 Aloha Mai Kakou -
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From my ohana to yours... Wishing everyone a warm & welcoming Lei Day this beautiful May 1st. Let the notion of lei & gift-giving also remind us to recognize the mothers in our lives this month as we celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, May 12.
Photo of me with my fifth eldest daughter, Daveana Kama-Fischer, from New York. She and her husband, Guillermo, came to visit me with their children last month. This photo was taken by Committee Secretary Stacey L. Vinoray during a short recess of my HLU committee meeting.
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 Maui County Council by charter receives the Mayor’s proposed budget for the following fiscal year on March 25th. The County’s fiscal year starts July 1st and ends the following year on June 30th. From the receipt of the budget, each Councilmember and their staff review the proposed budget looking for opportunities to be prudent in the spending of your tax dollars that come from property taxes, the County’s transient accommodation tax (TAT), the County’s general excise tax (GET) surcharge, motor vehicle fuel tax and other fees.
The Mayor proposed a total budget of $1.6 Billion which by law is balanced – the amount the county spends must be matched with the amount of funds received. The proposed budget would allocate over $1 Billion to County operations including grants that the County gives to non-profit agencies to provide needed services. Over $180 Million would be spent in providing capital improvements to the water system, the sewer system, roads, parks, and other county-owned facilities. Close to $380 Million proposed is grant revenue that the County receives and spends according to the requirements of those grants.
Council reviews the Mayor’s proposed budget in the month of April and makes the changes it sees as needed. The changes are made to the budget bill. This year the budget bill is Bill 60 (2024). When the Council has finished its changes, the Council Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee makes a recommendation to Council to adopt the budget bill with its changes. The recommendation is expected to be heard by Council for first reading at the Council meeting of May 21, 2024, with second and final reading scheduled for June 5, 2024.
If you have questions about the fiscal year 2025 budget, please contact my office and we can find out the answers to your questions.
Several weeks ago, an e-mail arrived with a pressing health & safety concern from a local constituent. The concern was simple - the dry brush lot in which the home backs up to is vulnerable to overnight parking, suspicious activity, and a potential fire and sanitation hazard.
Councilmember Kama's staff was quick to take action with an immediate call to our friends at the Maui Police Department who executed a plan and gathered a task force which included Community Police Officers & The Department of Public Works. For our communities, our hope is that health and safety threats near and within our residential neighborhoods do not go unaddressed.
 Above & below PC: Jason Arietta
Have you heard of 'Da Tambayan Corner'?
"Da Tambayan Corner" was established on the corner of Lono & Vevau in February 2024.
Currently hosting: Da Soriano Grindz, Street Market Boba, Massimo Creperie, and Aloha Pho Maui.
The location offers selections from a variety of food truck vendors and the possibility to rent their outdoor facility for your next event.
Da Soriano Grindz (DSG) & Da Tambayan Corner (DTC) owners, Danilo & Sharon Soriano share their passion for cooking and gathering by inviting foodies and families to dine at their newly established food truck lot. As small business owners themselves, they found success & gratitude in supporting other small businesses. With this, the idea of DTC emerged. DTC opened its grounds to other food truck vendors and a place in Kahului for locals to sit, eat, & hangout. Future goals for DTC include the build of a certified commercial kitchen for the convenience of the vendor fleet and expand their shaded sitting areas.
Originally based in the heart of Lahaina town, the Soriano's hope for the future is to open another local hotspot when Lahaina is ready.
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Congratulations to our very own Hawaii All Stars for bringing home the GOLD- again!
The very talented 2024 All Star World Championship Gold Medalist in the XS Senior Coed Level 5 division, Hi-5, and the brand-new Silver Medalist in the Small Senior division.
PC: Hawaii All Star Cheer
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