May 8 Community Meeting regarding water-delivery agreement with Free Market Ventures is Canceled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release by:
Tom Cook, Councilmember
Yuki Lei Sugimura, Vice-Chair
Maui County Council

May 8 Community Meeting regarding water-delivery agreement with Free Market Ventures is Canceled

Wailuku, Hawaiʻi (May 6, 2024)— Councilmember Tom Cook and Council Vice-Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura announced today that the May 8 community meeting to gather input from the community on a proposed water-delivery agreement has been canceled. The meeting was to be held in conjunction with the Department of Water Supply. 

“We were informed today that the Department of Water Supply will not be pursuing the project proposed by Free Market Ventures, LLC for wells in Kula, and that the department will instead take into consideration the community’s input received and seek out other alternatives including the possibility of a County-developed option. The initial work to develop County wells is included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Water Supply budget as well as a reservoir at the Kamole Water Treatment Plant,” shared Sugimura and Cook. 

The department intends to host an informational meeting at a later date to share any options identified that would help meet the needs of Upcountry Maui residents. With this new update, the May 8th community meeting that was scheduled to discuss this project, will not proceed as planned.

Although the community meeting is canceled; Councilmember Cook and Council Vice-Chair Sugimura will still be available to meet with community members on May 8th at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

“This proposal has generated a lot of very productive dialog as we continue to address Upcountry Maui’s water needs,” said Sugimura. “I want to thank all of our community members for their input and collaboration, as well as the Department of Water Supply.”

“The Water and Infrastructure Committee looks forward to continue working with the Department of Water Supply in addressing the County’s growing need for water while ensuring impacts to our residents are not only considered but is in the community’s best interest,” added Cook. 

The Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center is located at 91 Pukalani St. in Pukalani. 

For more information, contact Cook’s office at (808) 270-7108 and [email protected] or Sugimura’s office at (808) 270-7939 and [email protected]. 

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*Tom Cook is the chair of the Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee. He holds the council seat for the South Maui residency area. Yuki Lei Sugimura is the Vice-Chair of the Maui County Council and Chair of its Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee. She holds the council seat for the Upcountry residency area.