Maui nonprofits face severe cuts in county funding
From the Associated Press
WAILUKU, Hawaii — A nonprofit organization that holds free Hawaiian cultural festivals is worried those events won't be able to continue because of county budget cuts, the Maui News reported on May 26. MauiFEST is among the nonprofits that saw their funding slashed this week after the Maui County Council voted against a plan to double the minimum property tax and was forced to make cuts to offset the lost revenue.
Ken Martinez Burgmaier, a MauiFEST founder, said it is uncertain whether festivals in Hana and on Molokai can continue without the $14,000 from the county budget. "It would be terrible to stop this festival just cold like this," he said. The organization holds free Hawaiian cultural festivals with films and music in Hana and on Lanai and Molokai.
Hospice Maui saw $250,000 trimmed from the county budget which would have gone toward the construction of a $6 million, 12-bed facility. "We realize there are a lot of needs out there, and ours is one, too," said hospice Executive Director Greg LaGoy.
Maui Visitors Bureau's funding was cut by $150,000, which could hamper efforts to increase its reach to international markets such as Japan, South Korea and China, said Executive Director Terryl Vencl.
