At 10:00 AM on 16 March, Maui Disposal’s Kihei Recycling Facility (located at the corner of Welakahao Road and Piilanai Highway) will launch GIVE A HI-5 TO HELP THE HUNGRY.

Mayor Tavares will be attending the event along with other supporters of this new program.

Maui residents and visitors are being invited to begin dropping off their beverage containers at any Maui Disposal redemption center after 16 March and tell the staff that they want to help the hungry on Maui.

Maui Disposal will donate the redemption fees from all such drop offs to the Maui Food Bank which, in turn, will be purchasing fresh produce from local farmers to help Maui’s growing number of hungry families.

Maui Food Bank is also planning future partnerships with Maui farmers, home gardeners, and sustainability advocates to “GROW A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY.

Please join us for a May Day luau with entertainment, food, and a prize raffle for volunteers. This will be a great opportunity to connect South Maui residents to organizations currently working to positively impact our environment. Informational tables will be available for groups interested in participating. Please call 877-2524 to reserve your space. No fee is required.

Community Work Day Program is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to protecting the environment of Maui Nui through projects that include marine debris cleanups, coral reef outreach and education, invasive species removal, native planting in public spaces, illegal dumpsite clearing, litter pickups, graffiti cleanup, recycling, a community paint exchange, and environmental education.

The panelists include:

* Dannette Arrojo, a University of Hawaii Maui College honor student who used to be incarcerated.

* Kat Brady, of the Community Alliance on Prisons, a reform group that looks at alternatives to locking up nonviolent offenders.

* George Fontaine, a retired police captain and Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives seat held by Rep. Joe Bertram III, D-South Maui.

* Netra Halperin, a consultant for CleanAndGreen Jobs, a nonprofit that trains recently released prisoners for green jobs. Halperin said she also intends to run for South Maui State Representative.

* John Kim, a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Maui County Department of Corporation Counsel.

* Shackley Raffetto, 2nd Circuit Court judge and head of the Maui/Molokai Drug Court.

* Carrie Ann Shirota, a Soros Justice Fellow and Wailuku attorney.

The evening begins with talk-story at 6 pm and the meeting officially kicks off at 6:30 pm at the Kihei Community Center. Please remeber to bring canned goods or non-perishable foods for the Maui Food Bank. See you there!

Times are tough. All county departments are being asked to take drastic cuts in their budget but important services and equipment are still needed to add to the enjoyment of our parks by the community. Another key partner in this project is Tri-Isle RC&D, a 501(c)3 non-profit authorized to assist with grass-roots community based projects such as this one. Tri-Isle also assisted with the South Maui Coastal Heritage Trail, Pump-Don’t Dump, and Hoaloha ‘Aina Volunteers.

Would you like to help support this bench project or other KCA community-oriented projects?

You can support this effort with a tax-deductible donation using a credit card, Pay Pal or a check.

Please click on the “Donate” button to use a credit card or PayPal.

There are presently 18 parks in South Maui in addition to South Maui Regional Park, which is now under construction. KCA will explore how the community interfaces with the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Community Resources Program Coordinator Sue Kiang will discuss the county¹s overall South Maui Park plan.

Goodfellow Brothers Project Manager John Spasari will share some specifics on the construction of the first phase of the South Maui Regional Park.

KCA volunteer Bob Richardson will then discuss how KCA partners with the Department of Parks and Recreation, and how this can affect the usability of our parks over time.

Gather your Ohana and friends, pick up a few cans of nourishing food for the Maui Food Bank, and head to the community center on 303 E Lipoa St. at 6 p.m. for delicious püpü provided by Goodfellow Brothers and talk story with your neighbors.

At next month¹s KCA meeting on Tuesday, March 16, KCA a knowledgeable and diversified panel will discuss the proposed prison in Puunënë. For more information, call 879-5390.

Click here to read Dave Deleon’s Op-Ed Piece on County Council Elective System

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced today that due to the efforts of community volunteer Andrew Beerer (KCA Parks Committee member)and youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Maui, both the Kalama Skatepark in Kihei and Kahului’s Keopulani Skatepark are now “graffiti-free.”

In addition to volunteering his time toward the removal of graffiti from the parks, Beerer and former YMCA Skateboard Camp Director, Davey Delong, created the Maui Skateboard Series. Since 2008 they have worked alongside the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide over 30 skateboarding events in Kihei, Kahului, Lahaina, Paia, Pukalani, Hana, Molokai and Lanai.

“We are very fortunate to have Andrew Beerer’s assistance which has included this volunteer clean up, monitoring of the maintenance concerns and coordinating skateboarding events throughout the county,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Tamara Horcajo. “We are grateful for the many other participants who help to keep the skateparks safe and satisfying for our users.”

Beerer organized a group of young volunteers, which included skatepark users and youth from the Boys and Girls Club, to paint over graffiti at the skateparks on December 18, 2009 in Kihei and on December 28, 2009 in Kahului.

“The skateboard parks are popular and well used, but like all recreation facilities they suffer from wear and tear as well as occasional graffiti and vandalism,” said Beerer. “Helping maintain the skateboard parks and painting over graffiti makes for a better experience that puts skateboarders in a positive light. We encourage the users to take ownership of their parks.”

For more information, contact the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 270-7230.

Installing Benches at Kalama Park

Bob Richardson, KCA Parks Committee Chair informs us that the first two benches were installed on the north side of Kalama Park. Mahalo to Jeff Kern from Kihei and Tim Fien from Oregon for their help. Mahalo also to the Parks Dept and the KPAT/ KCA team that laid out the locations.

The Kihei Community Association has purchased and is installing 10 park benches in Kalama Park in Kihei. Association President Jon Miller and board member Chad Goodfellow have been garnering funding for the expense of these benches from a number of very supportive businesses and individuals on our island community. When groups or individuals make a donation such as this to the County it is necessary for the Maui Council Council to accept to donation through proclamation and for the Parks Dept to work within their procedures for placement and quality of materials. Now that all of the details have been completed the first of the benches have been installed.

Help our less fortunate residents with a canned food donation for the Maui Food Bank, help our environment with a free reusable cloth grocery bag made of recycled materials, simply by agreeing to use it for groceries, and help our south side by deciding if we are satisfied with the current method of selecting our County Council Representation. Thanks to the County’s Environmental Department for donating the cloth bags for distribution.

Doors open at 6:00 PM to talk story with neighbors before 6:30 PM start.

Mahalo to Goodfellow Bros crew for their great community spirit.