Ko’olau Reserve water agenda item deferred

In deference to a request from Maui Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr., Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) Chair Dawn Chang has withdrawn item D-12 from the BLNR agenda for Friday, Sept. 27.

D-12 is related to the contested case for the issuance of a water license covering the diversion of public surface water from the Ko’olau Forest Reserve on Maui.

Chair Chang supports the mayor’s request, stating, “Withdrawing item D-12 allows us to not only respect the newly established local water authority on Maui, but also to support Mayor Bissen’s request to explore long-term partnership opportunities to address public and private interests that depend on this important water resource.

“I attended the East Maui Regional Community Board meeting on Wednesday and heard heartfelt comments from the board and community members who are seeking a path that is mutually beneficial; not only to current water users but to ensure water for future generations,” Chang said.

Hawaii voters can track their mail ballot

Hawaii voters can enroll for ballot notifications ahead of the 2024 General Election. Voters who sign-up will be notified about the status of their mail ballot.

“We encourage all voters to sign up for ballot notifications,” said Chief Election Officer Scott Nago, “this will let voters know when to expect their mail ballot packet to be delivered as well if their voted ballot has been received and accepted for counting.”

Voters have the option to receive alerts by text, email, or a phone message. Once signed up, voters will be notified when their ballot has been mailed and received. Reminders will also be sent to voters to return their ballot as the deadline nears or if there is an issue with their return envelope.

Voters who choose not to sign up for ballot notifications will still be able to track their ballot by going to elections.hawaii.gov or by contacting their County Elections Division.

Hawaii voters can expect to receive their General Election ballot in the mail by Oct. 18, 2024.

For all your official election information, visit elec

tions.hawaii.gov or call

(808) 453-VOTE (8683).

Twin Falls announces kama’aina event

Twin Falls Maui, in partnership with Wailele Farms and Friends of Twin Falls, invites Hawaii residents to a special Kama’aina Exclusive Event held on the first Saturday of every month. This event offers locals a unique chance to reconnect with nature in the peaceful setting of Twin Falls.

The event is open to Hawaii residents only, with entry verified by presenting a Hawaii Driver’s License for all adults in the car. The goal is to provide a relaxed, community-focused experience for residents to enjoy the beauty of Twin Falls.

In addition to the Kama’aina Exclusive Event, Friends of Twin Falls offers no-cost field trips to Maui schools and hosts family-friendly events and community venison distributions. Follow us on Instagram and visit our website for updates.

Event Details:

¯ When: First Saturday of each month

¯ Who: Hawaii Residents (Hawaii Driver’s License required)

¯ Where: Twin Falls Maui, Haiku, HI

For more information, visit our website or follow us on Instagram.

County work at Wailuku River to begin in October

Maintenance and repair projects to remove overgrown vegetation, sediment, ensure proper flood protection.

The County of Maui Department of Public Works will be performing maintenance and repair projects within the Wailuku River Flood Control Channel starting on Oct.1, 2024.

Maintenance work is planned to remove overgrown vegetation and sediment to restore capacity of the channel below the Waiehu Beach Road Bridge near the former Sack ‘N Save property.

Increased truck traffic should be anticipated in the vicinity of the Millyard Subdivision in Wailuku.

For questions about this project, call the Department of Public Works Highways Division at (808) 270-7869.

Repair work on the levee near the Millyard Subdivision will also begin in October. Repair and improvement work being performed is necessary to ensure proper flood protection.

For questions on this project, call the Department of Public Works Engineering Division at (808) 270-7745.

Grants: Mental health, migrant services

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns is soliciting grant proposals for programs providing mental health services or immigrant and migrant services to Maui County residents.

Funding for programs in those categories was added to the County’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Qualified private non-profit and for-profit organizations providing or planning to provide such services are invited to submit grant applications to the department.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. No late submittals will be accepted.

Application forms and instructions can be found on the department’s Grants Management Division’s website at https://www.mauicounty.gov/252/Grants-Management-Divi

sion.

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the Grants Management Division at (808) 270-7807.

County sewer service status for West Maui

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Wastewater Reclamation Division announced that it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active for a property, in the following areas:

¯ Several lots near Kuhua Street

¯ Several lots near Mill Street

DEM Director Shayne Agawa announced the updates Wednesday night, Sept. 18, 2024, at the Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at Lahaina Civic Center.

Some wastewater infrastructure was damaged during the fires, which cut off wastewater service for many properties in fire-impacted areas. To determine if wastewater service for your home or business is impacted, please visit https://mauirecovers.org/wastewater and type your address in the search bar on the County of Maui Sewer Service Status interactive map.

DEM anticipates continuing to amend areas in Lahaina impacted by the August 2023 wildfires in coming weeks and months. For questions regarding sewer status, please call the Wastewater Reclamation Division at (808) 270-7417.