Members of state Senate committee to visit Hana

The Maui News
Saturday, November 1, 2003 (A2)

HANA – Members of the state Senate Ways and Means Committee will be visiting Hana the long way – by road.

"I believe that by traveling to Hana by car, my colleagues will truly get a taste of what it's like to live in and commute from Hana," said Sen. J. Kalani English, a Hana resident whose 6th district includes Haiku, Keanae and Hana.

English said most of the 13 members of the Senate finance panel have not been to Hana and do not appreciate the isolation of the community at one end of scenic but winding 50 mile-long highway. English and Sen. Shan Tsutsui of Wailuku are members of the committee chaired by Sen. Brian Taniguchi of Oahu.

The Hana visit will be part of a two-day Valley Isle tour by the committee, which will also hold a public meeting in Kihei and will receive briefings in Upcountry, West Maui and Central Maui.

English said the Hana tour will be the first time a legislative finance committee has visited the Hana area. The fact that the committee members will drive into Hana will help them understand "many important issues that are unique to our location and way of life, "he said.

"Any program that requires state funds has to be first approved by the money committees of the Senate and House. Remote rural communities such as ours are dependent on the services provided by the state because, simply, we are either too small or too remote for many private service providers to locate here," he said.

The tour will include a briefing at the Hana Community Health Center and Hana High and Elementary School, as well as stops at the Hana wharf, and at state park facilities in the region.

A "town meeting" will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kihei Community Center, where lawmakers will hear concerns about small boat harbors, medical facilities, highways and other issues.

The committee's schedule Tuesday will also include a stop at the Makawao Public Library.

The schedule Wednesday will include:

• 8 a.m., visitor industry briefing at the Sheraton Maui in Kaanapali.
• 10 a.m., meeting with Lahaina school principals, Lahainaluna High School library.
• Noon, Maui Memorial Medical Center.
• 2 p.m., Maui Economic Opportunity
• 3 p.m., Maui Community College and visit to Maui Dental Center.

Copyright © 2003 — The Maui News

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