Maui OED Director placed on paid leave as investigation continues following internal audit, ethics findings

County of Maui Office of Economic Development Director Luana Mahi was placed on leave with pay on Aug. 20, 2024, pending further investigation. In March 2024, Mayor Richard Bissen, in consultation with the Department of the Corporation Counsel, authorized the Finance Department to conduct an internal audit of grants administered by the OED due to concerns brought to the attention of the administration.

Mayor Bissen on Aug. 21, 2024, enacted the following measures in response to initial findings:

• Future disbursements for grants identified in the internal audit are pending further review to ensure compliance with the Maui County Code, County of Maui Charter and the terms and conditions of the grant agreements.
• Mandatory ethics training review was conducted on Aug. 19 for County Deputy Directors and Directors by Corporation Counsel and is ongoing.
• Issuing a memo to all Directors, Deputy Directors, and Office of the Mayor staff reaffirming the County’s commitment to ethical standards.

“Safeguarding our County of Maui community, our people, and our values is a critical responsibility that can only be accomplished with public trust and confidence,” Mayor Bissen said. “I want to underscore my unwavering commitment to upholding a culture of the highest ethical standards within my administration. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any ethical violations, and I want to assure everyone that all infractions will be met with appropriate consequences.”