Kihei Community Association | Maui, Hawaii » Andrew

Kihei Volunteers Recognized

Andrew — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:15:05 +0000

Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists in the County of Maui Volunteer Center’s 2010 Volunteer Recognition Awards Program.

Kihei volunteer Marie Thomas was awarded second place in the senior division (over 60) for her extensive work on behalf of Hale Kau Kau.

KCA Board member Andrew Beerer received second place in the adult division (26-59) for his work on behalf of the KCA Education and Services Committees, which includes volunteering in the County Parks.

Community Work Day Program’s “Litter Bugs Me” Cleanup, Event on Saturday, July 17th

Andrew — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:12:54 +0000

Volunteers throughout Maui County will be cleaning and beautifying our highways, parks, harbors, beaches, historic sites, and “Adopt-a-Sites” on Saturday, July 17th during Community Work Day Program’s annual “Litter Bugs Me” Cleanup. The cleanup is coordinated in partnership with state and county agencies, local businesses, schools and community organizations to help remove unsightly litter from Maui Nui’s environment.

CWD coordinates Litter Bugs Me in an effort to focus attention on the appearance of our roadways, natural resource areas, and public spaces. CWD has scheduled multiple cleanup sites in each district. Join an Adopt-a-Site group or start your own group by coordinating a site of your choice.

The cleanup will begin at 8:30am and end before noon. To volunteer, or to make arrangements to pick up free supplies (litter grabbers, trash bags, vests and gloves, or paint and supplies for graffiti removal), call Community Work Day Program at 877-2524.

In conjunction with the Litter Bugs Me cleanup, CWD is also organizing a Paint Exchange & “Freecycle It” Day on Saturday, July 17th from 9am-2pm. Join fellow community members for this free “garage sale style” event that keeps usable household items out of our landfill. Drop off your usable paint and household items at CWD Headquarters in Pu‘unene by Friday, July 16th at 4pm. Items will be offered for reuse at no cost during the Freecycle It event on July 17th. Usable paint is also accepted and recycled daily during regular business hours Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Call 877-2524 for directions and information.

July Meeting to Focus on Net Energy Metering

Andrew — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:08:09 +0000

The July 20, 2010 Kihei Community meeting will focus on “net energy metering” this meeting is being presented in partnership with South Maui Sustainability. Please check back for more information on guest speakers as the meeting gets closer.

Become a Weather Spotter

Andrew — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:43:17 +0000

The National Weather Service (NWS) will present the five major weather patterns that affect Hawaii, and the type of weather each pattern brings to the Islands:
Trade Winds, Cold Fronts, Tropical Cyclones, Kona Storms, Upper Lows

Attend the session, and YOU can become a Skywarn Weather Spotter! Skywarn Spotters report vital hazardous weather conditions to the NWS that assist in the warning process. Reported events include: tornadoes, hail, high winds, flooding, thunder and lightning, funnel clouds, water spouts, high surf, and any weather related damage.

Locations and Times: Kihei, Maui. Friday, June 25, 2010. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Pacific Disaster Center, 1305 North Holopono Street, Suite 2, Kihei, HI 96753. (808) 891-0525

Questions and RSVP (requested, not required) to Ian Morrison, ian.morrison@noaa.gov

June 15 Community Meeting to Address South Maui Water Quality

Andrew — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:11:03 +0000

Anyone who recreates in our south shore waters over the years will verify the reef system is continuously deteriorating. The longer you’ve observed, the worse the situation has declined. There are myriad reasons for the deterioration, running the gambit from pesticide & insecticide run off, sewage dumping and leakage, injection wells, unrestricted street and gulch flushing in rain storms, overfishing and collection, poor construction practices, littering, and many other complex situations.

The KCA monthly meeting will explore some of these causes and some possible ways to rectify them. The DIRE Coalition, represented by Irene Bowie and S W Maui Watershed Advisory Group’s Robin Knox, as well as Pump Don’t Dump’s & KCA VP Mike Moran, will offer information to the community on some these concerns, and be available to answer your questions.

All are welcome on Tuesday, June 15th at 6:00 PM to talk story with neighbors before the presentation begins promptly at 6:30 PM. Food donations for the Maui Food Bank accepted. Get in the habit of attending KCA Community meetings on the third Tuesday of each month to make South Maui a better place for all. Mahalo.

Please Testify re: Aquarium Fish Collection

Andrew — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:28:02 +0000

The County Council Public Service Committee meeting on Wednesday 6/3 at 9 AM will include introduction of two bills pertaining to control of aquarium fish collecting in Maui’s near shore waters. If you are concerned about how this affects the number of reef fish in South Maui, you can offer testimony in person, or submit in writing via email to: ps.committeee@mauicounty.us

AmeriCorps Volunteers on Kamaole I

Andrew — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:35:35 +0000

Who was that group working at Kamaole I on Wednesday morning and what were they doing? They were a group of AmeriCorps volunteers working with Community Work Day on a dune restoration project through the KCA. They were removing the roots of hau and sea grape trees that have grown up at Kamaole I over the years and have been invading out public beach. Yes Hau is a native tree but when left uncontrolled it will turn into a bush and will travel laterally into coastal areas ruining beach reserves. These bushes if left uncontrolled harden the shoreline creating a barrier to the normal ebb and flow of the sand dunes.

In a perfect world all of the sand dunes on our beaches are left available to storm surges and storms so that when they hit our shores the sand is taken to sea where it helps dampen the shore break and helps protect the parks and roadways mauka of the coastline. Once the storm passes- the sand returns and the dunes rebuild.

This AmeriCorps group is helping to return this natural balance to our Kamaole I dunes.

If you would like to work with the KCA and other volunteer groups to protect our south Maui dunes please contact www.southmauivolunteers.com for dates and times, or call Bob Richardson at 264-1798 for details.

Recap of May 18 Meeting

Andrew — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:23:08 +0000

Meeting opened with a short power point announcement by Rene Umberger regarding a pending hearing at the Public Service Committee of the County Council on 6/2 regarding aquarium fish collection from near shore waters. The main topic of transportation in South Maui begun with Public Works Director Milton Arakawa’s presentation of the process of achieving any transportation project, followed by President Jon Miller’s intriguing presentation of challenges faced by pedestrians & cyclists to navigate around Kihei, as well how this situation could be vastly improved. Next Jon moderated a panel including Planner Kathleen Kern and State DOT official Charlene Shibuya along with Milton to answer inqueries from the audience.

Next month’s meeting on June 15 will address our near shore ocean water quality issues.

See next week’s Maui Weekly for a professional extensive report on this 5/18 meeting.

Volunteer Opportunities on Maui

Andrew — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:34:10 +0000

The Kihei Community Associations sponsors numerous volunteer opportunities in South Maui,
to encourage, promote & aid in developing, improving & maintaining the community of Kihei.

Volunteer opportunities include: Community service activities, dune restoration, litter pick up, planting native plants, & removing graffiti; ongoing Community Work Day Saturdays & as needed.

Contact: Bob Richardson, Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (808) 874-9374 Email: lisbob@hawaii.rr.com

For more volunteer opportunities throughout Maui County you can visit The County web site at www.mauicounty.gov/volunteercenter. Please check out the site and see the listing for KCA on page 38.

Interested in dune restoration and projects in South Maui parks and beaches? Hoaloha Aina has a listing on pg. 15.

This is a great opportunity for members of the community to find a volunteer opportunity that suits their ability and interest level. If any community members are looking for an ongoing volunteer opportunity in Kihei the www.southmauivolunteers.com site is a good place to start.

May 18th Community Meeting to Focus on Transportation Issues in South Maui

Andrew — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:44:41 +0000

The Kihei Community Association (KCA) monthly meeting on Tuesday 5/18 will focus on a variety of transportation issues of interest to South Maui residents. From designing and planning to building, as well as coordination between state and county government departments, all aspects will be discussed by a knowledgeable group composed of officials from the State Department of Transportation, as well as County Long-Term Planning’s John Summers and Public Works Department Director Milton Aarkawa to inform, teach and answer questions.

“I’m glad that members of the community will have the opportunity on this evening to be able to learn more about all these various transportation issues of concern,” said board VP Mike Moran. “As always, questions are welcomed from our audience. How we negotiate around Kihei, as well as to and from our areas to other sections around Maui, it all work better if practical planning is used in developing walking, cycling, driving and mass transportation options,” he concludes.

Non-perishable food donations for Maui Food bank are strongly encouraged and welcomed. Doors open at 6:00 PM for pupu and talk story, the meeting starts promptly at 6:30 PM start. Call 879-5390 for more information. Mahalo.