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Kahele seeks to help with Maui flood repairs, economic issues

Congressman visits Maui, stops by flood- impacted sites

By Melissa Tanji 6 min read

KAHULUI -- Describing recent flood damage at one Haiku home as "something else," Congressman Kaiali'i "Kai" Kahele said he would continue to push for federal funds for flood repairs and mitigating the effects of climate change following severe weather across Hawaii.

"These hurricanes and floods and things that we seem to be experiencing with more frequency every year only reaffirms many of our beliefs and science that climate change is here upon us and we have to do things that can address it," Kahele said during an interview with The Maui News on Friday morning.

A former Hawaii island state lawmaker, Kahele is serving his first term in Congress representing Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses Maui County, Kauai, Hawaii island and a rural portion of Oahu. During a four-day stop on Maui this week, the Democratic congressman visited Haiku resident Mark Alexander's home, one of 17 that was damaged in the flooding last week.

"Just to see and hear from him and his wife, and their son was there, the amount of damage and how rapidly the water rose within just minutes, as he described it, it was good to get a chance to meet a family that had been dramatically affected by the floods last week," Kahele said.

The family said there is a river that normally flows by their property, but what happened was "nothing like they had ever seen before," Kahele recalled the family saying. In the basement, water rose as high as the rafters, or about 10 feet.

Kahele also visited Kaupakalua Dam, which overflowed during the heavy rain, and saw the washed-out Peahi Bridge. At both sites Thursday, he continued to see floodwaters and showed a cellphone video of the dam, which normally is empty.

Owned by East Maui Irrigation Co. and Mahi Pono Holdings, the dam had been slated for removal this summer following a state report that found the structure in "unsatisfactory" overall condition. After Mahi Pono reported March 8 that water was starting to top the dam embankment, immediate public safety alerts went out for the evacuation of residents in areas of Haiku and Peahi downstream of the dam and reservoir.

Kahele said federal funds could be made available for issues with infrastructure like the Kaupakalua Dam, but it all depends on President Joe Biden, who is "leaning on" the mayors and the governor to tell him what they need.

Kahele said other islands also hit by flooding are assessing what they need and how much it will cost to conduct repairs.

On March 12, all four members of Hawaii's congressional delegation wrote a letter to Biden asking him to "help expedite all federal assistance possible" to help the state.

Mayor Michael Victorino, who toured the flood sites with Kahele on Thursday, said in a news release that "it was important for Congressman Kahele to see the area with his own eyes.

"It's hard to understand the severity of the flooding and magnitude of damage until you visit the place and talk with the farmers, homeowners and families that were affected," Victorino said. "His assessment will be important to FEMA officials when considering relief measures for our community."

With U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii serving as chairman of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on Climate Crisis, Kahele also pointed out that he could work with Schatz from the House side to tackle the long-term issues of climate change.

In the lobby of the Maui Seaside Hotel, the congressman also touted the benefits of the recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, which will include at least $6.1 billion for Hawaii.

"The most promising thing for Maui County is that they are going to get $32.47 million dollars that is going to come to Maui County directly from the U.S. Treasury," Kahele said.

COVID-19 relief packages passed prior to Biden's administration did not allocate direct money for the individual counties, Kahele said. The first stimulus bill in March 2020 did allot money to larger city and counties, such as Honolulu, but left out the Neighbor Islands, leaving it up to Gov. David Ige's discretion to disperse the funds to individual counties, Kahele said.

According to Kahele, highlights of the American Rescue Plan Act include:

• Billions nationally to help each state's schools reopen, which could include purchases of air purifiers or other equipment.

• $7.5 billion nationally for vaccinations, including purchase and distribution.

• Estimated $1.7 billion to Hawaii residents for a one-time payment of $1,400 per adult and additional $1,400 per dependent, including both children and non-child dependents. Benefits phase out for higher income levels.

• Health insurance: 100 percent assistance for COBRA continuation coverage for eligible individuals and families through Sept. 31 while also reducing premiums for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans for 2021 and 2022 and extending the enrollment period.

• Expansion of the Child Tax Credit: For 2021, the bill increases the maximum Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $3,000, with an additional $600 for each child under the age of 6, and extends the full credit to 17-year-olds.

Kahele said he expects around half of Maui County's $32 million to "plug the hole of lost revenue" due to COVID-19 and the rest to go toward issues decided on by the county.

Looking ahead, Kahele said the House will be working on an infrastructure bill to "put people back to work" with several trillion dollars worth of funds for projects such as roads, bridges and 21st century schools. The House is seeking to pass the bill sometime in May with hopes of it reaching the president by the summer, Kahele said.

Kahele was scheduled to meet with Maui veterans and the National Guard on Friday.

Kahele is a combat veteran, pilot and commissioned officer in the Hawaii National Guard, U.S. Air Force, where he continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel at Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his website.

Kahele said he is looking into what can be done for the long-awaited multiservice center that could consolidate three major Veterans Affairs Department facilities on the Valley Isle. He is also interested in a nursing care facility for veterans in Maui County, similar to the Yukio Okutsu Veterans State Home on Hawaii island. Kahele said veterans facilities are warranted in Maui County, which has about 10,000 veterans.

From Monday to Wednesday, Kahele was on Lanai, where he was able to meet and treat residents to coffee at Blue Ginger Cafe and also talk to local farmers and officials from majority landowner Pulama Lana'i.

"My political style is different. It's more with the people and not rushed," he said, explaining that he did not want to just "parachute in" and "take pictures, shake hands" and leave.

He emphasized a focus on Neighbor Islands and meeting individual community needs, pointing out that he set up his Hawaii office in Hilo -- a departure from a Honolulu office from Hawaii's former congressional members -- and designated three field representatives for Maui County instead of just one, noting that all three islands have different needs and issues.

Kahele said on his next trip to Maui County he is expecting to spend time in West Maui and Molokai.

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

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