I. INFRASTRUCTURE

The Maui Chamber of Commerce should aggressively pursue and encourage the development of adequate infrastructure improvements and maintenance of present infrastructure. The infrastructure is in a crisis-situation. The immediate needs include:

1. Relocate Honoapiilani Highway away from the ocean and make it a four-lane roadway.
2. Build additional berms on the hillside above Lahaina to divert storm drainage toward Kauaula Stream as a short-term solution to flooding problems.
3. Improvement of storm drainage in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Flood Control Project). The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the immediate funding of this project designed to divert floodwaters along the Lahaina By-Pass right of way.
4. Adequate recreational developments for residents.
5. Improved boat launching and recreational berthing.

Implementation and improvements should be done under a coordinated plan rather than a piece meal approach.

Supporting Statement

The West Maui area currently entertains virtually all of the visitors that come to Maui. These visitors and the jobs they create contribute a very large sum of tax revenue for the State of Hawaii and the County of Maui. Innovative, cost-effective and cooperative ventures to meet the above needs are encouraged from both the public and private sectors.

II. Bike Paths
The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the need for development and maintenance of bike paths to West Maui.

III. PUBLIC SAFETY

The Maui Chamber of Commerce appreciates and supports the continued neighborhood policing and the presence of police officers on bicycle patrol.

Supporting Statement

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages the Maui Police Department to provide a the bicycle patrol of five (5) officers

IV. LAHAINA CIVIC CENTER

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages the County of Maui to review existing policy in light of the original purpose of the Lahaina Civic Center.

Supporting Statement

The Lahaina Civic Center was established for the purpose of providing facilities for entertainment and recreation for West Maui residents and visitors. The Civic Center should be expanded to provide meeting rooms and appropriate air-conditioned facilities for major sporting events. This should be a priority. It is essential that the facility be maintained on an ongoing basis. It is necessary to develop additional parking to permit full use of the center and its various functions. Additional lighting is also needed in the parking lot.

V. PARKING

The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the recommendations of the Parking Committee of the Lahaina Historic District Task Force.

Supporting Statement

The Task Force recommendations are as follows but not limited to:
1. The Department of Public Works install directional parking signs, identical to the signs installed by the Front Street Improvement Project, to identify eighteen (18) public parking lots throughout Lahaina.
2. Recommend that when existing County lots become privately managed fee parking lots that there be designated employee and employer spaces at a discount rate per month. The employee/employer spaces would be available only to those businesses contributing to the Lahaina Historic District parking fund.
3. Recommend that a change in bus loading/unloading and traffic flow in the banyan tree park area be given serious consideration as a possible solution to bus traffic problems in the area.
4. Recommend the development of a Lahaina Historic Parking Fund to be used to acquire, build, improve and maintain County parking lots. The fund should also be used to acquire, maintain, and operate a shuttle bus from future satellite parking lots into Lahaina town.

VI. LAHAINA HISTORIC DISTRICTS

The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the upgrading of our 1960 guidelines for our Historic district. The Chamber of Commerce also encourages the County to attend to the enforcement of these updated guidelines. The Chamber also strongly supports the Cultural Resource Commission and its authority in helping to develop relevant ordinances and enforce existing ones.

VII. BOATING FACILITIES

A. The Maui Chamber of Commerce recognizes the need for a recreational small boat harbor.
B. The Maui Chamber of Commerce urges the Department of Transportation to continue efforts to expand berthing facilities and improve Lahaina Harbor. The Chamber urges the state to also examine private sector development of such facilities.
C. The Maui Chamber of Commerce urges the state to develop expanded trailer boating facilities.

VIII. PARKS

The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the development of additional parks as residential development grows.

Supporting Statement

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages the development of:
1. A community park at Napili
2. Continual development of Heritage parks such as:
a. Kamehameha Iki Park
b. Malu’uluolele Park – to include moving the existing baseball diamonds to property adjacent to the Lahaina Swimming pool complex and restoration of the original Hawaiian cultural site.

IX. LAHAINA YOUTH CENTER

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages private businesses and the County of Maui to increase funding to the Lahaina Youth Center.

Supporting Statement

Due to recent funding cut backs, the Lahaina Youth Center is in desperate need of funding for its youth programs. It is important to keep the young people of Maui County involved in diverse, educational and interesting programs to encourage high self-esteem, which in turn produces productive individuals within our community.

X. ENVIRONMENTAL

The Maui Chamber of Commerce supports the enforcement of ordinances requiring both private companies and citizens to cover trash during transport to disposal sites.

Supporting Statement

The Maui Chamber of Commerce notices that much of the trash along side our roadways is caused by uncovered or unprotected transportation of garbage. There are ordinances in place to control this problem, however, enforcement appears to be the issue.

XI. GOVERNMENT SERVICES

The Maui Chamber of Commerce encourages the County departments of Planning, Licensing, Water and Highways to develop satellite offices on the West side of Maui.

Supporting Statement

We encourage the continuing restoration of the Lahaina City Hall Building and the housing of County departments in this building. These County services are in high demand on the West side; our residents would be better served with local facilities.