Fostering community relations in Upcountry Maui By Yuki Lei K. Sugimura Creating spaces to gather with our neighbors and community members is essential to forming fundamental bonds that ensure Maui County thrives socially and economically. In Upcountry Maui, residents are continuing to engage with each other and build a sense of unity. Von Tempsky Community […]
Creating opportunities through hardships By Tom Cook Everyone agrees there is a need for additional housing on Maui. The need is most urgent in the wildfire-impacted zones of Lahaina and Upcountry, where last year’s fires have taken our housing crisis into a housing catastrophe. With 2,173 structures destroyed in last year’s tragedy, rebuilding multigenerational homes […]
Phase out transient vacation rentals to phase in new opportunities By Gabe Johnson On Tuesday, the Maui Planning Commission discussed a bill to phase out transient-vacation rental use in apartment zoning districts. So, it might seem like I’m copying and pasting from their agenda if I said, “the purpose of the bill was to clarify […]
Exploring disaster resilience: reflections on my journey to Japan By Tamara Paltin As the chair of Maui County Council’s Disaster, Resilience, International Affairs and Planning Committee and the councilmember from West Maui, I was invited by the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S.-Japan Council to participate in the Kibou (“Hope”) for Maui Leadership […]
Springing into summer By Tasha Kama Summer is fast upon us, and the month of May was filled with tears of joy and moments to last a lifetime. Our graduates are off to new adventures, our little ones have wrapped up their last days for the school year, and the Maui County Council completed its […]
Celebrating diversity in Maui County By Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins During May, the United States observes Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. For more than 30 years, this annual observance has provided a platform to amplify the voices of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders throughout the nation while highlighting their achievements and […]
Opening more discussion on the proposed water source agreement in Kula By Yuki Lei K. Sugimura An abundant source of clean water is needed in Upcountry Maui to support on-island agriculture, reliable residential use and fire prevention and suppression. As the county continues its post-disaster mitigation efforts, the ability to provide and access water will […]
Sustainable water stewardship through the East Maui Water Authority By Shane M. Sinenci When I took office five years ago, one of my first goals was to address our uncertain water future. Our communities have been left out of watershed planning and forced to navigate the privatization of our local water and the effects of […]
Maui on the comeback trail By Tom Cook Planning for Lahaina’s reconstruction is top of mind for both Maui residents and the Maui County Council. Many tough decisions lie ahead, but Maui County continues to demonstrate resilience. We are fortunate to have numerous dedicated partners in the rebuilding effort. The county has been working with […]
This county budget session is a time for bold leadership By Gabe Johnson The hallmark of our time is crisis. Before the fires was the pandemic and ongoing challenges including climate change, overtourism, an undiversified economy, the high cost of living and a lack of affordable housing. Addressing these issues will require investment. The problems […]
