Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lobbyist regulation in Maui County
Maui is the only Hawaii county without real lobbyist registration and reporting rules. Bill 100 would require registration, training, reporting, and penalties — with some testifiers pushing back on the $5,000 fine for nonprofits. Deferred pending more questions.
Safe parking pilot program expansion (Bill 133)
Bill 133 would let people living in vehicles use other county-owned parcels, not just parking lots, and drop requirements for licenses, registration and safety checks at a temporary site for folks on Pulehu Road. It passed first reading and goes for final vote Friday — this meeting was the public's chance to weigh in.
Open Space Fund and wildfire fuel reduction
Rawlins-Fernandez wanted the Open Space Fund to pay for regular removal of wildfire fuel hazards, but pulled the proposal herself to avoid crowding the November ballot. She hopes to revive it in a future charter cycle.
Kula (Waiakoa) gym damage and possible total loss
High winds blew off the gym's roof and rain soaked its wooden structure; a structural engineer is evaluating whether it's a total loss, with results in about 60 days. Officials reclassified it out of the parks exclusion so FEMA may help pay, and historic, archaeological and accessibility reviews complicate any rebuild.