Parents, Head Start staff and food‑access advocates appeared at the Upcountry residency hearing to ask the county to maintain or expand funding for early‑childhood and food‑security programs.

Jasmine Airela, speaking on behalf of a parent, thanked the council and mayor for prior support that extended Head Start hours and asked the county to continue funding Makawao Head Start so children receive preparation for kindergarten and parents have childcare stability. Melissa Ramos, a vice principal whose son participated in STEM Works, aligned with those calls, urging continued support for after‑school programming that supplements school learning.

Separately, food‑systems advocate Georgia Pinsky and longtime grower Jerry Ross requested more county funding for food‑preservation infrastructure, commercial kitchens and farm supports that increase local food security. Pinsky described work presented at a statewide food systems conference and argued for investments in preservation and processing so produce is not wasted and communities can store food for longer periods.

Ross, speaking from a grower’s perspective, said microgrants funded practical farm investments including nursery roofing and on‑farm vehicles; he encouraged continued county support for farmer education, pest management research and programs that connect producers to local food distribution.

Speakers asked that county budget decisions prioritize programs that support early childhood services, nutrition and farm infrastructure. No formal action was taken during the residency meeting.