'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
A former state representative is facing backlash for her comments online expressing disapproval of the controversial proposal to phase out thousands of vacation rentals throughout Maui County.
WAILUKU, Hawai'i (Island News) -- A former state representative is facing backlash for her comments online expressing disapproval of the controversial proposal to phase out thousands of vacation rentals throughout Maui County.
Tina Wildberger, who used to cover the Kihei area as a legislator, said "decimating the Minatoya list will turn Kihei into Kaunakakai. Kihei will become a resort ghetto ghost town."
While some took offense to Wildberger's words, she said they were taken out of context.
"I think my word 'resort ghetto' was inflammatory to some people, and if you actually take the literal meaning of the word 'ghetto,' it is a working class neighborhood. It's a term for neighborhood. It can be used in a derogatory manner, I did not mean it that way," Wildberger explained.
Moloka'i native John Pele shared his reaction to the remarks, saying, "obviously, one would get a little bit offended, but I'm very proud to be from Moloka'i. I'm very proud to be raised there and I'm very proud for who we are."
Wildberger's statement came amid a divisive debate over whether to convert about 7,000 vacation rentals on what is called the Minatoya list into long-term lodging for residents.
The Maui Planning Commission heard heated testimony earlier this week from supporters and critics.
Wildberger elaborated on her comparison of Kihei to Kaunakakai if the South Maui tourist town were to face economic losses because of the phase-out.
"I also love Kaunakakai. I don't want to see Kihei go by the way of Kaunakakai," Wildberger added. "The people that live on Moloka'i live and work the way they want and that solution is not necessarily what is best for Kihei."
While Pele disagreed with Wildberger's approach, he agreed Kihei residents should be the ones to decide the future of the town.
"Kaunakakai is the heart and soul of our island, it is our main town. It is quaint and we're proud of it and we like it just the way it is and to each its own," Pele said. "The people in Kihei should be the ones to voice concerns about their own community."
In the meantime, the planning commission is scheduled to resume taking testimony on the phase-out bill next month.
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'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
