KAHULUI–The Maui county council met for their only scheduled regular meeting for the month of June. All nine members were present during the over four hour meeting as the council considered eight committee reports, nine resolutions, and 11 bills in total.

Councilmember Tamara Paltin started the meeting with opening remarks, describing for the council her recent trip to Japan.

“I wanted to share a little about my recent visit to Japan where I learned invaluable lessons on disaster recovery, resilience, and the power of relationships,” Paltin said in her opening remarks. “The delegation was coordinated by the U.S. – Japan Council and funded by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Paltin said the gift of a trip to Japan bestowed upon the County of Maui from the nation was, “a very thoughtful gift from one island nation to another where they wanted to give more than a simple monetary donation. But share their knowledge and firsthand experiences, opportunities, and challenges with recovery efforts.”

The first resolution of the meeting was recognizing Principal Tonata Lolesio of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, who recently received the prestigious award “Lead, Learn. Proclaim.” The award was bestowed upon Lolesio by the National Catholic Education Association for her leadership after the school was destroyed in the August 8, 2023, wildfires.

Lolesio is among 11 educators from across the country to receive the award.

The resolution by the Maui County Council recognized Lolesio publicly for her community service and certified copies of the resolution were sent out to her colleagues as a result of the resolution passing unanimously amongst the council.

“During the fires, Principal Lolesio was determined to walk as far as necessary until she was able to find a location with working mobile-phone service, allowing her to communicate with her colleagues and students,” the resolution reads. “Principal Lolesio gathered the school’s faculty and staff on August 11, 2023, to report that all of the children and their families were accounted for and within three weeks of the wildfire, Principal Lolesio’s swift action and coordinated efforts resulted in the school’s relocation to the Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, allowing for the continuation of education, as well as providing a space for healing and hope. Principal Lolesio’s ongoing efforts to continue Sacred Hearts School’s educational operations, including a planned relocation to Ka’anapali, demonstrate her proactive approach and steadfast pledge to ensure the continuity of education and the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Principal Lolesio’s well-deserved national award has brought pride and honor to Maui County.”

Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura added, “I have said over and over that the August 8 wildfires have brought many angels into our lives. Just reading the resolution and hearing member Paltin speak of her, I think she (Lolesio) is one of them that I believe will affect many generations to come, so I support this resolution and thank her very much.”

Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez became emotional while speaking of the services Lolesio provided the community of Lahaina.

“I saw her rise up,” Rawlins-Fernandez said, holding back the tears. “When our community is in need, the people who see the need and don’t wait around for someone else to do the work, they’re the real leaders. So I just wanted to thank you and mahalo for just being the one to rise up and be there for our community, especially after the fire.”

Rawlins-Fernandez said she was really moved by the love and care Lolesio has for the community.

Lolesio, who was in attendance at the meeting with her husband, was asked to join the council with her husband at the podium to receive her recognition from the council and two ceremonial leis.

“I am truly honored to have been bestowed this resolution and for the support that all of you councilmembers and everyone in this room have shown this beautiful and blessed morning,” Lolesio said with her husband standing with her. “These things have never happened to Lahaina before this devastation and this crisis. But the first thing that comes to mind is – what small thing can I do with great love to show those near me and those who are suffering that it’s going to be ok?”

Lolesio added that it all starts with small acts of love and aloha before thanking the council for the resolution.

“I thank you so much,” Lolesio said. “It means a great deal to me and my husband, my sister and her children, and my family, especially the family of the Sacred Heart School and the Catholic Church.”

The council continued on in the meeting adopting several resolutions, including reappointing Vince William Razo to the Commission on Healing Solutions for the Homelessness, authorizing Mayor Richard Bissen to enter into a fine settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency over “alleged” Clean Water Act violations for $193,274, and accepting a donation of gym equipment to the Maui Police Department.