Attendees ponder draft of the Maui Island Plan, currently under review by the GPAC. “What do we want to preserve?”Maui County Long Range Planner David Michaelson opened the May 20 meeting of the Kihei Community Association (KCA) with a quote from noted cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world.”
That was the theme of the meeting as attendees pondered a draft of the Maui Island Plan, which seeks to provide a guide for the growth of our island through the year 2030. The plan is currently under review by the 25-member Maui General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). Kihei GPAC members Susan Moikeha, Stan Franco and Joe Bertram were on hand seeking input from members of the community. Upcountry GPAC member Warren Shibuya was also in attendance.
The Maui Island Plan is part of the Maui Countywide Policy Plan, which also addresses growth issues on Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. Detailed community plans will reflect the unique characteristics of Makawao-Kula-Pukalani, Pa‘ia-Ha‘iku, Wailuku-Kahului, Hana, West Maui and Kihei-Makena. Two volumes of the document, the first of which details background with the second addressing recommendations and policies, may be accessed by visiting www.co.maui.hi.us/departments/Planning/gp2030.
Michaelson gave an overview of the methodology used to develop the plan and its purpose. One thing we can all count on, he pointed out, is continued population growth. In 1960, just 35,717 people called the island of Maui home. By 2005, that number had risen to 129,471. Based on this trend, the plan estimates the population of the island to be more than 186,000 by 2030. In addition, part-time residents and substantial numbers of tourists strain our infrastructure.
The plan addresses a range of issues, including transportation, water, agricultural activities, development, preservation of cultural and environmental resources, and the “character” of our communities.
A new approach the GPAC is proposing establishes a series of “urban growth boundaries” to restrict further growth into rural and agricultural areas and increase growth in existing urban areas. “We try to forecast the population growth and determine how much land is required based on population density,” said Michaelson. Maps of Maui and Kihei-Makena were on display showing the growth plans and proposed boundaries.
On July 17, at 5 p.m., and July 19, at noon, the GPAC will hold public meetings at the Kihei Community Center. The July 19 meeting will be preceded by a public workshop at 10 a.m. The GPAC hopes to present their recommendations to the county in October.
All of the presenters encouraged residents to get involved. “This process is important,” said Moikeha. She reminded those in attendance that while the focus of the meeting was on South Kihei, “this is an islandwide issue.” “We have to understand history,” she said, “and understand the Hawaiian system of ahupua‘a—that what happens at the top of the mountain affects what happens at the ocean.” Everyone’s quality of life is at stake, she said. “Read the plan. Do your homework and come to these meetings prepared.”
Lifelong Maui resident Franco discussed the changes he has seen on Maui. “I joined GPAC to try to help the island grow to benefit us and future generations,” he said. “We want to leave it so our kids and grandchildren can enjoy what I enjoyed when I grew up.” He posed the question, “Do we want to continue that growth, based on the past, or do we want to slow it down? If more than 10,000 people move here [to Kihei-Makena] between 2008 and 2030, how will that affect transportation and our infrastructure? What will the social impact be? Is this urban sprawl?” He also encouraged residents to participate in the process. “There is a lot to be thought through,” he said. “Tell us what we need to know.”
“We have to start with nature,” said Bertram. “We have to look to create a green infrastructure with our wild and natural areas in mind. Then we have to ask, how will people get around?” One possibility, he said, could be a rail system.
Following the presentations, attendees broke up into roundtable groups as GPAC members circulated, and then presented their ideas, concerns and issues. Group spokespersons Laura Marzke, Maury King, Bob Pickering and Tom Croly shared their groups’ thoughts and priorities. Among them: developing a pedestrian walkway on South Kihei Road, building a rail system along existing highways, developing community gardens, building roundabouts at intersections, developing bikeways and utilizing low water landscaping. Additional feedback addressed limiting gated communities, strictly monitoring water usage, developing solar and other sources of renewable energy, protecting the coastline and marine life, and preserving our scenic views.
“Our group thought that instead of focusing on managing growth, we should start with, ‘What do we want to preserve?’” said Croly. “In what little planning they did in Kihei 30 years ago, they were able to preserve our shoreline and parks. Thirty years from now, we want people to look back and feel as though we did our job.”
The public is invited to attend the next KCA meeting, which will be held on June 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center on Lipoa Street. The topic will be Public Works.