Maui County Council

The Maui County Council is considering new water rates for customers affected by disasters, including the August fires on Maui. The proposed legislation would create lower rates for residents whose homes were destroyed and for those in areas affected by an unsafe water advisory. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

The Maui County Council has suggested a budget of more than $20 million for the County of Maui’s newly established Office of Recovery. The office was established in September to address the county’s immediate and long-term recovery and prevention needs after the devastating fires on the island, including the fatal Lāhainā fire.

More care providers and experts are calling for better safety measures against toxins that could be in the ash following the August wildfires on Maui.

Maui County’s Department of Water Supply has proposed three types of billing categories for customers affected by the island’s August wildfires.

A potential agreement that was in the works before the Maui fires may give county police the powers of customs officers, though some are concerned about its effect on immigrants — including those affected by the fires. The police department says the agreement focuses on the movement of illegal contraband like fentanyl. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

The Maui County Council will consider a resolution Friday morning calling on the governor to postpone reopening tourism in West Maui. Gov. Josh Green said he is sticking to plans for the phased reopening of West Maui beginning this Sunday, Oct. 8. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Maui residents want to bury power lines, restore water and rework tourism in West Maui to better serve locals. Those were some of the requests and demands to Maui County councilmembers during an all-day public hearing on Wednesday that involved about 100 testifiers and more observers.

The Maui County Council is considering a resolution to authorize a formal investigation of the county’s response to the wildfires that devastated Maui last month.

Gov. Josh Green plans to renew an emergency proclamation on housing that seeks to expedite construction and permitting. But some county councilmembers on Maui worry how that will affect the island’s housing inventory.

In the weeks after fires destroyed historic Lāhainā on Maui, discussions are beginning to turn toward rebuilding. But some community members say it's premature.