Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Structural reform of county boards and commissions
A messy meeting for the Independent Nomination Board process: Faith Chase's police commission bid failed, East Maui water authority nominees were disqualified over license-area rules, and the chair called for repealing the INB provision.
Fiscal Reserve Fund Proposal
A sharp exchange: Chair Lee and Member Batangan pressed the managing director on whether the administration pads the budget with big carryover savings, noting the emergency fund exists for disasters. Nishita countered that the Council itself has added tens of millions to the budget above the mayor's requests in recent years.
Real property tax review board under strain
Five unpaid volunteers handle up to a thousand tax appeals a year in seven-hour meetings, denying over 95% of appeals. The commission suggests routing simple appeals through a county desk review first and questions whether adjudication should rest on volunteers at all.
Maui County Kokua Fund for emergency donations (Bill 93)
After the 2023 wildfires, over $140 million in donations went largely to an O'ahu-based nonprofit without Council oversight. Chair Lee's Kokua Fund bill would let the County accept emergency donations directly with quarterly reporting, giving the Council a window into where the money goes.