Maui County Council

The Maui County bill would act as a so-called “trigger ban” that would only go into effect if a state tobacco ban were suspended or repealed. The state’s preemption law overrides county-level mandates, although opponents say county officials are more equipped to regulate tobacco.

As union negotiations are ongoing with Maui Health System and Kaiser Permanente for more than 900 health care employees on Maui and Lānaʻi, the Maui County Council passed a resolution supporting them in their requests for higher pay and safe staffing ratios.

Former Maui County Council Chair Kelly King along with 30 other voters are contesting the general election following her loss to Tom Cook. She wants to see the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court invalidate the results and order a new election.

The Maui County Council is considering a measure asking the state Legislature to allow all types of birthing practices in Hawaiʻi. This comes after a 2019 state law that established a licensing structure for midwives. However, it limits traditional birthing methods.

There were no surprise upsets in Maui County Council elections this year. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.

A proposal to phase out more than 7,000 Maui short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas advances to the Maui County Council to make a final decision. If passed, the phasing out of the rentals would begin in West Maui next summer.

A request for the aircraft was made at a Maui County Council meeting to expand rescue capabilities for remote locations of the county at all hours.

The policy, announced by Mayor Richard Bissen and grassroots advocacy group Lahaina Strong, is intended to free up housing for displaced families devastated by the August wildfires. The county will have the authority to enact this policy due to the state Legislature's final approval of Senate Bill 2919.

His proposed budget is $153 million more than last year’s operating budget, mostly due to wildfire-related departmental spending. The Maui County Council will now review and approve Bissen’s budget.

The county council unsuccessfully attempted to reach an agreement with the current landowner, Komar Maui Properties, which bought the parcel in 2015. Councilmembers at a recent committee meeting heard passionate testimony from Lahaina residents in favor of using eminent domain. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.