Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Emergency preparedness for kūpuna and disabled residents
Councilmember Paltin asked whether evacuation transportation for elderly and disabled residents could be strengthened in the plan; Human Concerns described ongoing work with MEO and MIMA, including wheelchair-capable shelter buses used during Hurricane Lala.
Facial recognition technology moratorium question (Bill 112)
The county doesn't own facial recognition tech yet, and Bill 112 would set rules for if it ever does. Several members balked — one wants an outright ban — so action was deferred, and the administration has paused real-time crime center plans in the meantime.
Emergency Shelters and Closures
Maui County just published the official list of emergency shelters and closures, so when a storm or emergency hits you can see exactly where to go and what’s shut down. It’s basic preparedness info—check it before you need it.
Workplace safety and harassment policy review
Vice Chair Paltin asked whether HR rules cover employee safety from the public — referencing a gun incident at a county building and the council's funding of a campus security plan. The team confirmed HR-related safety and violence policies fall within the project's review scope.
El Niño and hurricane season preparedness
With a Super El Niño forecast, the Office of Recovery is embedding in emergency operations earlier, expanding office space, and building on workforce experience from this disaster. Councilmembers were urged to flag vulnerable spots in their districts and keep communicating with property managers before storms hit.
Kula Hospital recovery advocacy
The state-run Kula Hospital, housing severely handicapped patients who were relocated to Oahu, isn't a county facility but county leaders are advocating for its repair. About eight patients sent to Oahu are experiencing separation anxiety from family caregivers.
Board of Ethics Staffing
The five-month-old Ethics office reported it has already outpaced two years of typical output — 62 advisory opinions, 25 complaints closed — and needs two more staff, including a second attorney for contested cases. Funding (Bill 193) passed final reading; the salary-setting bill went to committee.
Board of Ethics continuity
The ethics board just lost its chair and secretary to term limits as it rolls out big new initiatives. Letting members serve one extra five-year term would keep that expertise in place.
Federal HUD policy shift on homelessness funding
HUD restructured Continuum of Care funding on June 1, moving away from Housing First toward transitional housing and treatment requirements. Members and the director flagged concerns about barriers to entry.
Board of Ethics reappointment
The Board of Ethics wants its members reappointable for one successive five-year term without a waiting period, saying it now has full-time staff and multi-year initiatives — lobbyist rules, a nepotism ordinance — that need institutional continuity.
Routing county claims to Corporation Counsel
Right now residents file injury and property damage claims with the County Clerk, who just forwards them along but keeps fielding frustrated claimants' questions. The proposed charter change sends claims directly to Corporation Counsel, but county attorneys say that could conflict them out of representing the county in resulting lawsuits, and Risk Management's office is too small and short-staffed to receive the public.
Loud vehicle sound system fines (Bill 119)
Bill 119 would raise fines for blasting amplified music from vehicles, up to $1,000 for repeat offenses. Police and prosecutors said seizing stereo systems isn't practical, so the forfeiture piece is being dropped. Skeptics note zero citations were issued in 2024, raising questions about whether bigger fines change anything.
Settlement of Charlotte Martin lawsuit against the County
A negligence and vicarious-liability claim against the County over a February 2023 incident between Martin and a vehicle driven by a Maui police officer at Kepaniwai Park. The settlement vote was deferred because the trial moved to 2027.