The Maui County Council approved a grant from the county’s managed-retreat revolving fund to help Montokuji Mission of Paia investigate an exposed fuel line and shore erosion at the temple property near Mantokuji Bay.

Why it matters: Testimony described decades of shoreline degradation — including historic sand mining in the 1930s — that left the temple and cemetery vulnerable to erosion. Consultants told the council recent storm events and large swells have damaged temporary shoreline protections and displaced sandbagging, and that an old buried fuel tank and lines pose a potential ecological hazard to sensitive nearshore habitat.

Public testimony and technical briefing: Eric Moto, representing Montokuji, outlined the cultural and community importance of the temple and described recent erosion and wave impacts. Coastal engineer Mike Foley, who has consulted with Montokuji since 2018, testified the site faces “accelerated” shoreline retreat and said the exposed fuel line and buried tank should be investigated and remediated promptly to prevent ecological harm. He documented turtle mortalities and coral decline near the site and said managed-retreat funds are an appropriate tool to address urgent hazards.

Council action: Councilmembers adopted the resolution and passed implementing budget language (Bill 188 FD1) on second and final reading to authorize up to $500,000 in managed-retreat funds for remediation and associated work. Members described the situation as an example of an urgent environmental and cultural risk and voiced support for reinstating broader managed-retreat funding in future budgets.

Next steps: Staff and the mission must coordinate on site assessment, fuel-line location and remediation planning, and culturally sensitive implementation. Council members asked the administration to consider reinstating or continuing managed-retreat allocations in the county budget, citing Montokuji as an example of how the fund could be used preventively.

Sources: Testimony and council action during the Jan. 17 meeting; technical comments from coastal engineering consultant Mike Foley.