Call for action regarding proposed homeless camp In Lahaina

Having a homeless camp will be a major detriment to this community and will , in fact, affect people island wide.

Very, very bad idea. Do the right thing, not the easy thing!

I strongly oppose this permit without extensive public hearings and a careful analysis of alternatives.

I strongly oppose the proposal for a homeless encampment on this site. Having worked with the drug addicted, homeless and mentally ill I do not believe this proposal will help the people the Martin's Foundation is suggesting it will benefit. The Foundation is not working in conjunction with the churches and charities in West Maui who presently aid these clients, the proposed site is land zoned for other purposes, it is dangerous for the clients it is supposed to assist being close to a busy highway and will be a danger to the environment. In recent years the stream close by has been flooded with hypodermic needles ( In the past three years Ihave personally and the staff at Puamana have collected several hundred needles from the stream and the beach at Puamana and turned them in to the County ). Fire is another danger- the Lahaina Fire Department has been called many times to douse fires in this area . There is a need to help people struggling - this is definitely a poorly thought out plan.

Bad idea

I think it is a wonderful idea to have a highly visible tent city shared by transients and vacationing campers looking to sleep under the street lights together, located on hot arid land bordered by two heavily traveled highways and a neglected animal refuge within convenient walking distance of no essential services, recreational sites, or potential places of employment. It will improve local property values and will make a positive impression on tourists traveling the highways who can be counted on to give the residents walking to/from town a ride. This project is driven by a desire to give the wealthy property owner a tax deduction for his worthless land, not a serious effort to improve the quality of life of transients. I suspect it does not comply with zoning requirements or building codes. We might investigate how other neighbors intend to respond before formulating a position for PCA, and get the news out to our homeowners so they can express their individual views and opposition if that's what they choose to do. The fact that it is in our backyard is not what makes it a poor proposal - it would be a bad idea in any part of any developed nation. We might investigate other options for housing the homeless closer to town in better accommodations - and funding possibilities - presenting better alternatives.

Not a good solution. Community programs are needed, not a tent camp.

This camp is ill advised and is being pushed through without adequate notice or study. It will negatively impact the nearby taxpaying citizens.

Keep it by the current homeless facility where there is access to the bus system, closer to town and not in the back yard of neighborhoods.

Inadequate sanitation, and increased crime and most of our neighbors have two and sometimes three jobs just to make ends meet. How does the "transition" camp realistically plan on sucess for a homeless camp. Where is there business plan?

Fix the real problems (access to resources), do not just put on a cheap temporary band aid. Dangerous complications will inevitably arise.

Lahaina resident

Way to hot without AC, especially in a tent. 32 years in Lahaina.

Those who thought of it should live it. They would quickly discover how wrong this is!

So many local residents have offered such reasonable objections to this project. It would be difficult to imagine--although not impossible--to understand how our elected officials could possibly rule in favor of Peter Martin's foundation and the proposed homeless encampment over the legitimate concerns of area residents.

Really, in an area for the first view of Lahaina for tourists, much less locals to see. It will be a littered mess, as homeless people have no pride in the areas that they live.

I don't think its safe for all of our keikie around the area to be exposed to the homeless acting disrespectful to the area. It will make families fearful to allow there children to play outside or even walk to Theres friends house. My sister is 9 years old and would be restricted to playing outside with her friends because of the over population of homeless in our area.

Move to another area on Maui, way to hot!!!

Do not set up the camp.

signed!