Senate Committee Visits Molokai

State Senate News Release 

Between July 26-28, members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means visited multiple venues on Maui and Molokai, where they were met by state officials and community members who delivered presentations on their plans for a range of both Governor’s and Senate priorities, including economic and workforce development, investments in infrastructure, the coalescing of a food innovation network, and the future of Kahoʻolawe and Kalaupapa.

Hawaiian community priorities were also a focus of the Maui County site visits, taking the members from Maui to Molokai and ending in Kalaupapa. Chair Watson provided a progress report on the historic $600 million appropriation in 2022, with the encumbrance of the $200 million in Fiscal Year 2023 and the remaining $400 million expected by the end of Fiscal Year 2024 for homestead and infrastructure development statewide. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Chair Kali Watson accompanied the members to Kalaupapa, where in-depth discussions regarding the future transition of Kalaupapa were had between the Ways and Means Committee, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, the Department of Health, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the U.S. National Park Service. The Kalaupapa Transition Interagency Working Group will convene on Aug. 11 to discuss issues identified, including the preservation and maintenance of the over two hundred structures and the current and future governance for the County of Kalawao.

Senator Lynn DeCoite shared her thoughts on the importance of participating in the Ways and Means site visits. 

“I am grateful to Chair Dela Cruz and Members of the Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee for taking the time to come to Maui, topside Molokai, and Kalaupapa peninsula to look and learn about State programs and projects. Getting to see the projects in person and having active conversations help us better understand the needs of our communities, especially those on the neighbor islands and in rural areas.  I am especially thankful for the members who came to Molokai, experiencing our only airline transportation option firsthand, while also seeing the beauty and culture of the friendly isle,” said DeCoite.