Mayor Bissen Wins Reelection, Signaling Continued Push on Vacation Rental Conversions
Multiple sources report that Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen won reelection on November 4, defeating County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura despite significant independent expenditure spending in support of his opponent. The race was closely watched by the vacation rental community, as Bissen championed Bill 9 — a law requiring thousands of Minatoya-list vacation rentals […]
Council Blocks Hotel Rezoning for Four Condo Complexes in West Maui and Māʻalaea
The Maui County Council voted 5-4 to reject resolutions that would have sent hotel-rezoning proposals for four oceanfront condo complexes to the Planning Commission. Without rezoning, these properties cannot continue short-term vacation rentals past the Bill 9 phase-out deadlines. The four properties — Nohonani, Hoyochi Nikko, Māʻalaea Kai, and Island Sands — were denied a […]
Maui STR Phase-Out May Favor Cash Buyers Over Local Residents, RAM Data Shows
The REALTORS Association of Maui analyzed 183 condo sales in early 2026 and found that falling prices in STR-affected buildings have not translated into affordability for local residents. Nearly 70% of buyers had mainland mailing addresses, and 34% paid cash — a pattern more common among investors than local owner-occupants. Ordinance 5909, enacted December 2025, […]
UH Study: Toxic Metals Still Elevated in Maui Residents 18 Months Post-Fire
Multiple outlets reported on a new peer-reviewed study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finding that Maui residents continued to carry elevated levels of toxic metals in their bodies up to 18 months after the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, with those higher levels linked to measurable lung impairment. The Maui Wildfire Exposure […]
Lahaina Condo Owners Face $200M+ Rebuilding Gap Three Years After Fire
Three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, owners at two Lahaina condo complexes — Aina Nalu and Spinnaker — are still struggling to fund rebuilds due to major insurance shortfalls and no government assistance. Aina Nalu had only about 20% of the estimated $200 million needed to rebuild. Aina Nalu’s 189-unit complex was fully destroyed, […]
Maui Council Moves 2,000+ Apartment-Zone Vacation Rentals Toward Hotel Rezoning
The Maui County Council voted 7-1 to refer roughly 2,056 apartment-district vacation rental units to the Planning Commission for potential rezoning into new hotel districts, where short-term rental use would be explicitly permitted. The move could exempt these properties from Bill 9’s phase-out of STRs in apartment zones. The Council passed two resolutions referring ~2,056 […]
Maui’s Medical-Only Cannabis Rules: What Visiting Guests Need to Know
Hawaii requires all cannabis buyers — including visitors — to obtain a state-issued medical card (329 card) before purchasing at any of Maui’s five dispensaries. There is no recreational cannabis market in Hawaii. Hawaii has no recreational cannabis program; all purchases require a valid 329 card issued by the Hawaii Department of Health. Out-of-state and […]
OGG Ground Transport Guide: Taxis, Uber & Lyft for Arriving Guests
Kahului Airport offers taxis, Uber, and Lyft for arriving visitors, each with distinct pickup zones and pricing. Taxi rates increased in late 2024, while rideshares remain competitive for longer trips to resort areas like Lahaina and Kihei. Taxis, Uber, Lyft, and pre-arranged shuttles all operate from the lower level outside baggage claim in separate designated […]
Maui Council Committee Advances New Hotel Zoning for Vacation Rentals
A Maui County Council committee approved Bill 88 to create new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories that could provide a pathway for some vacation rental properties affected by the Bill 9 phase-out. The measure now goes to the full council for consideration. Bill 88 creates H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories but does not […]
Council Advances 170-Unit Housing Development Near Congested Paia Town
Maui County Council committee voted to advance a 170-home development proposal on former sugarcane land near Paia, despite existing traffic and parking issues in the already crowded north shore town. The development would include 120 single-family homes, 50 multi-family units, commercial businesses, and a medical clinic on 40 acres. A 200-stall public parking lot is […]