TVR's? Affordable housing?
May 10, 2008 | 07:18 PM

One of the current obstacles being faced on Maui by bamboo growers looking to build houses with their crop here on Maui is the costly certification process done by the international Building Commission which requires rigorous testing and lengthy permitting process to be legal. Now suppose we follow the lead of the illegal TVR operators... the regulation process is too hard, too expensive, we need truly affordable houses NOW for local people who don't want to pimp out their homes to transient vacationers. The way TVR's operate seems to encourage just doing it then when the illegality is so widespread, just lobby your favorite councilmember to author a resolution that will allow you to continue going on in noncompliance of laws. If that's how things work in Maui County, I say just build it. Affordable housing is needed more than TVR's and bamboo homes have proven to be stronger than conventional when standing up to hurricanes, tsunamis and other natural disasters. Will the county really be coming to look if you have a bamboo house? If you live in it with your family for five years will they make you take it apart if they find you? Signs are pointing to no as they have no other realistic solution for affordable housing. That being the case I would expect the county to form a partnership with these bamboo growers for the purpose of long term, truly affordable housing for citizens--without the need to import building materials.

Isidore Louis Jr.