Patty Copperfield, transportation director for Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), told the County Budget Committee in Lahaina that MEO has delivered more than 550,000 rides countywide over the past three years and asked the committee to continue funding.

Copperfield provided a breakdown of recent trip types: 37,056 human‑services trips this fiscal year to date (32,000 of those youth‑related), roughly 14,000 dialysis trips, about 76,000 adult‑day and kupuna transportation trips, and thousands of additional rides for employment, senior nutrition, specialized programs, and rural shopping shuttles.

She explained the value of the program for dialysis patients, working families, kupuna, and partner social‑service agencies, and urged continued county support to keep those services operating.

Council members asked how wildfire recovery and changes in routes affected operating costs; Copperfield said route distances and passenger baggage have shifted but did not say the budget impact in exact dollar terms during public testimony.

No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting; Copperfield requested protection and possible expansion of operating funds for MEO services.