Department of Human Concerns outlines FY26 budget with West Maui senior center planning, safe-parking pilot and program transfers

Chair Yuki Leisugimura opened the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee hearing by inviting the Department of Human Concerns to present its FY26 request. Director Lori Tuhaku told the committee the departmentasked for a budget that is 3.2% below the current fiscal year and described program priorities, staff shortages, and several one-time and continuing requests.

The Department of Human Concerns (DHC) emphasized its second year of operation after the split with the Department of Housing and said staff were using the narrower organizational focus to deliver direct and indirect social services. Tuhaku said the department currently had 36 vacant positions, of which 13 are grant-funded; five vacancies were expected to be filled by May 16. She said DHC did not request any expansion positions for FY26 and planned to continue recruitment and retention work with the Department of Personnel Services.

A nut graf on why it matters: committee members heard the department balancing ongoing service delivery with transitions of programs and leadership, including an animal-management transfer, major capital planning for wildfire recovery, and new program pilots aimed at the houseless population.

Key program and budget points

- Staffing and vacancies: 36 vacancies in the department, 13 of which are grant-funded; five were projected to be filled by mid-May. The department said it will continue recruitment and highlighted administrative improvements intended to shorten recruiting timelines.

- Animal management: DHC confirmed the county plan noted at the mayors office to move animal-management responsibilities and related funding to the Department of Agriculture; DHC said it is working to coordinate a smooth transition with the current grantee, Maui Humane Society.

- West Maui senior center planning CIP: DHC requested $250,000 in one-time capital improvement project funds to pay a consultant for planning and design of a replacement West Maui senior center that was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfire. Tuhaku said that hiring a consultant would speed planning and community engagement.

- Safe-parking pilot: DHC included an $850,000 expansion in the county grant subsidy line to pilot the mayors priority safe parking program. DHC said an RFP was issued in March, an informational meeting took place in early April, and procurement was scheduled to close in mid-May. The department described the pilot as a single-site, competitive selection for an operator, with scoring to consider site readiness, services, security, toilets and hygiene access, and other startup costs; the transcripts show the department expects one proposal to be selected for the initial pilot.

- Grants and program absorption: DHC said it had absorbed seven new program grants (three from the Office of Economic Development, three from the Department of Management, and one other). The department also said grant contracting delays at the state and staffing shortages had limited some program startup timelines.

Discussion and public comment highlights

Committee members pressed DHC about the scope of the departments vacancies and the administrative burden of grant management. DHC staff said they were consolidating grant index codes to reduce contract amendments and administrative work. Members asked for written follow-up about specific lapsed appropriations and where unspent grant funds appeared in the FY24 closing. Tuhaku agreed to provide a written breakdown.

Ending

Committee members and staff agreed to submit any additional follow-up questions in writing for DHC. DHC said it would post RFP details for the safe-parking pilot and work with other county departments on transition tasks tied to the animal-management program.