Mālama I Nā Kūpuna | Caring for the Elders
In Kahului today, our "infrastructure" isn't just roads and sewers—it is the families who carry the weight of caregiving.
Right now, we have 112 seniors on a waitlist just to get into the fitness and day programs on Maui. That is not just a number. That is 112 families stressing every morning about where their mom or dad will go while they work. That is 112 of our elders sitting at home alone instead of being active in their community.
The County has no problem issuing bonds to pave a highway. Why do we hesitate to issue bonds to care for the people who built those highways?
The "Social Bond" Financing Strategy
Building Centers, Not Just Bureaucracy
We are told the budget is tight. But the truth is, Maui County has a AA+ Bond Rating. We have access to capital, but we are using it wrong. We spend millions on "studies" while our community centers crumble.
My Plan: The Central Maui Social Impact Bond
I will introduce a resolution authorizing the issuance of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) specifically earmarked for Social Infrastructure.
What this means: We borrow money from investors who specifically want to fund social good (at competitive rates) to build physical assets.
The Project: Immediate funding to expand at current centers and build a new Adult Day Care & Senior Activity Hub in Kahului.
The Math: Building these centers pays for itself. When kupuna have a place to go, their health improves (lowering medical costs) and their adult children can return to the workforce full-time (increasing our local economy).
"A budget is a moral document. If we can find $26 million for the Puʻunēnē Avenue widening, we can find the funds to clear the waitlist at Binhi at Ani." — Aunty Carol
The "Aging in Place" Retrofit Subsidy
Keeping Kupuna Home, Where They Belong
Most of our seniors don't want to go to a care home. They want to stay in the Kahului home they bought 40 years ago. But often, that home is no longer safe—stairs are too steep, bathrooms aren't accessible, and doorways are too narrow for walkers.
The Policy:
I will launch a Senior Safety Retrofit Grant, funded by a portion of the Affordable Housing Fund.
The Grant: Up to $5,000 per household for safety modifications: installing grab bars, building wheelchair ramps, and widening doorways.
The Process: Simplified application for any homeowner over 70 with a household income under the AMI (Area Median Income) cap.
The Impact: It costs the County thousands a month to support a senior in a facility. It costs us a one-time grant of $5,000 to keep them safe at home. That is fiscal responsibility.
Protecting the "Golden Years"
Safety Beyond the Home
Kahului’s infrastructure is failing our seniors. Have you tried to cross the street near the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center with a cane? The lights change too fast, and the drivers are too aggressive.
My Commitment:
Crosswalk Audits: I will mandate an immediate "Pedestrian Safety Audit" for every crosswalk within 500 feet of a senior housing complex or community center. We will install Raised Crosswalks and Longer Signal Timers.
Kupuna Transit: We will protect and expand the MEO bus routes that service our senior centers. No cuts to the routes that are their lifeline to the doctor and the grocery store.
THE KULEANA PLEDGE
If elected, I promise to:
Eliminate the Waitlist: My goal is Zero Waitlist for senior day programs in Kahului by 2028.
Pass the Bond: Authorize the "Social Impact Bond" in my first budget cycle to fund care center expansion.
Fast-Track Retrofits: Ensure the "Aging in Place" grants are available within 6 months of taking office.