Key Discussions at Lānaʻi Community Town Hall with Councilmember Gabe Johnson

On Friday, August 23rd, at 5:00 p.m., a very small group of Lānaʻi residents gathered at the Lānaʻi Senior Center to discuss a range of community issues, including the future of the former First Hawaiian Bank building, affordable housing developments, and other local projects. Hosted by Councilmember Gabe Johnson, the meeting was meant to provide a platform for residents to share their views and stay informed about ongoing and upcoming initiatives.

 For more information or to share your input, you can contact CM Johnson at gabe.johnson@mauicounty.us, (808) 565-7094 or (808) 866-4489. You can also visit the Lāna‘i District office located at 814 Fraser Avenue across from the Catholic Church.

Future Use of Former First Hawaiian Bank Building

First Hawaiian Bank closed its Lānaʻi branch on June 28, 2024, and indicated that they would be donating the building and land to Maui County. FHB President Bob Harrison stated that the donation is intended to benefit the community. Mayor Richard Bissen suggested the building could house Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) staff on Lānaʻi, despite not consulting the Lānaʻi community beforehand. The Bissen administration has also not responded to questions from Lānaʻi Today sent in July regarding this planned statement for the property.

“The Mayor, his first suggestion was, ‘Let’s use it for MEMA,’” CM Johnson said. “I said, ‘Well, okay, but think bigger. What else?’ It could have that and something else.”

CM Johnson encouraged the community to propose ideas for the building instead of passively accepting decisions imposed by the County. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” he said, urging residents to actively participate in the process rather than waiting to be told how the building will be used.

During discussions, it was noted that the building's use is limited due to conditions set by First Hawaiian Bank, meaning it cannot be used for any for-profit activities that might compete with financial institutions. This restriction would prevent entities like the Lānaʻi Federal Credit Union and Bank of Hawaiʻi’s Lānaʻi branch from relocating there. “It’s not a free-for-all,” Chelsea Trevino pointed out, emphasizing that any plans must align with county guidelines and the building's legal restrictions.

One suggestion from the community was to transform the building into a financial literacy center. “What if it were turned into a spot that taught financial literacy? We teach people that come in about everything, from credit card handling to checkbook making to how loans work, how to fix your credit score, how to establish all that stuff,” a community member proposed.

CM Johnson supported the idea, stating, “I would love that as long as there’s no caveats that’s too close to a competitor. Because that was the thing that they’d said. You can’t have any bank take it over.” He also clarified, referencing feedback from a social media post, that the building could not be repurposed into a bar, despite some community members suggesting it, possibly in jest. He emphasized, “It has to be county or community-based … I know some people were saying they want a bar, so please, let’s not do that.”

While only one specific suggestion was made during the meeting, the decision on the use of the former FHB building remains open for further input. CM Johnson emphasized that the final decision should involve careful consideration of the needs and desires of Lānaʻi residents, as well as the practicalities of managing and operating the space.

Affordable Housing Project Secures Federal Funding

Federal support for Lānaʻi's affordable housing project is moving forward, with $5 million in congressional spending earmarked for the development. A commitment has been made to secure these funds, providing a boost for the project, which has long been in the works.

“This funding is a critical step,” said CM Johnson. “Now, all of a sudden, Jill Tokuda from the feds is coming down and committing to actual monies for this project.”

Phase one of the project will focus on providing housing for kūpuna, featuring a rent-to-own model designed for individuals earning 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or below. For Lānaʻi, that translates to approximately $64,000 annually for a single person. Residents will rent for 15 years before transitioning to ownership, significantly reducing their mortgage obligations.

“It’s 80% AMI and below. So, the 80% AMI below for Lānaʻi for sale is $64,000 for one person,” CM Johnson said. “If you’re making less than $64,000, it’s just you, you would qualify for that.”

The development is led by Ikaika ‘Ohana, a nonprofit affordable housing developer known for similar projects on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Phase two of the project will expand to include full buy-out options, addressing the broader housing needs of the community.

Kate Griffiths, CM Johnson’s legislative analyst, mentioned that the project is gaining momentum. “Money’s coming. Nothing is solidified yet, but everyone seems to be on board,” she said.

Following Federal approval, the project will aim to secure matching funds from the State via the Hawai‘i Housing Finance & Development Corporation in February next year. CM Johnson is confident that the project will score high in the State’s evaluation process due to the combination of Federal backing and government-owned land.

“We’ll have the Fed’s money. We’re going to get the state’s money, and then it’ll come to me for the county, and I’ll fight my darnest to get the County money,” CM Johnson said.

Phase one is set to begin as soon as funding is finalized, with a strong emphasis on prioritizing Lānaʻi residents for these new homes.

“We want to give preference to people who live here the longest,” CM Johnson said. “This is about taking care of our people. We’re going to make sure these homes go to the residents who have been here the longest and need them the most.”

As the project progresses, further updates will be provided on the finalization of Federal and State funding, as well as the timeline for breaking ground on phase one.

Lānaʻi Skate Park and New Youth Center Construction

After years of delays, the Lānaʻi Skate Park has finally broken ground, marking progress for the community. The long-awaited project, located on Fifth Street, had faced numerous challenges but is now moving forward.

“I’m so excited for that,” said CM Johnson. “That was a long time coming. It almost died three times. They didn’t want to build it, and I had to fight them, fight them, fight them.”

The skate park, designed by the same team responsible for the U.S. Olympic skate park, promises to be a high-quality facility for Lānaʻi’s youth. “Now that skateboarding is in the Olympics, it’s going to be a really high-quality thing for our kids,” CM Johnson said.

In addition to the skate park, the new Youth Center is nearing completion. However, the project has experienced some delays due to supply chain issues, particularly with the arrival of a large transformer and the connection to the power grid by Hawaiian Electric.

Once completed, the Youth Center will feature a music room and other amenities aimed at providing a supportive environment for the island’s youth.

Future Use of Soon-to-be Vacated Youth Center

As Lānaʻi’s new Youth Center nears completion, discussions have begun regarding the future use of the old Youth Center and the recently vacated First Hawaiian Bank building. Both properties, owned or soon to be owned by the county, are open for community input on potential uses.

“My suggestion was … I really would like MEO to take it over because they service all the community from all ages,” CM Johnson said. “But it’s up to the community, and we’ve got to work with [Maui County’s] Parks and [Recreation Department] to see who would be willing to take on that lease.”

The old Youth Center, still under County ownership, offers various repurposing possibilities. CM Johnson emphasized the importance of community input in determining its future use. “That was my suggestion,” he said, “but if you guys have suggestions, I want to hear them.”

MaryLou Kaukeano suggested using the space to house visiting sports teams, saying, “We can’t hold a little league tournament here because we have nowhere to put anybody,” and noted that the center could serve as a dormitory during events.

Isaac Belez proposed repurposing the Youth Center as a fitness space, stressing the need for more outlets for physical activity. He highlighted the importance of providing exercise opportunities, particularly for the youth, to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce screen time.

Lānaʻi-Grown Food Stimulus Program Set to Launch

Lānaʻi residents can look forward to the upcoming Lānaʻi-Grown Food Stimulus Program, which aims to support local farmers while providing fresh produce to the community. The program, funded by a $70,000 budget allocation, is limited to serving a farmers market held on County property, currently they are exploring the County Park next to the Fire Station.

“It’s going to be so great because the first hour of the farmer’s market, we’re going to do a scrip program where kūpuna come the first hour to get $50 in scrip to spend on food grown here by our farmers,” said CM Johnson. “We’re going to have the kūpuna come through, and then people with children who are zero to five years old.”

The program will focus on locally grown produce, with a particular emphasis on supporting Lānaʻi’s agricultural community. “It’s got to be like fresh produce, the background produce, locally sourced meats, stuff that’s going to support our local farmer’s interests,” CM Johnson said.

The market will also feature a new position — a farmers market manager — funded by a grant, aimed at ensuring the smooth operation of the market. “If folks are interested in it, you can look that up,” CM Johnson mentioned, referring to the job opportunity.

Scheduling the market has been a challenge, as the team tries to find a time that works for both the vendors and the community. “It’s tricky because Parks and Rec is going to be playing a part in this, because it’s at the park. They want to make sure that it’s cleaned up afterwards,” CM Johnson said. He added that Sundays might be the best option. “Maybe we’re thinking Sunday, 10 a.m.-ish, 9 a.m.-ish. When people are getting out of church, they can come in their Sunday dresses and buy some good healthy produce.”

The goal is to make healthy, locally grown food more accessible while making sure that the money circulates within the community, directly benefiting local farmers and producers. Residents will need to show their Lānaʻi ID to participate in the scrip program.

The Lānaʻi-Grown Food Stimulus Program is expected to begin soon, with details on the market schedule and additional updates to be announced.

Budget Allocations for Lānaʻi Projects and Services

The recent budget allocations for Lānaʻi include investments in various community projects and services, with a focus on addressing critical needs and supporting ongoing initiatives.

CM Johnson emphasized the importance of maintaining funding for social programs, particularly given the difficulty in securing resources after the Lahaina fires. “I fought hard so that we wouldn’t cut our social programs,” CM Johnson said. “I put in $250,000 for early childhood programs, $250,000 for food security, $250,000 for mental health, $250,000 for kūpuna, $250,000 for youth programs, and $250,000 for substance abuse programs.”

In addition to social programs, the budget includes $400,000 for immigration and migrant services. “That’s really important to help them get their services,” CM Johnson mentioned, recognizing the unique needs of these populations.

The budget also addresses environmental concerns, with $285,000 allocated for feral animal control on Lānaʻi, including funding for the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary. “They lobbied hard for that, and they got it,” CM Johnson said.

Other allocations include $55,000 for an ISA-certified arborist for the Planning Department to ensure proper tree management. CM Johnson noted, “We don’t have an arborist. Or we have one, I think. We have one. We wanted to make the county have more … Take a look at the trees.”

The budget further includes $2 million for housing policy implementation, specifically to support Ordinances 533.15 and 54.41, which aim to give preference to long-term residents in affordable housing developments. “We want to give preference to people who live here the longest,” CM Johnson said.

Finally, the budget includes $1.5 million for Human Concerns programs, which were at risk of being cut.

Expeditions Ferry Feasibility Study Underway

The County of Maui is currently conducting a feasibility study on the potential purchase of the Expeditions Ferry, which has been up for sale. The study is intended to explore whether the county should take over the operation of the ferry service, which is vital for transportation between Lānaʻi and Maui.

“If we’re going to purchase the ferry, if the county’s going to purchase the ferry, let’s get all the questions answered,” said CM Johnson. The feasibility study is expected to be completed by February of next year, with the budget process beginning in April.

The idea of county ownership has garnered interest from various levels of government. “Jill Tokuda [...], our Federal rep, when I saw her at the August 8th Fire Memorials, she came up to me, she goes, ‘When’s the county going to buy that ferry?’” CM Johnson said.

There are potential benefits to county ownership, including federal funding for upgrades and improvements. “The Feds can kick in some money to subsidize electrifying your fleet, buying new boats if you do new runs like Molokaʻi,” CM Johnson mentioned. “Then also improving your harbors — Lāhainā Harbor, Mānele Harbor, [Molokaʻi’s] Kaunakakai [Harbor] — all the small boat harbors can get improved if the county owns the ferry.”

The county says the study will address all necessary considerations before any decision is made, with community input playing a crucial role. “I hope you guys went to the feasibility study meetings because it’s a great turnout and a lot of good information was shared,” CM Johnson said.

Mokulele EAS Contract Retained Despite Opposition

The Essential Air Service (EAS) contract for Lānaʻi was awarded to Mokulele Airlines, despite efforts to bring in a different carrier to provide subsidized flights to the island. CM Johnson, who lobbied for Pacific Air Charter to receive the EAS subsidy, expressed his disappointment with the outcome.

“This one was a hard loss for me,” CM Johnson said. “I tried to get someone else besides Mokulele a subsidy to subsidize the flights for Lānaʻi because our airport qualifies for Federal subsidies, the EAS.”

CM Johnson actively supported Pacific Air Charter’s bid for the EAS contract, even traveling to Washington, D.C., to lobby on their behalf. “I flew to D.C. to lobby. I fought hard for that, and it didn’t happen,” he said. However, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful due in part to separate letters of support for Mokulele from Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and State Senator Lynn DeCoite. “What I did was I wrote a letter to the feds and said, ‘Yes, please support Pacific Air Charter.’ Those guys applied, but then Mayor Bissen wrote a letter and said, ‘No, he supports Mokulele.’ And then Lynn DeCoite wrote, ‘No, we support Mokulele.’ So, it was like a two-to-one, and Mokulele got the subsidy,” CM Johnson explained.

Despite this setback, CM Johnson indicated that he would continue to advocate for alternative options in the future. “After two years, if they put it out to bid again, the feds put it out, the Department of Transportation puts it out, I’ll go again and I’ll lobby them. I’ll try to get them to give the money to somebody who’s not Mokulele or somebody who has a better track record.”

The EAS contract, which provides Federal subsidies to maintain air service to smaller communities, is crucial for Lānaʻi’s connectivity. CM Johnson’s efforts to bring in a new carrier reflect ongoing concerns about the current level of service and the desire for better options for the island’s residents.

Cemetery Expansion Proposal on the Table

Lānaʻi’s cemetery is nearing capacity, prompting discussions about expanding the burial grounds to accommodate future needs. Pūlama Lānaʻi has asked if the County would be interested in taking over operations of the island’s cemetery, future and present.  The site of the proposed future cemetery is on land near the existing cemetery.

“Our cemetery is full. It’s getting full,” said CM Johnson. “They’re willing to donate a parcel of land next to the cemetery.”

The proposed expansion site is located near the existing cemetery. CM Johnson is in discussions with the mayor’s office to explore how the county could manage the new cemetery land. “The county would manage it, would own it, would do everything for it. I support that,” CM Johnson said.

However, the process of transferring ownership and establishing a county-managed cemetery presents challenges. “The mayor, he was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is a lot.’ Because how do you … It’s got to … How does the county do this? Do we do this? Are there examples of doing this? How does this all work?” CM Johnson said, “But taking care of our community when you pass away, it should be something the county could do,” he said.

The proposal is still in the early stages, and CM Johnson plans to conduct further research and discussions with the mayor’s office to determine the feasibility of the project. “The offer was on the table. I want to get the mayor on board,” he said. “I’ve got to have some meetings with him to see if we will.”

Four-Way Stop Sign on Sixth Street and Lānaʻi Avenue

“We’ve been trying to do things around town to make our town safer for pedestrians, our town safer for traffic,” CM Johnson said. He pointed out that the intersection at Sixth Street and Lānaʻi Avenue had seen a tragic accident a few years ago, which resulted in the death of a beloved community member. “We want to keep our community safe,” CM Johnson mentioned.

However, opinions on the four-way stop sign are divided. DeeDee Villaro expressed her opposition to the stop sign, arguing that other measures, such as a flashing light, might be more effective. “Instead of you putting a flashing light … I mean, a flashing a crosswalk … I mean, what do you call it? A four-way stop sign. Put a flashing light,” she said.

Alan Calhoun said, "I don't think the stop sign is that appropriate over there. The reason why is because there are no other stop signs on Lānaʻi Avenue for that whole stretch. To have one in the middle is going to be ... For people who are not used to it. For residents, they'll get used to it fairly quickly. But anybody who's not used to it is not going to see that stop sign. I'll guarantee that."

The conversation also extended to the possibility of installing speed tables on Lānaʻi Avenue, an idea that was met with mixed reactions. “Are you guys ready for speed tables on Lānaʻi Avenue?” CM Johnson asked the group, acknowledging the potential impact on traffic flow.

Hurricane Shelter Construction Proposal

During a recent visit by military representatives to Lānaʻi, CM Johnson proposed the construction of a Category 5 hurricane shelter, utilizing the military's expertise in building robust structures. “I asked them, I said, ‘Could you guys build us a Category 5 hurricane shelter?’” CM Johnson said. The military responded positively, indicating that such a project aligns with their capabilities. “They said, ‘Well, Category 5 is basically like a bunker.’ They’re like, ‘That’s what we’re good at. We’re the military. We build bunkers. We build these heavy concrete big structures.’”

The proposed location for the shelter is on a parcel of Public/Quasi-Public zoned land identified in Phase 1 of the County’s affordable housing project. By placing the shelter here, the military would not only build the shelter but also install essential infrastructure, such as water, sewer and electrical systems, that would serve both the shelter and the housing project. “That means they gotta build the infrastructure. They’ll do all that. Then we bring in the developer who builds the affordable housing project, and they don’t have to do that cost. So, that translates to cheaper affordable housing for us,” CM Johnson explained.

While the proposal has garnered support, it still requires navigating various bureaucratic hurdles, including obtaining approval from the mayor. “It’s a little tricky, because I gotta go get the mayor’s permission and all these spinning plates,” CM Johnson noted.