Arakawa and Carlisle join new class of Hawaii Council of Mayors

By Wendy Osher

Maui Mayor-Elect Alan Arakawa and newly sworn-in Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle represent the newer half of the Hawaii Council of Mayors.  The two joined colleagues Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. of Kaua’i and Mayor Billy Kenoi of the Big Island during a recent meeting on Kauai.

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, Maui Mayor-Elect Alan Arakawa, and Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi flash the shaka during a recent meeting on Kauai. Courtesy Photo.

The four mayors make up the new face of the cross-county collaboration.  Since it was first established in 2007, the group has worked together to discuss legislative concerns, collective bargaining, as well as tourism related initiatives.

One of the more visible issues the group has addressed was their push for the individual counties to maintain their share of the Transient Accommodations Tax or TAT.  During the 2010 Legislative Session, the mayors rallied together to prevent further cuts to county revenues.  At a time when Maui was already facing a shortfall projected to be around $53 million, the group argued that without the TAT, Maui’s shortfall would have jumped to between $70 and $73 million.

*** If you enjoyed this post, you may also like our story on the recent appointment of J.D. Kim as the incoming Prosecuting Attorney for Maui.