For immediate release: March 12, 2021 Press Release by: Keani N.W. Rawlins-Fernandez, Chair Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee Budget chair lauds further tax reform with new exemption and classification for long-term rentals KAUNAKAKAI, Hawaii—Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez said today she applauds this week’s announcement that the Department of Finance will begin accepting applications […]
CHAIR’S 3 MINUTES Published in the Maui News, January 7, 2018 By: Mike White Hau’oli makahiki hou! The new year is in full swing at the Maui County Council. Actions are underway to continue tackling one of the most pressing issues facing our community — affordable housing. Statistics from the state Department of Business, Economic […]
CHAIR’S 3 MINUTES Published in the Maui News, October 22, 2017 By: Mike White This past week, the County Council’s Policy, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee continued discussions on professional qualifications for future department directors. As the level of responsibility and complexity continues to grow in the operations of departments, the council passed a charter […]
A major impediment to increasing the inventory of affordable housing is the expensive off-site infrastructure costs required for the development of new units. Affordable housing developers find their budgets being consumed by these requirements before they even start construction on the housing units. I believe the county has a responsibility to find solutions to assist […]
CHAIR’S 3 MINUTES Published in The Maui News on March 5, 2017 By ELLE COCHRAN Chairing the County Council’s Temporary Investigative Group on Increasing Housing Inventory last year has given me more clarity about steps needed toward solving our housing crisis. Monday at 1:30 p.m., the Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee, which I also chair, will […]
For immediate release: November 3, 2016 Press release by: Don Couch, Chair Planning Committee Committee OKs affordable accessory dwelling bill WAILUKU, Hawaii – The affordable accessory dwelling bill, which would permit ohana units on certain smaller lots, gained unanimous committee support and now heads to the full council for first reading, Planning Committee Chair Don […]
Published in The Maui News, May 8, 2016 By MIKE WHITE, for The Maui News I am pleased to report, after meeting nearly every day for a month, the Maui County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday passed a $659.5 million fiscal year 2017 budget. The figure is $51.9 million lower than the $711.4 […]
Published in The Maui News, September 27, 2015 By STACY CRIVELLO, for The Maui News It’s safe to say at this time Maui County’s social landscape doesn’t mirror Oahu’s. Here, for example, we don’t see major homeless encampments encroaching resort destinations or residential neighborhoods – yet. But Maui is not isolated from the struggles and […]
For immediate release: June 19, 2015 Press release by: Councilmember Don Couch Chair, Planning Committee Design and development principles highlighted in Lanai Community Plan WAILUKU, Hawaii – The Planning Committee will meet at the Lanai Community Center on Tuesday, June 23 at 6 p.m. to receive comments about revisions proposed in the Lanai Community Plan, […]
Published in The Maui News, April 5, 2015 By MIKE VICTORINO, for The Maui News As chair of the Maui County Council’s Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee – which reviews appointments to the county’s numerous boards and commission – I’d like to thank the many Lanai, Maui and Molokai residents who step forward to serve […]
