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Maui Department of Agriculture seeks staff, expanded grants and infrastructure funding in FY26 request
Summary
Department leaders presented a broadly expanded FY26 budget to the council’s BFED committee April 16, seeking new positions, grant funding and infrastructure spending tied to Ag Park water projects. Public testimony from farmers and nonprofits emphasized food security and local farm support.
The Maui County Department of Agriculture presented its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee on April 16, asking for additional staff and significant increases to its grants and operations budgets.
Department Director Rogerine Kale and Deputy Director Koa Heva outlined the request: the wages-and-salaries budget would rise with the addition of several positions, bringing total employees to 12 (with a request for 3.5 additional full-time equivalents for FY26). Operations funding requested a large increase driven in part by the transfer of four Maui Humane Society grant programs into the department and a proposed $1,000,000 increase to the county’s general grant subsidy line.
Kale said the department secured roughly $478,007 from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for a conservation liaison position but noted federal program freezes and shifting grants have complicated planning. She reported $3,970,000 already encumbered for construction of a new booster pump station at the Upper Maui Ag Park and described plans for a second reservoir and a 12-inch main line to connect a new reservoir to the Upper Maui Ag Park with an estimated cost of $1,500,000.
Public testimony emphasized the role of county agriculture funding in food security and farm support. Scott Lacasse, chief executive of Grow Some Good, described his group’s partnership with the department and asked the council to maintain a $150,000 line item supporting farm-to-school and community programs. Bobby Paje of the Kailahui Foundation urged support for the department’s expansion and said county-level agricultural services have helped farmers more than the state because of local relationships.
The Maui Humane Society sent representatives to clarify its FY26 grant request after the administration transferred several animal programs from Department of Human Concerns to Agriculture. Deputy director Kale said the department would manage the grants if the council approves the funds but acknowledged the department will need staff capacity to administer any new programs. Committee members pressed the department on staffing levels and on the timing for hiring: Director Kale said the grants team recently added a grants-management specialist and a grants coordinator, and that additional staff would be required to manage a stepped-up grants program.
Kale told the committee the Ag Park work would move forward, with the booster pump station construction scheduled and reservoir planning ongoing; the department said financing includes county, state and prior acquisitions set aside since FY19. Members asked about possible congressional earmarks for Upper Maui water infrastructure; the department said federal decisions were pending.
Ending: Committee members asked for follow-up information on grant administration, the status of Maui Humane Society program transfers, and the department’s hiring timeline. The committee recessed to continue budget deliberations and asked departments to return with requested clarifications.
