Agriculture Leader Bobby Pahia Announces County Council Campaign
Bobby Pahia, a family business owner and agriculture leader, has filed to run for Maui County Council with priorities focused on protecting land, providing cost-of-living relief, and empowering collective leadership. Pahia brings decades of experience in land use planning, water management, and infrastructure maintenance. His campaign centers on three priorities: protect ‘āina, provide cost-of-living relief, […]
Mayor Bissen Announces Re-election Campaign for Maui County
Mayor Richard Bissen filed for re-election, citing continued work needed on housing, infrastructure, and wildfire recovery. His administration reports 190% increase in affordable housing production and securing $1.6 billion in federal recovery funding. Bissen’s administration increased affordable housing production by 190% since 2023 with nearly 900 homes delivered. The county secured approximately $1.6 billion in […]
County Outreach Program Returns to Molokai for Community Services Access
Multiple sources report that Mayor Richard Bissen is bringing the Holomua Kākou community outreach program back to Molokai in late June. This initiative aims to provide rural communities with direct access to county services and staff. Mayor Bissen will visit Molokai on June 29-30, 2026 as part of the ongoing effort to bring county government […]
Kihei Road Storm Repairs Resume May 28 with Daytime Lane Closures
Storm damage repairs on South Kīhei Road will resume May 28 after a materials delivery delay, causing weekday and Saturday lane closures through June 20. South Kīhei Road between Ohukai Road and Kūlanihākoʻi Street will have daytime closures 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays starting May 28. Only local access will be allowed […]
County Committee Postpones Kahului Overnight Parking Ban Decision
Maui County deferred action on a proposed overnight parking ban in Kahului’s industrial area after hearing concerns about impacts on homeless residents. The committee also reviewed changes to water development fees. Bill 49 would ban overnight parking from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on three streets near Kahului businesses. Local businesses requested the ban due […]
Hawaii Campaign Finance Law Changes and Training Sessions Held on Maui
Multiple sources reported on recent campaign finance developments affecting Hawaii, including new legislation and training sessions conducted on Maui. The changes involve restrictions on corporate spending in elections and new compliance requirements. Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2471 into law as Act 11, establishing new campaign finance restrictions on corporations and nonprofit organizations (Maui […]
County Council Committee Backs $4M More for Wailuku Cultural Center Project
A Maui County Council committee approved adding $4 million in bond funding for the under-construction Hālau of ʻŌiwi Arts cultural facility in Wailuku, bringing the total project cost to $50.5 million. The additional $4 million would restore items cut during construction including commercial kitchen equipment, security systems, and rooftop solar panels. The original $46.5 million […]
Ethics Questions Raised Over Official’s Private Jet Trip to Packers Game
A Maui mayor’s office director allegedly traveled by private jet to a Packers game in Sentry Insurance’s luxury box, raising ethics concerns about gifts from companies receiving county funding. The county later allocated $100,000 to the Sentry PGA tournament in its budget. Social media video allegedly shows Maui Mayor’s communications director at Packers game in […]
Federal Agency Blocks Closure of Kahului and Hilo Power Plants
The EPA rejected Hawaii’s plan to shut down fuel oil-fired power units at generating stations in Kahului and Hilo, citing concerns about grid reliability and legal issues with forced closures. EPA partially disapproved Hawaii’s regional haze plan that would have closed power units at Kahului and Kanoelehua-Hill generating stations. The federal agency cited concerns about […]
South Kihei Water Outage Planned for Sunday Night Maintenance Work
Maui County has announced a scheduled water service outage in South Kihei for maintenance work. The outage will affect several roads in the area during late night and early morning hours. Water service will be interrupted from approximately 10 p.m. on May 19 to 3 a.m. on May 20 Affected areas include S. Kihei Road […]