Great Grants

Walk the Talk, The Hawai'i Community Foundation's annual employee fundraising initiative, has donated $8,860 to assist several local nonprofits and community programs. They are: Ma Ka Hana Ka 'ike, a hands-on learning program in Hana, Maui; Jacqueline J.H. Bean Memorial Fund, that helps women with cancer; Poetry Slam Inc. (Hawai'i Slam), for writing and performance workshops for teens; Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation, for a stroke rehabilitation program; Book Trust, to buy books for students at Pa'ia Elementary School on Maui; Ka Makana 'o Lili'uokalani, to assist orphaned children of Hawaiian descent; Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance-Next Step Shelter, for birthday parties for children living at the shelter.

100000

100000
Music
Book
Smart Car
Japanese
Exercise

50 illegal Maui B&Bs & vacation rentals shut down

LA times says

Maui's long-established bed-and-breakfast industry has faltered since county officials cracked down on illegal vacation rentals, leaving the island with fewer accommodations for its many visitors, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Maui County officials told more than 50 operators of vacation rentals in July that they couldn't continue operating without permits.

Many family-run vacation renters and small businesses have suffered, said David Dantes, president of the Maui Vacation Rentals Association, which represents more than 100 vacation rental owners.

Those with pending permits were allowed to honor reservations until the end of the year. Others were ordered to cease operations immediately.

Maui planners decided this year it was necessary to enforce permitting requirements because the bed-and-breakfast operations can bring noise and heavy traffic into neighborhoods. Other critics blame the illegal vacation rentals for contributing to rising real estate prices that have made owning a home in Hawaii too expensive for many residents.

The number of illegal vacation rentals on Maui is estimated to have grown to 1,200, Hunt said, up 14 percent a year between 2000 and 2005.

But business has noticeably declined since Maui County began enforcing laws requiring permits, said Donna Stafford, owner of Chameleon Travel LLC.

Bridge to Byodo-in

Bridge to Byodo-in
Originally uploaded by harogi

I visited Byodo-in Temple on the island of Oahu, Valley of the Temples in Kaneohe Last weekend. It was so nice. So wonderful and peaceful a place to call home. I will return.

Grant program to hold workshops

WAILUKU – The Maui County Community Development Block Grant Program will hold workshops on three islands for agencies and organizations interested in applying for funds for program year 2008. Five workshops will be held:

9 a.m. to noon Sept. 14, Home Pumehana Senior Center, room 1, Kaunakakai.

9 a.m. to noon Sept. 21, Lanai Police Station conference room, Lanai City.

1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 24, Hawaii Government Employees Association conference room, David K. Trask Jr. Building, Wailuku.

1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 2, Helene Hall, Hana.

9 a.m. to noon Oct. 5, Hawaii Government Employees Association conference room, David K. Trask Jr. Building, Wailuku.

An overview of the Community Development Block Grant Program will be provided and staff will be available to answer questions regarding funding.

Informational workshops are free.

Interested participants are asked to call at least three working days prior to the workshop to reserve a seat; call the CDBG Office at 270-7213 in Wailuku.

Information can also be obtained at the program Web site: www.mauicounty.gov/mayor/community; or e-mail: cdbg@mauicounty.gov

H2O - conservation

Maui news H2O conservation "The department would like to make it clear that its request for conserving water is very serious”
In the Central Maui water system, which includes South Maui, average water use fell from 28.2 million gallons per day two weeks ago to 27.3 mgd last week, the Department of Water Supply reported. Central and South Maui residents and businesses get their water primarily from the Iao aquifer, which has a sustainable yield of 20 mgd. Other water comes from the Iao Ditch and the North Waihee aquifer.