELING ABOUT IT.

>> I WOULD SAY I AGREE WITH THAT.

I ALSO SAY THAT UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, WE STARTED TO BUILD AND ACTUALLY DONATE LOTS TO BOTH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION AND HALE MAUI DO BUILD FOR OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

LIKE POLICE, FIRE, TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE 80 TO 80% AND DOWN BELOW THAT OF THE AMI, AVERAGE MEDIUM INCOME.

WE DO PRETTY GOOD JOB TAKING CARE OF THEM.

WHAT WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF, WHAT I CALL MIDDLE CLASS.

THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THOSE WHO REALLY MAKE MAUI NUI MAUI NUI.

LIKE TEACHERS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ‑‑ >>Daryl: LOSING TRACK.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU'RE SAYING HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE FOCUS IS NOT AS GOOD?

TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE.

>> HEALTH CARE IS OKAY.

BUT WE ARE CRITICALLY SHORT OF DOCTORS.

ESPECIALLY.

PSYCHIATRIC.

IS REALLY SHORT ON MAUI.

DO NOT HAVE A MENTAL HEATHROW SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>>Daryl: I SEE.

>> SO ALL OF THAT IS EQUATED TO HOUSING.

IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.

NOT COMING.

>>Daryl: INTERESTING SO TRY TO THINK OF A COUPLE THINGS WHILE YOU GUYS DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER.

BIG PICTURE, YOU GUYS ARE AGREEING A LOT.

LET ME JUST, I UNDERSTAND AXIS DEER ISSUE WHICH IS INCREDIBLY CRAZY ISSUE ON YOUR GUYS COUNTY, SOMETHING IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DIFFERENT THEORIES ABOUT.

START WITH YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE AXIS DEER PROBLEM I UNDERSTAND MORE RECENT REPORTING.

YOU ACTUALLY DISCUSSED COMPLETE ERADICATION OF THAT POPULATION.

>> MISREPORTED.

THANK YOU FOR OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT.

WE WERE TALK WATERSHED IN PARTICULAR WITH THAT ISSUE.

>> IF ANYONE GOES BACK AND HERE'S WHAT I SAID, STARTING FROM JANUARY, I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR AGREES WITH THIS NOW.

AXIS DEER CAN BE A TREMENDOUS INDUSTRY.

MOBILE SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

TALKED ABOUT BUILDING PROCESSING AND MARKETING.

>> WE WANT THAT MEAT TO FIND ITS WAY TO THE RESTAURANT AND STORES.

>> ESTIMATED 56,000 HEAD MANAGEABLE HERD IS ABOUT 20,000.

WHAT I WAS PROPOSING IS HOW WE MANAGE THAT HERD IN A WATERSHEDS.

WATERSHEDS, IT'S CRITICAL.

ALSO, NEAR OUR AIRPORT, THERE ARE ERADICATION HUNT.

WHAT THEY ARE CALLED CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ISLAND AND CERTAIN TYPES OF THREATS THAT ARE MADE BY THESE.

THESE AFFECT RANCHER, AFFECT FARMERS.

AFFECT MOTORISTS.

AND SO THIS IS, VERY CRITICAL THING.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN.

THAT WE SHOULD OBVIOUSLY TURN THIS INTO AN INDUSTRY.

MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY.

ONE EXPENDITURE IS DOG FOOD.

PEOPLE HUNTERS USE DEER FOR DOG FOOD.

>> MANY USES OF THIS PROJECT.

WHAT I WAS STRESSING A LITTLE CLIP THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, IS WE CAN'T LET THEM GET TO OUR WATERSHED.

WE HAVE TO MANAGE THAT.

>>Daryl: WATERSHED, DEER END UP DESTROYING THE FOREST AND YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF RUNOFF AND SO ON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YES.

>>Daryl: MAYOR, DO YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ONE.

>> YES.

IN THE SENSE THAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS TO MAKE INDUSTRY.

>> WORK TOWARDS THAT MOBILE SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

>> ONE ON MOLOKAI.

TWO ON MAUI COUNTY.

PANDEMIC SLOWED US DOWN BUT DIDN'T STOP US.

DEER WILL CONTINUE, SEVERE DROUGHTS, HERDS DROPPING DEAD IN MOLOKAI AND ON MAUI.

WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS AREA.

WE GOT GRANTS AND WE GOT SOME AID FROM THE STATE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, MAKING FOOD OUT OF IT.

,FEEDING OUR NEEDY.

FOOD BANK.

ALL OF THESE OTHER AREAS.

MAY TAKE A BUSINESS.

THOSE WHO WANT TO TALK TO A BUSINESS, CLOSE TO DOING IT, THANK MY OPPONENT FOR RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS AND THAT I'VE CONTINUED TO PROMOTE THIS FOR MANY YEARS.

>>Daryl: I THINK THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.

THE THING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, BOTH OF YOU, IS CORRUPTION.

BIGGEST BRIBERY SCANDAL PRACTICALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE HAPPENED ON MAUI.

IT WAS BEFORE YOUR ADMINISTRATION.

ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTOR STEWART STAND WAS ADMITTED TAKING MILLION DOLLARSS DOLLARS FROM MILTON CHOY, WASTEWATER BUSINESSMAN.

IN YOUR MIND, LOOKING BACK, AGAIN, WASN'T YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WHAT DO YOU THINK ALLOWED SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN FOR SO LONG?

BEFORE SOMEONE CAUGHT IT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES PEOPLE STARTED OUT BY DOING SOMETHING LITTLE TO HELP SOMEBODY.

AND LITTLE MORE.

AND IT GETS OUT OF HAND.

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IT'S HAPPENED NOT ONLY IN MAUI, BUT HAPPENED HERE ON OAHU AND ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND ALL OVER THE NATION.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THEIR MORALS ARE AND WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING.

SOLE SOURCING CREATES THIS.

HAVE A PRODUCT THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS.

YOU SELL IT TO THE COUNTY OR THE STATE, AND EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH THERE.

BIG ISLAND HAD THEIRS WITH THE HOUSING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS MAKE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND I THINK CHECKING WHAT WE'VE DONE.

THROUGH ALL THE RECORDS TO SEE WHAT ELSE HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE.

EQUIPMENT THAT WAS SOLD THAT STILL BEING UTILIZED AND WE CAN NOW GO DIRECTLY.

CHANGED GOING FROM ANYBODY ELSE BUT DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURE.

TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO UNDER THE HAND, UNDER HANDED ACTIVITIES.

CORRUPTION IS REALLY EASILY TAKEN INTO BECAUSE SOMEBODY THINKS IT'S EASY.

SOMEBODY IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

WE HAD P‑CARDS ANOTHER ISSUE.

REALLY MONITORING OUR P‑CARDS.

I HAVE A P‑CARD THAT HAS BEEN USED THREE TIMES IN MY FOUR YEARS.

I DON'T USE IT.

BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL THAT WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

>> THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO DO THAT.

>>Daryl: JUDGE, AS JUDGE, YOU SAW HOW THE CRIMINAL MENTALITY WORKS.

I THINK MAYOR SAID IS CORRECT.

USUALLY STARTS WITH THE LITTLE THINGS.

THEN BARREL ROLLS INTO THE BIGGER THINGS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE KEY TO PREVENTING CORRUPTION IN A COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

>> PUNISHMENT.

OVERSITE.

IN THIS CASE, LACK OF OVERSIGHT.

YOU MENTIONED JUDGE.

I WAS ALSO A PROSECUTOR FOR 15 YEARS.

ONLY PERSON WHO RAN IN THIS RACE EVER HANDLED CORRUPTION MATTERS AND UNDERSTANDS HOW THOSE CASES WORK.

>> TO START WITH, PART OF IS THE HIRING PROCESS.

PART OF IS OVERSIGHT PROCESS.

AND YOU KNOW, ISSUE OF SOLE SOURCE BIDDING IS RIPE FOR THERE TO BE THAT LACK OF OVERSIGHT.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE REGULAR MONITORING.

NOT GETTING SOMEBODY A CONTRACT AND THEN JUST LETTING IT GO.

WHAT ALSO HAPPENS IN SOLE SOURCE, WHEN THEY AMEND THEIR BUDGET OR WHEN THEY DO A.

>>Daryl: CHANGE ORDER.

CHANGE ORDER.

WHEN THEY DO A CHANGE ORDER, THAT GETS THAT'S NOT EVEN COVERING THE INITIAL BID THAT WAS PUT ON THAT.

THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKES THOSE DANGEROUS.

WE KNOW THIS AND YET, IT'S ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

SO I THINK WHEN AS A JUDGE, WHAT YOU LOOK AT IS DETERRENT.

>> PUNISHMENT.

MAKING EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE YOU SEE.

THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SITTING UP RIGHT NOW WHETHER AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHETHER THEY'RE AT COUNTY GOVERNMENT, EVERYBODY IS LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY WONDERING WHAT HOW TO PREVENT THIS, THEY'RE WONDERING WHO HAVE I SPOKEN TO WHAT HAVE I SAID TO SOMEBODY BECAUSE NOW YOU DON'T KNOW WHOSE WORKING FOR THE INVESTIGATOR SIDE OF IT THIS.

PEOPLE RECORDING PEOPLE, PEOPLE GETTING INFORMATION.

A LOT OF NERVOUS PEOPLE THAT COME WHEN THESE EUTHANIZING ARE EXPOSED.

>> ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO DO AND INCREASE, IS ALL THE AUDITS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

STEADY CONSISTENT AUDIT OF EVERY DEPARTMENT EVERY OTHER YEAR OTHER 3 YEARS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

MAKE SURE NOT DOING PREVENT WRONGDOING, EFFICIENCIES ARE THERE, DOING IT FOR THE PEOPLE OF MAUI COUNTY AND DOING IT RIGHT.

>>Daryl: GET HOUSING FOR AUDITORS.

EVERYTHING IS HOUSING, RIGHT?

I AGREE WITH YOU.

PEOPLE APPLY TO BE AUDITORS.

>>Daryl: SMART KID ,FIGURE THAT OUT EARLY.

MAJOR ISSUE THAT I APPRECIATE VIEWER BROUGHT THIS IN.

HOW PLAN TO ADDRESS COASTAL EROSION ON OBVIOUSLY ON OAHU, IT'S BECOME A HUGE ISSUE.

>> I KNOW ON MAUI, YOU'RE SEEING HARDENING AROUND SOME RESORT.

SEEING EROSION THAT'S THREATENING HIGHWAYS.

LET ME TRY TO GET A LITTLE SPECIFIC.

TALKED ABOUT IT.

HAVE YOU GUYS ALREADY BUILT INTO YOUR CODES AND YOUR PERMITTING PROCESS ASSUMPTION OF SEA LEVEL RISE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL?

OR YOU KNOW, ARE PEOPLE STILL BUILDING TOO CLOSE TO THE SEASHORE?

>> WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE REALIZE COASTAL EROSION AND SEA LEVEL RISE IS REALITY.

IT'S COMING PART OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

REVAMPING PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND RULES.

COUNCIL AND I HAVE WORKED ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

MANAGED RETREAT AND LOOKING AT MAYBE EXCHANGING LANDS, SOME OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, LET'S MOVE SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES BACK.

AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH THEM.

BECAUSE MAYBE NOT NO OTHER OPTION ,HOWEVER, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ,WHAT I CALL REPLENISHMENT OF SAND DUNES LIKE THEY DID IN WAIKIKI AND OTHER PLACES.

IT DOES MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

GROINS IS ANOTHER.

NOT HARDENING THE SHORELINE BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES, IT PUSHES TIDAL ACTION OFF AND ERODES EVEN FURTHER.

OTHER PROPERTIES ABUTTING THAT.

>>Daryl: WHAT HAPPENS ON OAHU?

FOLLOW UP WITH YOU JUDGE ON THIS ALSO.

IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY BUYING HOUSES THAT ARE ALREADY THREATENED BY THE OCEAN.

WHEN THE OCEAN STARTS TO TAKE THEM, THEY'RE SCREAMING FOR HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HOMES LIKE THAT SHOULD JUST BE ALLOWED EITHER FORCED TO MOVE ON AT OWN COST, OR JUST ALLOWED TO BE ABANDON?

>> IF YOU CAN MOVE THE HOUSE, WHICH SEEN IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE HAVE SPENT MONEY MOVING IT ANOTHER LOCATION.

I WOULD BE REALLY AMENABLE TO HELPING THEM IN THAT AREA.

SOME CASES MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE.

AND EXCHANGING THAT AND MOVING THAT BACK.

LIKE SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

IS ANOTHER OPTION.

MOVING WHAT YOU HAVE TO WHERE IT IS.

A LOT THE COASTAL EROSION IN MAUI IS OUR RESORT AREAS THAT BECOMES MORE TRICKY.

YOU CAN'T MOVE A HOTEL BACK.

MAY BE ABLE TO MOVE A HOME, HOUSE, PROPERTY LIKE THAT, BUT YOU CAN'T MOVE A HOTEL.

SO THERE IS OTHER AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT.

WHAT WE CAN DO.

WHEN THEY WERE BUILT, WEREN'T THREATENED BY COASTAL EROSION.

NONE OF THIS SAW THIS COMING.

IF WE DID, WEREN'T REALLY PREPARED FOR IT.

>> >> I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN REVERSE.

GLAD THAT'S MAYOR BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE IDEAS WE PROPOSAL WHICH WAS TO DO LAND SWAPS.

WITH KAMA'AINA FAMILIES THAT HAVE COASTAL HOMES, AND SWITCH, SWAPPING WITH THEM PERHAPS.

COUNTY LANDS MAUKA.

WHEN SOMEONE BUYS A HOME THAT THEY KNOW IS HARM'S WAY, THE TERM IN THE LAW IS ASSUMPTION OF RISK.

IF YOU DECIDE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT ON YOUR OWN, CERTAIN RISK THAT YOU ACCEPT AND YOU BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, THOSE LONG‑TIME FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.

WE SHOULD OBVIOUSLY CONSIDER.

IF THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE OFFER TO SWAP THEIR LAND, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE TO DO SO.

BUT WHAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

ANY DANGER THAT POSES TO OUR ENVIRONMENT LIKE OUR OCEAN.

AND OF COURSE, OUR REEF AND SEA LIFE.

BECAUSE THERE IS INFORMATION THAT IS IMPACTED BY THIS.

WHETHER THERE'S SEWER LINES OR OR LINES, THAT I THINK IS THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY.

WHETHER OR NOT HOTEL DECIDES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO WAIT IT OUT WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO DO, THAT'S FOR THEM.

FAMILIES ,BUSINESSES, THAT ARE SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING HELPING, IF WE CAN, BUT AGAIN, WHOLE ISSUE OF MANAGED RETREAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO HAWAII.

ALL COASTAL CITIES ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK, START WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS.

IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY, PERIOD, TO DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO FOR THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE ROADS, TO AND SEWERS AND RUNOFF AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF.

IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOU TO BACK OFF THE SHORELINE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAVE OR TO DO THE KIND OF THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING EXISTING STRUCTURE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALREADY STARTED AND WITH THE COUNCIL AND I, I AGREE WITH THEM.

IS PUTTING 20% OF OURER TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATION ATTACHMENT COLLECTIONS IN A SPECIAL FUND FOR THIS MANAGED RETREAT.

JUST A STARTING POINT.

WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT FEES AND TAXES AND DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THAT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS MANAGED RETREAT.

WE REALLY FORTUNATE.

WE HAVE GOOD PARTNERS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

PUT IN $95 MILLION TO MOVE HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY, WHERE IT IS UP A HALF A MILE SO THAT WE WILL TAKE THAT OUT OF THE TIDAL ZONES.

ONE OF MANY.

NAPILI WORKING ON THAT ALSO AS A COUNTY AND WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE THE ROAD UP OR LET IT FALL INTO THE OCEAN AND PROTECT THE HOUSING THAT IS IN THERE.

MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

ENOUGH MONEY WILL, GOING TO TAKE GENERATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THIS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF WE DON'T START TODAY, IT WILL ONLY BE WORSE TOMORROW.

AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN THAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A FUTURE HERE IN MAUI COUNTY.

>> TALK ABOUT MONEY BEING SPENT, NOW WOULD BE IT'S TIME TO DO IT.

YESTERDAY, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YESTERDAY.

A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

HAPPENING.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, GAVE MONEY FOR ROADS AND HARBORS AND BRIDGES.

ALSO GAVE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, TONIGHT, WATER, SEWER, ROADS, THERE IS MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE NOW.

IT'S A ONE TIME MONEY DROP.

THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

WHATEVER WAYS.

WE NEED TO BE DOING OUR SHARE OF APPLYING THAT, RECEIVING IT AND OF COURSE APPLYING IT.

>>Daryl: QUESTION FROM ANOTHER VIEWER.

>> HOW WILL YOU MANAGE THE COUNTY BUDGET AS MANY PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT A RECESSION?

WHAT DO YOU SEE, JUDGE, AHEAD FOR THE COUNTY OF MAUI, VARIOUS REVENUE STREAMS?

>> OUR BUDGET INCREASED BY OVER $400 MILLION IN JUST FOUR YEARS.

AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THIS NOW, THEY'RE WONDERING HOW IS WHO GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.

>>Daryl: HOW BIG A PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS THAT.

>> WAS 800 MILLION.

50% INCREASE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WENT FROM 800 MILLION TO 1.2.

1.17.

SO FOR THE PUBLIC, THEIR CONCERN IS GOING TO BE ARE WE MORTGAGING OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN FUTURE LATER BY STICKING THEM WITH THE BILL.

NOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NEEDED.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS, TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE, TAKE CARE OF OUR AINA TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

BUT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT THE FUTURE, IS GOING TO BE GOING TO SEND IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>>Daryl: TO YOU FEEL LIKE MAUI COUNTY RESIDENT ARE OVERTAXED BY THE COUNTY?

>> I THINK OUR TAX RATES ARE COMPETITIVE.

WITH THE REST OF THE STATE.

FACT OF MATTER, TAX RATES ARE THE LOWEST IN THE STATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

OWNER OCCUPANT, RESIDENT OF THEIR PROPERTY AND THEIR FIRST RENTAL.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT.

WE ALSO GAVE A $200,000 DEDUCTION OFF THE TOP FOR ANY RESIDENTS THAT LIVES ON MAUI THAT FILES TAXES THAT WORKS ON MAUI.

SO WE HAVE THAT ALREADY.

WE TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THERE MAY BE CHANGES COMING DOWN THE LINE.

BUT A LOT OF IT, COUNCIL HAS BEEN TAKING FROM OUR BIGGEST HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

52% OF ALL OF OUR REVENUE COMES BACK FROM THAT POT ONLY.

THEN WE HAVE THE T.A.T.

WHICH NOW IS GOING TO BRING IN ANOTHER 60 PLUS MILLION.

INSTEAD OF THE 23 MILLION WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE.

OTHER POTS OF MONEY.

AND OF COURSE, MY COLLEAGUE THERE HAS A SAID THAT FEDERAL ONE TIME DROP, THAT'S A LOT OF THIS MONEY.

I AGREE, THIS IS WHAT I KNOW WE HAVE TO DO.

THAT'S WHY THE $1 BILLION.

IT WENT FROM $800,000 TO $1.1 BILLION.

THAT'S 300 MILLION.

NOT 400.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO MATH.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

REALLY, IDEA RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE TO NOT BE KICK CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION NOW.

>>Daryl: SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT VARIOUS SPECIFIC ROADS.

AND TRAILS AND SO ON.

OVERALL, WHAT IS THE SITUATION, MAYOR, WITH YOUR CAPACITY OF YOUR ROADS AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR ROADS, ON MAUI?

I MEAN, I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MORE FATALITIES AND SO ON.

GETTING MORE DANGEROUS.

IS THAT A BIG HE SHALL FOR YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING MORE FATALITIES.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT MORE IMPAIRED DRIVING, AND SPEEDING.

OUR POLICE FORCE, JUST MET WITH THE CHIEF THIS MORNING.

AND WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

AND HE TRIED TO PUT CHECK POINTS OTHER MITIGATING AREAS.

INCREASED OUR CHALLENGE IN MAKING SURE WE CATCH THESE PEOPLE BEFORE THEY HURT SOMEBODY.

BUT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, WE ARE SHORT 100 OFFICERS.

WE ARE WORKING HARD.

RETENTION BONUSES AND OTHER AREAS THAT WE CAN INCREASE OUR FORCE.

RETAIN WHAT WE HAVE AND NOT LOSE THEM TO OTHER COUNTIES OR OTHER STATES.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER BIG AREA.

THE OTHER AREA THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD ON IS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR ROADS BY MAKING IT MUCH SAFER.

REDUCING LIKE ON PIILANI HIGHWAY, REDUCED SPEED LIMIT FROM 45 TO 35 ALONG PI'OLANI.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR.

SO WHAT IT IS WHEN PUT THIS LITTLE SPEED TRAPS AND SIT THERE AND GIVE 10, 12, TICKETS, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS MANY TICKETS GO UNCOLLECTED, THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE HANDLE IS NOT THE COUNTY.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENFORCE WHAT WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS.

AND WE ARE REALLY WORKING HARD WITH OUR RECRUITMENT PROGRAM.

THAT WE CAN.

RECRUIT.

GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JOB HOUSING, AGAIN, GO BACK TO HOUSING FOR ALL OF THIS.

IF WE DON'T BUILD IT, THEY WON'T STAY.

ROADS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MOST IMPACTED, FOR THAT QUESTION, I CAN TELL YOU, HANA HIGHWAY.

BETWEEN KAHULUI AND HANA TOWN.

THAT ROAD IS OVER USED AND STRESSED.

THAT IS THE ROAD THAT WE NEED TO CONTROL.

WE NEED TO CONTROL THAT BY HAVING SET TIMES THAT VISITORS CAN GO ON THIS ROAD AND SET TIMES FOR RESIDENT ONLY.

PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND GO WORK.

2‑HOUR DRIVE.

PEOPLE HAVE TO GO.

THAT'S ONE WAY.

MAKING IT WORSE.

BY HAVING IT CLOGGED BY FOCUS WHO ARE ON VACATION.

WANT TO TAKE PICTURES.

ALL THE BRIDGES.

EVERY SINGLE ONE THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH.

PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK.

BETTER MANAGE THAT BY TIMES, WE OFFER TIMES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO IN AND COME OUT.

ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER PUTTING TOOL BOOTHS ON THAT ROAD.

>> ISSUES THAT COME UP WITH THAT, NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

IF THE STATE TOOK OVER THAT ROAD, TOOL BOOTHS COULD GO BACK ON THAT, COULD GO ON THE ROADS.

>> WE COULD ALSO CONSIDER MANAGING THE WAY TOURISTS GO AND VIEW HANA.

>>Daryl: QUICK ANSWER FROM YOU ON WHAT MEMBER WAS SAYING.

ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE HIGHWAY.

POLICE, DUI, TRAFFIC FATALITIES.

JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

I KNOW STATE, POLICE AND PROSECUTORS PUT IN A REMOTE OR VEHICLE COLLISION AND HOMICIDE GROUP.

POLICE ALREADY HAVE THEM.

PROSECUTORS DEDICATED.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GRANT POSITION.

THAT THEY CREATED.

IS I KNOW THAT WAS DESIGNED TO TRY TO ADDRESS, WHEN IT COMES BACK TO PREVENTION, MOST OF THAT IS AWARENESS.

AND EDUCATION.

PEOPLE ON SIDE OF THE ROAD TELLING PEOPLE SLOW DOWN.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED BY THAT OBVIOUSLY VERY, IT'S VISCERAL AND THEY KNOW THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

SOMEBODY.

>> SO THAT IS HOW THEY DO IT.

EDUCATION AWARENESS AND OF COURSE ENFORCEMENT.

NOT JUST WITH POLICE, LIQUOR COMMERCIALS CAN GO TO THE BARS WHERE PEOPLE COME OUT OF AND ENFORCE THOSE LAWS THERE.

>> >>Daryl: 2 MINUTE WARNING.

I WANT TO DO,.

>> OKAY.

>>Daryl: REALLY QUICKLY.

15 SECONDS.

>> 15 SECONDS.

HANA HIGHWAY IS NOT THE MOST DEADLIEST HIGHWAY.

HALEAKALA IS THE ONE OF THE WORST ONES.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH TRAFFIC.

IT'S THE SPEED THAT GOES THERE.

BECAUSE OF THE FOUR LANES.

>>Daryl: OKAY.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, YOU GUYS HAVE GOT A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.

TELL ME EACH OF YOU HOW YOU WOULD BE DIFFERENT MARATHON THE OTHER ONE.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.

FIRST.

IN ABOUT A MINUTE.

>> FOR ME, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE COME THROUGH MY COURTROOM, SEEN THE WAY I HANDLE MY COURTROOM WITH RESPECT WITH FAIRNESS, WITH JUDGMENT, USED.

I WILL RUN THE COUNTY MAUI THE EXACT SAME WAY.

WE ALSO STARTED COLLECTIVE KULEANA GROUPS.

>> ONLY CANDIDATE GONE TO EVERY COMMUNITY SINCE THE PRIMARY AND EVEN NOW IN THE GENERAL.

STILL GOING THERE.

GETTING IDEAS AND VIEWS FROM THE ACTUAL RESIDENT.

SO IT'S A COLLABORATIVE FORM OF TRYING TO BRING ALL THE THESE IDEAS FROM OUR CITIZENS TO OUR COUNTY.

>>Daryl: GIVE YOU, MAYOR.

>> SAME THING.

WORKING WITH RESPECT AND COLLABORATION.

GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH GENERAL PUBLIC AND OTHER AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, STATE, FEDERAL.

PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD.

BY REPUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WORKED WELL.

STARTING TO PAY OFF.

AS MAYOR, I WOULD BE HONORED TO DO WORST TIME OF OUR LIFETIME, WORK THROUGH THAT MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL IN A BETTER PLACE.

NEXT FOUR YEARS WE CAN MAKE ALL THE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE COVID BEHIND OF US.

NOT GONE BUT BEHIND OF US.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH RESPECT AND LOVE AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.

I'VE GIVEN 45 YEARS OF MY LIFE.

NEVER GAVE UP PEOPLE OF MAUI COUNTY.

>>Daryl: I WANT TO THANK BOTH GUESTS TODAY.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, MAUI MAYOR CANDIDATES RICHARD BISSEN AND MIKE VICTORINO.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, WE FEATURE CANDIDATES FOR AT‑LARGE TRUSTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, ALOHA!