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Kihei has been hit by floods in December 2021, September 2022, December 2022, and January 2023, and ‘once in a century flood’ twice in the last 2 years !
I am grateful for the response from Haleakala Ranch and NGO’s like Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and Michael Reyes at MEC
I connected with over 100 Kihei residents on this issue.

They have valid safety and economic concerns

I archived their ideas/plans/concerns and relayed them to The Maui County Department of Public Works
The County of Maui controls the bridges and streets where the flooding is occurring, so I have reached out to DPW Director Molina half a dozen times with community concerns, engineering studies and more, and am still awaiting a substantive reply from emails months ago.
This Critical issue needs more county effort and follow-up
SO- how can we solve this?

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Today’s question:�How can we prevent flooding and ocean damage from stormwater runoff?

Solution: Protect our community by funding environmentally friendly strategies such as:

Replacing undersized drainage culverts
Reducing the transport of sediments through R1 irrigated plant areas with deer fencing
Constructing vegetated retaining walls
Building of water detention and retention features (reservoirs)
Replace/repair inadequate water release culverts on South Kihei Road

This requires work Mauka by DLNR and Ranches (State and County Funds) as well as County DPW

FLOODING:

We can't undo 50 years of development in a wetland area without environmental assessments where permits were handed out like candy, nor can I reverse climate change. As a State official I can not legally affect a county bridge or county road.
I can however obtain funding and amplify your voices
I requested DLNR action and obtained state fund$ for mitigation

Specifically I requested AND OBTAINED funds for flood prevention and mitigation Mauka:

Funding for R-1 Water reservoir, Planting, and Axis Deer Mitigation Fencing for Kūlanihākoʻi Waiakoa and Waipu'ilani.

This will not solve the problem today but will help in the future.

Specific Flood Mitigation Funding $

Greening Mauka with R1 water also is a wildfire prevention 2 for 1!

As a member of the House Special Working Group on Wildfire prevention,

I am pushing for funding for increased water distribution to green our hills to prevent wildfires.

Summary: I work for you �I want to hear what you want me to do�Email: RepAmato@Capitol.Hawaii.Gov Phone: 808-586-8525 www.TAmato.org

#WorkingForThePeople