Committee splits parks action: update South Maui parks/open-space plan and pursue funding for Waipuilani acquisition

The committee divided a single parks action into two sequential steps. First, members directed staff to update the South Maui Regional Parks & Open Space Master Plan to include acquisition strategies, prioritized beach-park expansion and an implementation timeline. Council discussion suggested an initial budget placeholder of roughly $250,000 for consulting and analysis to prepare a defensible acquisition strategy.

Second, the committee created a separate follow-on action asking the county to obtain funding for acquisitions identified by the resulting strategy, for example the Waipuilani Beach Reserve transfer the plan references. Parks staff said the prior 2003 plan contains useful guidance but is dated and may require a consultant to provide updated economic and feasibility analysis.

The committee assigned the Department of Parks & Recreation and Management (and asked Planning to coordinate) to lead the update and acquisition work. Why it matters: protecting shoreline and parkland was a frequent theme in public testimony and the plan update will provide the legal and financial rationale to pursue purchases, transfers or easements for critical public access and conservation.