OK, honestly, do you know what a MACZAC is? Nope, not a new Mauna Loa Macadamia treat, and no not a new ultimate Big Mac burger.

It is Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council, working under the State of Hawaii Office of Planning (OIP), and they had their quarterly meeting right here in Kihei Monday (8/19/13) at the Whale Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) on South Kihei Rd. As it was an all day event, we were able to observe the morning portion which began at 9:30 AM.

The two major presentations in the New Business portion were : “Managing Maui Shorelines and Existing Development in a climate of Sea Level Rise, Coastal Erosion, and Episodic Storms,” offered by Jim Buika of Maui County Planning Department, followed by Sanctuary Superintendent Malia Chow’s “Sanctuary Management Plan Update.”

Several Maui marine related environmentalists were in attendance to observe and absorb and ask a few questions, as well as several planners from the County Department. 9:30 on a Monday morning is a challenge for much of the “general public,’ but a handful of them were there as well.