Community supporters back Vernon Kalani Kau for Conservation Planning Committee; committee recommends approval

The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to recommend Vernon Kalani Kau for placement on Exhibit B for final council approval to the Maui County Conservation Planning Committee after multiple residents gave detailed testimony supporting his nomination.

Several community members described Kau's long-standing volunteer work on Maui. Janice Hill, who testified at the outset of the meeting, said Kau has been ‘‘actively involved in all cetacean strandings on Maui shorelines and other islands when called upon’’ and detailed his steady presence documenting floods and wetland conditions around Kihei. "You will see the extensive amount of volunteer hours he commits to Maui Island. He's more than qualified to be on the conservation planning committee," Hill said.

Cody Nemet Tuivayiti, identifying themselves as a project manager for Hui Oaina Kukoa in Kulakai, said Kau acted as a mentor and has been "probably one of the most dedicated persons that I know when it comes to conservation, the health of the aina, a community, and moving forward." Christina Lynch recounted a recent incident in which her daughter reported dirty water flowing to the ocean; Lynch said Kau responded swiftly, collected samples and brought them to county staff. "It took Vernon two minutes to call my daughter... He drove down there, took samples, and brought it back to the county. That is dedication like no other," Lynch said.

During the meeting, Kau described his work across multiple parts of the island and his focus on both cultural and environmental protection. Asked about areas of concern, he said, "The land come first before the man," adding that he spends much of his time monitoring wetlands and stream flows and plans to engage with wildfire-response workshops and co-management activities.

The committee moved to recommend adoption of the item listed as Resolution 25-29 and to place Kau on Exhibit B for council consideration; the motion carried 9-0.

Why it matters: The Conservation Planning Committee provides advisory input to county staff and policymakers on natural-resource issues; a member with local knowledge of wetlands, stream flows and shoreline conditions can influence how the county prioritizes monitoring, cleanup and hazard response.

Next steps: The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the full County Council for final confirmation. Written testimony remains part of the public record.

No formal amendments to the nomination were made during the committee vote.