Seeing “We are West Maui” in action, we are confident the county Department of Planning will do a good job updating the West Maui Community Plan.

We are also encouraged by the number of residents taking an interest in the process and projects slated here.

Some 200 people packed the West Maui Senior Center last week for a community meeting on transportation.

They are stepping up because they love West Maui and have concerns about its future.

With an excellent, interactive website posted at www.wearemaui.org/, the county is making it easy for citizens to participate in the West Maui Community Plan update.

The plan guides future development and revitalization in West Maui from Ukumehame to Honokohau. It is a policy guide, informing decisions about the character of new development, land use, parks and infrastructure over the next 20 years, the county explained.

Next up is a Community Design Open House on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (drop by any time) at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa St. along Lahainaluna Road.

Learn how the design of communities impacts your daily life and share ideas at this event.

“At this open house, you can provide feedback on housing options, redevelopment opportunities, walking and biking improvements, and other topics that are important to creating livable communities. You can also learn about the community planning process, view maps and information, meet the project team and learn how the design of communities impacts our daily lives,” the county reported.

With an informal and interactive format, you can attend at any time during the three-hour window. There will be stations where attendees can provide comments and speak individually with staff.

If you care about West Maui, participate in this process. If a strong plan is developed – and followed by the county government – planning will improve here in the future.

More information about the West Maui Community Plan update is available at www.wearemaui.org, and on Facebook and Instagram @wearemaui. For general planning information, visit www.mauicounty.gov/planning.