The Hawaiian Visitors Bureau says the 296,427 visits to Maui in June were 5.7% higher than last year, which raises the question whether we reaching our capacity for roads, beaches, municipal services, and accommodations. Although our income was up 4%, what is the cost for fires, visitor searches, rescues, drownings, and deaths. Internet adventure broadcasts inspire even more younger visitors to take even more risks without knowing the dangers. Rotary and other service organizations can help the county publicize the risks—treacherous cliffs and tides, rough seas. Many of the more adventurous visitors now come at reduced Southwest airfares, and stay at legal and illegal B&Bs (est. 6,000 in Maui County) without getting any of the island safety information available at hotels. How do we educate those people or do we have to rescue them? Airport has some videos in baggage claim, but how many people actually watch them. Our police, fire and rescue crews are at risk when they go out for people, but it also costs all taxpayers for a 1 or 2-day search. Hotels share the expense, but how to get support from unregistered accommodations?  

We only use 35% of treated sewage water for irrigation and need to reduce amount injected into wells, so we're looking at establishing a green zone above the highway that would use the water and provide a real fire break wide enough to prevent wind-blown embers from spreading fire. This can help our brave first responders and firefighter avoid more 16,000 acre burns and save the taxpayers the large expenses to fight them.

The mayor was thankful we haven't had any recent hurricane damage, but told us to be prepared with two weeks supply of water and food, medicines, battery operated radio and lighting, quoting the saying, "It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

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Upcoming 2020 census is important for county funding, carrying capacity for residents and visitors. Working hard to get our share of the $3.6 billion the state got for Medicare, transportation, Head Start, transient funding, business loans, and local non-profits. He's asking all departments and non-profits to ask for grants in line with the saying, "If you don't ask, you don't get."

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The mayor is putting together a conglomerate of non-profits and foundations to draw on federal, state and county funds to build much-needed workforce apartment and rental housing. Hope to have October announcements of county managed projects. Need to make $36.05/hour to survive in Hawaii.

My budget was austere with business mentality that you don't spend what you don't have, or anticipate getting. The council took a different approach and raised tax rates. If the money's there, it will go to needed areas.

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There have been too many drunk-driving accidents. I'm talking with the state about a median strip on Piilaini Highway, even though barriers work best on continuous highways with off-ramps instead of breaks for turning off the highway, and it's also hard to put a median on narrow bridges. The mayor reminded us of our responsibility to stop anyone from driving who is too inebriated to drive—take their keys away, call a taxi or Uber, etc. DUI aren't so effective anymore because drivers post warnings about the checkpoint location with their cellphones. DUI fine in 1989 was $250. Now it's $2,000 minimum, but the even with fines and penalties, they still do it, and then use other cars and false licenses.

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Q: Is it fair that food trucks can park on residential streets instead of in food court on Lipoa or brick and mortar who pay taxes, insurance, etc. 
A: No. Same with Uber and Lyft drivers who don't have to take classes, get special permits and insurance.

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Q: Reduce speed limit Pi'ilani to 35 mph and raise Mokulele to 55 mph?
A: Probably lower speed limit on Piilani wouldn't work, but raising Mokulele to 55 might be okay—but people still speed.

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Call the mayor's office, (808) 270-7855, and ask for Adam to give suggestions, complaints, etc.