Public testimony will be taken on a bill that would change the way homes are taxed on agricultural property during meetings throughout Maui County this month. The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee meetings begin at 6 p.m. with the following dates and locations: * Wednesday, Lahaina Civic Center. * Friday, Lanai Community Center. […]
Council Defers Vacation Rental Bill
Maui County has 1,100 to 1,500 unpermitted vacation rentals, according to estimates by the Maui Vacation Rental Association. Councilmember Couch has proposed capping the number of legal vacation rentals at 400. Planning Director Spence said his department issued only 28 warnings about vacation rentals and conducted 78 site inspections in 2011. The draft bill proposes […]
Planning Commission Approves Variance for Hotel “School”
A mainland entrepreuner got permission to operate a school/spa/hotel in Makawao’s Fred Baldwin Memorial Home. It will become the Lumeria Maui educational retreat. Critics called it “a luxury boutique hotel” and it can accomodate 48 guests.
Stop Clubbing Endangered Monk Seals
Target: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Pacific Region Sponsored by: Animal Advocates At least three Hawaiian monk seals were found clubbed to death on Molokai and Kauai coasts. There are currently 1,100 monk seals left in the world, and the species is predicted to go extinct in 50 to 100 years. Animal rights activists […]
The Real Causes of Our Declining Fish Stock Aren’t Monk Seals
The Maui News recently ran a lovely photo of a Hawaiian monk seal on the beach at Olowalu; no reference was made to the tragedy of the four seals killed on Molokai and Kauai in recent weeks… no editorial, no statement from our county or state officials. Hawaiian monk seals are highly endangered; to lose […]
Panel to Discuss Recent Monk Seal Attacks
On Sunday, January 8th DLNR Chairman Bill Ailā, Moloka`i resident Walter Ritte, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Co-manager Elia Herman and Nā Mea Hulu Project Director Kehaulani Watson will participate in a panel on the recent monk seal attacks as part of Nā `Ōiwi `Ōlino: People Seeking Wisdom. The show will air on FM 105.1 KINE. Nā […]