Tavares Retirement Party Celebrates 40 years of Public Service, Feb. 20, 2011

By Wendy Osher

Former Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares celebrates her retirement after 40 years of public service. An “Evening of Aloha” celebration event will be held on Sunday February 20th at the Grand Wailea Resort in South Maui.

Charmaine Tavares file photo by Wendy Osher.

Tavares was first elected to the county council in 1996. During her tenure on the council, she introduced a charter amendment that called for the mayoral and council elections to be non-partisan. Her charter amendment creating a new Department of Environmental Management also received voter approval. She was elected as mayor in November of 2006 and served through 2010.

Prior to her council and mayoral duties, Tavares spent sixteen years working with youth including time as a high school teacher, counselor, and an athletic director. Tavares also worked for six years as Director of the County Department of Parks and Recreation before stepping into her council shoes.

The February 20th event begins at 5:30 p.m. wit no-host cocktails followed by a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person with open seating, and $500 for reserved tables for 10. The suggested RSVP date is February 11th. For more information, call 280-4073.