West Maui Taxpayers Association S

THE VOICE Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association –DECEMBER 2015 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE by Rick Nava Membership & Treasurer’s Report: A CALL TO ACTION! By Joe Pluta, Treasurer/President Emeritus, WMTA Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauoli Makahiki Hou! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!) It’s been said that the WMTA has literally achieved successes in areas thought to be beyond their As I write this report it is Mid December of 2015 with everywhere on Maui starting to be reach and abilities. We agree as can be seen in our Napili Fire and Ambulance Station and the decorated for the celebration of the Christmas and New Years’ Holidays. As beautiful as Approvals from the State Health Planning and Development Agency for approval of the application Maui is, it’s even more beautiful with all these colorful decorations these celebrations bring to for a Certificate of Need for the West Maui Hospital. Your past and continued financial support of the mind. WMTA may be the most effective investment anyone has or could make for a better West Maui. We are preparing for our WMTA Annual Meeting scheduled for January 14, 2016 at the Lahaina Civic Center. We who have been involved with the WMTA for the past 36 years would agree with this assessment. Last year’s annual meeting was attended by over 200 community members who have come to hear the many The facts are the facts and the economic realities have and will continue to pay dividends to all who interesting presentations from our local governmental representatives at the State and County levels as well as have contributed to the WMTA. updates on the West Maui Hospital, the Lahaina By Pass, Affordable Housing at Kahoma Village and WMTA is solely funded by individual membership dues and contributions and as such is unique in the informational tables manned by representatives to inform us all about other important issues impacting our West non-profit community. Members know the value and benefits and we need our members to be our Maui community. WMTA ambassadors for membership growth. WMTA has adopted a role far beyond that of most tax payer organizations. We do represent West Maui on Please go to the http://www.westmaui.org web site and share that link with your friends who you taxation issues, but we focus more on ensuring a fair portion of the tax revenues generated in West Maui are know who have an interest in West Maui. invested in infrastructure improvements in West Maui. We also look for opportunities and more ways to improve and enhance West Maui. The support for affordable housing will be an area of emphasis this year as Your friends and neighbors who have an investment in real property in West Maui have literally saved well as additional dwelling units at Ka Hale Na Ke Ola Homeless Resources Center, ongoing improvements to thousands of dollars on fire insurance premiums alone since we paid for the development of the roadways, transportation, sanitation/recycling and the Lahaina Skate Park issues. Napili Fire and Ambulance Station. WMTA is dedicated to serving the community as can be seen by the restatement of our goals and objectives in This year we are aiming at expanding our membership to meet the new challenges facing our this newsletter. All property Owners or those involved in real estate in West Maui can deduct membership community and we need your help fueled by new memberships and the additional financial means to dues/contributions to WMTA as a business expense. It is the most effective investment you can make in a better reinstate a full time executive director. West Maui. The WMTA is dedicated to aim at the Quality of Life in West Maui on a broad range of issues. See We look forward to being of service to you in 2016 and invite your participation at the WMTA Annual Meeting our goals and objectives. Let us know how you can help us help you! Walt Disney said “All our on January 14, 2016. dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Mahalo and Aloha, If you are associated with Real Estate in any way in West Maui, your dues and contributions can be a legitimate tax deduction to preserve property values in West Maui. Please encourage your neighbors Rick Nava and friends to support the WMTA today and get the tax benefit accordingly. Thank you!

2 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org VOTE 2014

WMTA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

HEALTH AND SAFETY

1) Promote the developmentSave and construction the of aDate critical access medical facility in West Maui with associated facilities. Annual Meeting - January 14th 2015 2) Support emergency preparedness programs for West Maui. 3) Support budget requests forsee www.WestMaui.orgMEO projects and for more improved details police and fire fighting facilities in West Maui EDUCATION 1) Lobby for funding for the Lahaina Complex After School Tutoring Program.

TRAFFIC AND ROADWAYS

3 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org 1) Promote the completion of the Lahaina Bypass and other traffic mitigation projects in West Maui. Support design and construction of alternative roadways to reduce traffic on Honoapiilani Highway (ie Kahua Street). 2) Pursue completion of the upgrades and paving of lower Honoapiilani Road from Kahana to Napili 3) Promote improvements to Honoapiilani Highway from the Pali to Lahaina Town to protect the single access in and out of West Maui. 4) Spur County to complete Shaw Street sidewalk from Front Street to Honoapiilani Highway as promised. 5) Promote implementation of the Maui County Complete Streets Ordinance on all West Maui projects, especially pedestrian safety improvements at the Front Street/Fleming Road and Honoapiilani Highway intersection. 6) Support expansion and improvement of County public transit service in West Maui. 7) Support moving the southern terminus of the Lahaina Bypass to Cut Mountain.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

1) Continue to support well planned housing projects in West Maui that include both affordable and work force elements. (ie: Wainee Village, Kaanapali 2020, Kohoma Stream infill, Villages at Leiallii, Puukolii Village Mauka, Pulelehua, 'Kahoma Village, etc.)

2) Support the expansion of the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center to address the homeless encampment problems in West Maui.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

1) Press for improvements to the pump station at Honoapiilani Highway and Ka’anapali Parkway to address the sewer odor problem. 2) Pursue funding for improvements to the Honokowai sewage treatment plant, including completion of the ultraviolet canal, to provide treatment, storage and distribution systems to reuse treated waste water instead of using injection wells, and to address odor problems. 3) Support the operation/preservation of the new West Maui skate park. 4) Support development of an off-highway bicycle greenway for West Maui. 5) Urge the County to aggressively develop under-utilized water resources to ensure adequate supply for current and future needs 6) Support purchase of land at Makila for the development of a new county shoreline park from

Launiupoko to Cut Mountain 7) Urge completion and promotion of a shoreline walkway from 505 Front Street to Honokowai. 8) Support SB 750 and HB 139 “Relating to the Issuance of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds To Assist Anaergia Inc.” 9) Support the extension of the Kapalua Coastal Trail north to Honolua Bay

VOTER/TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION

1) Represent taxpayers in the budgeting process, with an emphasis on right-sizing government and greater efficiency in government programs. 2) Support effort to reform the permitting process and change the Planning Department focus more to customer service with fewer bureaucratic hurdles and a less expensive permitting process. 4 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org 3) Promote business friendly regulatory and tax policies for enhanced job creation, especially in the hospitality industry. 4) Support fairness and certainty in real property taxation. 5) Support the effort to bring fairness and true voter representation to the Maui County election process for Council seats. 6) Promote communication between West Maui taxpayers and their government with the Annual WMTA meetings, the WMTA Candidates Night (the only such forum on the West side), and aggressive get-out-the-vote efforts. 7) Build awareness of West Maui harbor needs and support harbor area revitalization.

CULTURAL PROTECTION

1) Preserve and promote Hawaiian cultural efforts, such as: a. Support the efforts of the Royal Hawaiian Guard and its efforts with Na Kia'i O Wainee to Honor the monarchs at Wai Ola Cemetery. b. Support funding for the Lahaina Honolua Senior Citizens Club. c. Support the creation of a new cemetery in West Maui d. Support restoration of Moku'ula

2) Support preservation of Honolua Bay and Lipoa Point.

We’ve already done the impossible; all we have now is the possible. Thank you for your continued support! West Maui Taxpayers Association THE VOICE MEMBERSHIP FORM - IRS EIN 99-0160368 - NON PROFIT 501C (4) Member Name: ______Email: ______“Coming together, uniting West Maui as ONE Voice” Address: ______City: ______ST: ____ Zip: ______Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association December 2015 Day Phone: ______Evening Phone: Fax: ______

PO Box 10338 - Lahaina, HI 96761 (Check here to have your name kept private in publications and acknowledgements.

(Check here to have your e-mail address added to our “WMTA E-Alerts” List Phone: 808-661-7990 Fax: 808-661-7992

$ MEMBERSHIP I am a member and renewing my dues Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org I am not a member but would like to joinMembership Levels Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected] ( Individuals $50.00/year (amilies $100/year

( Businesses $100/year Look for us on ( AOAO – email HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected] and Twitter ( ( Community Supporter $25.00/year$ DONATION Memberships effective HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org for one year upon receipt of membership dues payment. has links) Mail Checks, payable to “West Maui Taxpayers Association”, to: West Maui Taxpayers Association PO Box 158 ● Lahaina, HI 96761 NWS2014-12

5 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org WEST MAUI TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION – PROXY The undersigned does hereby constitute and appoint the West Maui Taxpayers Association Board of Directors as attorney or agent, with full power of substitution, to act in the undersigned's name, place and stead, to represent that member for quorum purposes only so that the business that properly comes before the meeting can be conducted by those present. It is valid only for the ANNUAL MEETING of the WEST MAUI TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION to be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at The Lahaina Civic Center Main Meeting Room, Lahaina, Hawaii. Any WMTA member present in person may elect to vote upon such business that may properly come before the meeting, including the election of Directors. This Proxy will be valid only for the above-cited meeting and adjournments thereof, may be revoked prior to its exercise and shall be returned upon request if the undersigned attends the meeting and desires to vote in person. DATE SIGNED: (Required by law)

NAME OF MEMBER (PRINTED-required by law) SIGNATURE OF MEMBER 1. Please sign your name as it appears in YOUR WMTA MEMBERSHIP records. Executors, Administrators, trustees, guardians, conservators, and corporate officers are to add their Titles and, if not already done. Submit a copy of their appointment. 2. For this proxy to be valid: a. The proxy giver must provide his or her printed name, signature, and the date that this proxy was signed. b. This proxy must be received by the Association's Secretary at 181 Lahainaluna Road, Suite I, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761, no later than 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2016 3. The Board of Directors requests that a unanimous ballot be cast in favor of the Board Members to be elected as listed below.  Yes (Check this box to vote unanimous in favor for the Slate of Directors) PROXY: Please Use Return Envelope and Return the Portion Above to WMTA, PO Box 10338, Lahaina, HI 96761 or 181 Lahainaluna Road, Suite I, Lahaina, HI 96761. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS - SLATE OF DIRECTORS

Paul Brown Ezekiela “Zeke” Kalua Joseph Pluta Richard Jarman Rick Nava John Seebart Dr. Kelly Harnick West Maui Taxpayers GreggAssociation Nelson THE VOICE The WMTA BylawsMEMBERSHIP state: “There FORM -shall IRS EIN be 99-0160368 a total of - 12NON Directors, PROFIT 501C including (4) the Officers. No person shall be Member Name: ______Email: ______empowered to vote or be eligible for election to any office in the Organization whose membership“Coming together, dues have uniting Address: ______City: ______ST: ____ Zip: ______West Maui as ONE Voice” not been paid in full.” Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association Day Phone: ______Evening Phone: Fax: ______REMINDER: ONLY ACTIVE DUES PAYING MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE!December 2015

(Check here to have your name kept private in publications and acknowledgements. PO Box 10338 - Lahaina, HI 96761 (Check here to have your e-mail address added to our “WMTA E-Alerts” List Phone: 808-661-7990

$ MEMBERSHIP Fax: 808-661-7992 I am a member and renewing my dues 6 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org Visit I am not a member but would like to joinMembership Levels HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org ( Individuals $50.00/year (amilies $100/year Email: ( Businesses $100/year HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]

(OAO – email HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]$ Look for us on and Twitter DONATION - Please Don’t Let the Ship Sink! Memberships effective for one ( year upon receipt of membership dues payment. HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org Mail Checks, payable to “West Maui Taxpayers Association”, to: has links) West Maui Taxpayers Association PO Box 158 ● Lahaina, HI 96761 NWS2014-12 West Maui Taxpayers Association THE VOICE MEMBERSHIP FORM - IRS EIN 99-0160368 - NON PROFIT 501C (4) Member Name: ______Email: ______“Coming together, uniting

Address: ______City: ______ST: ____ Zip: ______West Maui as ONE Voice” Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association Day Phone: ______Evening Phone: Fax: ______December 2015

$ MEMBERSHIP Fax: 808-661-7992 I am a member and renewing my dues Visit I am not a member but would like to joinMembership Levels HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org ( Individuals $50.00/year (amilies $100/year Email: ( Businesses $100/year HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]

(OAO – email HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]$ Look for us on and Twitter DONATION - Please Don’t Let the Ship Sink! Memberships effective for one ( year upon receipt of membership dues payment. HYPERLINK "http://www.WestMaui.org" www.WestMaui.org Mail Checks, payable to “West Maui Taxpayers Association”, to: has links) West Maui Taxpayers Association PO Box 158 ● Lahaina, HI 96761 Housing Shortages for the unsheltered, houseless and homeless NWS2014-12 The WMTA sponsored a Community Meeting on November 16th at the West Maui Senior Center that brought together a varied panel of expertise for the beginning of a meaningful dialog. The event was moderated by Deidre Tegarden and was taped by AKAKU TV.

It has been rebroadcast to the community over a dozen times with noted appreciation from the participants devoted to accelerate and positively deepen the understanding of the housing needs for West Maui and to develop creative solutions.

The Governor has declared a Homelessness Crisis for the State of Hawaii as a state of Emergency. His state coordinator Scott Morashige was at our Community meeting with his Maui Coordinator Representative, Leah Belmonte, and stated his appreciation to the WMTA for leading a way to educate, and provide a platform of information towards the creation of local solutions aligned with local needs and core values. WMTA has joined membership with the Maui Homeless Alliance Group to further our goals along these lines.

Mental Health issues are directly tied to this in our opinion more than what is necessarily apparent and we need to continue to explore workable and meaningful measures for action plans now. Join with us in this effort. Let us know if you want a copy of the AKAKU Taped Broadcast of the Community Presentation.

Please support us with your donations which we can use to help overcome tragedies that could be avoided. Your Tax Deductible gift can be designated for this area of assistance.

7 | P a g e The Voice – Newsletter of the West Maui Taxpayers Association – December 2015 - www.WestMaui.org