I am a Native Hawaiian resident, raised on the island of Maui, who has struggled to secure housing in the Maui housing market since 2023 due to compounding economic crisis. My story is not unique. Many families, individuals, and long-term residents on Maui have found themselves displaced due to the lack of affordable housing options. This crisis has led to an increasing number of residents resorting to living in their cars, a reality that is both mentally and physically exhausting, and potentially unsafe for individuals and families alike.

Maui's housing crisis has been escalating for years, exacerbated by a combination of factors such as rising property values, limited availability of rentals, and stagnant low wages. Currently, Maui County has one of the highest rates of homelessness per capita in the United States, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For many local residents, the struggle to find affordable and stable housing is an ongoing voyage through uncertain seas. How do we "paddle safe" in this turbulent housing market to a secure home on Maui?

"Paddle Safe" Membership for Safe Parking resources & programs on Maui

A practical and immediate solution to alleviate some of these hardships is the establishment of a Safe Parking Program. This program would provide a secure, legal place or location(s) for individuals and families living in their vehicles to park overnight. Such programs have been implemented successfully in various cities, such as Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Jose. They provide designated parking spaces, access to bathrooms, and a sense of community, thus restoring dignity to those who find themselves without a home.

By creating a Safe Parking Program in Maui, we can offer a compassionate, immediate response to the housing crisis, providing displaced residents with a safe and stable temporary environment. This is not a permanent solution but a necessary step towards alleviating the immediate pressures of homelessness, and offers residents the much-needed peace of mind as they seek more permanent housing solutions.

I urge local government officials, community leaders, and organizations to collaborate and establish this crucial program. Let us come together to support our neighbors and uphold the law of Kānāwai Māmalahoe by ensuring that all residents of Maui have a safe place to rest at night.

Please sign this petition to show your support for the establishment of a Safe Parking Program for displaced long-term residents on Maui. By joining this grassroots movement, we form the foundation of constituents for a "Paddle Safe" Membership that can advocate for Safe Parking resources and programs for Maui residents. Together, we can make a change that is long overdue.  Safe Parking for Maui Residents in 2026!

BY SIGNING THIS PETITION YOU ALSO AGREE TO NOT CAUSE HARM TO HOUSELESS RESIDENTS IN HAWAII NEI.