Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin will host a virtual community town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 to discuss proposed plans for beach restoration and stabilization in Kahana and whether the Maui County Council should create a community facilities district.

The meeting is being held in coordination with the Kahana Bay Steering Committee and will include a presentation from Oceanit Engineering’s Mike Foley on the science behind T groin coastal structures and their ability to mitigate long-term beach erosion and coastal hazard exposure.

An estimated 85% of Maui’s shorelines are projected to erode over time. Paltin said the establishment of a state special improvement district or county community facilities district could support protective measures in Kahana.

“I anticipate this meeting to serve as a resource for our community as we investigate various solutions to rising sea levels and accelerated coastal erosion,” said Paltin, who holds the council’s West Maui residency seat. “It is important for us as a community to understand the proposed solutions to shoreline erosion and how this project in particular could impact the environment in that area.”

Members of the public may take part in the virtual town hall at us02web.zoom.us/j/84522084396. The meeting will also be shown live on the council’s Facebook page.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.