‘Challenging’ 2024 State Legislature Tops Waimea Hybrid Town Meeting Agenda Thurs., Jan. 4, 2024; WCA Extends ‘A Hui Hou’ to James Hustace and Announces Election of Nancy Carr Smith as New President.

The 2024 Legislature, which begins in just over two weeks, is expected to be especially challenging due to pressing – highly emotional – needs to address Maui fire recovery, plus issues stressing the entire state – from affordable housing and homelessness to healthcare, especially mental health supports, to the high cost of living to a shrinking state budget and costly public facilities repair, maintenance, and remediation to address climate change and public safety.

Waimea Community Association will focus discussion on the 2024 Legislature during its Thurs., Jan. 4, 2024 Town Meeting from 5:30-7PM – in person at Tutu’s House and streamed “live” via WCA’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation) and YouTube Channel (www.WaimeaTown.org).
The meeting will be recorded and available on Facebook and YouTube for later viewing.

Leading the meeting’s legislative conversation will be Dist. 4 Sen. Dr. Tim Richards, Dist. 8 Rep. David Tarnas, and County of Hawai’i Fire Chief Kazuo Todd. Each will discuss their priorities and welcome community input.
As always, the entire community is invited to attend and questions are welcome – ideally in advance – by emailing: WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com. Questions may also be typed into the chat (where?) and will be addressed during the meeting as time permits.

Also included in the meeting will be a brief mahalo recognition of James Hustace, who has resigned as President of WCA (and the board?). Taking over the helm of the 60+-year community volunteer organization is long time board member Nancy Carr Smith. Supporting her on the board are Mary Beth Laychak as Vice President; Lani Olsen-Chong as Secretary and Victor Tom as Treasurer. WCA Directors include Riley Smith (membership), David Greenwell, Whitney Harvey, Patti Cook, Chris Wong.(volunteers).

As usual, WCA Town Meetings begin with a pule – this month by Rabbi Sydney Mintz – and will include a brief public safety update by South Kohala Community Policing Officers. Newly promoted Acting Major Jeremie Evangelista will introduce newly promoted South Kohala Acting Captain Roylen Valera.

The spotlighted not-for-profit for January will be the Waimea Resilience Hub discussing launch of a Waimea Emergency Awareness Network to enhance community preparedness.

For more info about the meeting or community association, email WCA President Nancy Carr Smith at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.