Tsuhako receives unanimous nod from committee

Acting housing director already working on strategic housing plan

WAILUKU -- Acting Housing and Human Concerns Director Lori Tsuhako, who less than a month into her job is already working on a strategic housing plan, was recommended for confirmation Thursday by a Maui County Council committee.

The council's Governance, Ethics and Transparency Committee voted 9-0 to recommend approval of Mayor Michael Victorino's appointee, who previously served as county housing director from 2008 to 2011 and as deputy housing director from 2007-2008 under then-mayor Charmaine Tavares' administration.

The resolution now heads to the full council for confirmation.

Victorino's first pick for the post, William Spence, was denied by the full council in February.

Tsuhako, who has 32 years as a professional social worker, sailed through the committee's vetting process and received positive oral testimony in support of her confirmation at the Thursday meeting.

She has also held state and other county positions, including Maui County Office on Aging wellness coordinator and Hawaii Department of Human Services Homeless Programs administrator.

The deputy director is Linda Munsell, who does not need council confirmation. Munsell has worked in the department's Housing Division since 2010.

Council Member Riki Hokama said he sees Tsuhako as improving the department.

"I see this lady as being able to whip it into shape," he said, referring to Tsuhako's talk of bringing the housing department together with other county departments to work with developers who have not followed through with housing projects.

Hokama said it was "refreshing" to hear Tsuhako say she was working off a "clean slate," meaning she is open to new ideas and maybe some old ones.

Committee Vice-Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, one of the council members most critical of some of Victorino's appointments, said: "I believe she is qualified. She will provide the leadership the department needs."

The council member noted Tsuhako's limited experience in housing but applauded her for engaging those in the community with housing experience when she was appointed last month, calling it "the right step."

"I think your urgency for housing is very refreshing," Rawlins-Fernandez added.

In response to Council Member Tasha Kama's question on increasing housing, Tsuhako said she will take the data of various studies, including ones that say the county needs more than 14,000 housing units by 2025.

With that data, she will see how many units are needed for various income levels and which geographic areas.

"By doing that, we can start galvanizing our county resources, resources we have like the Affordable Housing Fund, and target the areas (in) AMI (annual median income) classes we need the most housing and focus on that," Tsuhako said.

Tsuhako said that data will be in the strategic plan that the department is scheduled to put out in the next three months.

In a letter to council members, Tsuhako set a date of having the plan completed on or before June 30.

"That will paint the pictures of what we need," she told council members.

In response to a later question by Rawlins-Fernandez, Tsuhako said the department will also identify parcels for housing which are state or county owned, and even private lots which have infrastructure ready to go.

In response to a question from Council Member Shane Sinenci regarding what action plan is available for homelessness, Tsuhako said the department is working with the Maui Police Department and businesses to make sure sidewalk access is not being blocked by people.

But she added: "I do not want to criminalize people for being poor, that is not the intention."

The purpose is to make sure the public can use the sidewalk to get to places and also get into businesses, she said.

There are many angles the department is working on, including working with agencies that are contracted to conduct homeless outreach.

Many times the homeless do not take outreach offers, but there might be one day that they will say yes, Tsuhako said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.