West Maui Rep. Cochran absent from 85% of House floor sessions, still collected nearly $23,000 in per diem

West Maui state Rep. Elle Cochran missed 51 of 60 House floor sessions — an 85% absence rate — during the 2025 legislative session while collecting $22,725 in per diem payments intended to cover off-island living expenses, according to House records.

Her near-total absence from legislative proceedings in Honolulu, coupled with her acceptance of these taxpayer-funded per diem payments, is drawing significant scrutiny while raising questions about the effectiveness of her representation of West Maui, especially as her district struggles with wildfire recovery.

“At this point in Lahaina’s history, we need representation more than ever before. Without a seat at the table, we are on the menu,” said Tamara Paltin, who holds the West Maui residency seat on the Maui County Council.

Cochran’s 85% rate of absences from floor sessions is “extraordinary,” according to political analyst Colin Moore, an author and associate professor in the University of Hawaiʻi School of Communication and Information.

“When a lawmaker is gone, especially during critical budget negotiations, the district loses one of its key advocates,” Moore said. “Others may step in, but no one can fully substitute for the elected representative. The reported per diem payments raise additional concerns. These payments are meant to offset the costs of staying and working in Honolulu during the session. If Rep. Cochran was not at the Capitol, it’s not clear why she should keep them.”

Moore said his understanding about the payment of per diem expenses is that the Legislature does not actively monitor attendance when distributing per diem “because it is seen as too cumbersome.”

“That may be reasonable under normal circumstances, but a situation like this warrants closer scrutiny. They may need to write new rules about this,” he said.

West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey said a district’s House and Senate representatives need to work in tandem to get the best outcome for their constituents.

“The legislative process works best when there is full participation — on the floor and in committees — so that critical issues don’t fall through the cracks,” he said. “It’s essential that elected officials across both chambers remain focused, engaged, and aligned in delivering the resources and outcomes our constituents depend on.”

“The House plays a critical role in initiating budget measures, and when a district doesn’t have consistent advocacy during session, it can become significantly harder to secure vital resources,” McKelvey said. “Especially in times of crisis, coordinated representation is essential to ensure that community priorities are reflected in the final budget.”

Cathy Lee, director of communications for the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, acknowledged that Cochran received $225 per day intended for personal living expenses of non-Oʻahu lawmakers. These payments are made, under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 24-2, regardless of whether they are on Oʻahu on a given day, she said.

So, for 101 session days this year, Cochran received $22,725 as a Neighbor Island representative, including $11,475 for the 51 session days she missed. “We have not seen any instances of members returning the per diem,” Lee said.

The full 2025 legislative session spanned 108 days until its adjournment sine die — a Latin term meaning the session ended without a date set for a future meeting. According to Lee, the seven-day difference between this full period and Cochran’s 101 paid session days stems from a Feb. 20-26 recess, during which Cochran did not claim per diem.

To see the full House floor attendance sheet, click here.

Regarding lawmaker attendance as a matter of policy, Lee said: “The House is working on a draft policy regarding absences that will take effect next year. This hasn’t been an issue in the past.”

In February, Maui Now reported that Cochran was missing from floor sessions 80% of the time. When reached by cellphone, she explained her absences at that point in the lawmaking session were because there was an “illness in the family,” and she was staying home to care for that family member.

In a written to response to Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Cochran explained that she remained on Maui because her presence on Maui was needed to help with Lahaina wildfire survivors and “on-the-ground problems,” rather than being on hand at the state Capitol in downtown Honolulu.

“While absent from the Capitol, I was not absent from work on behalf of my district on Maui,” she told Hawaiʻi Public Radio for a story posted online May 29. She said her staff was keeping track of bills “pertinent to my district.”

“Most importantly, there were no complaints from my constituents,” she told HPR. Cochran said West Maui residents could see she was attending meetings on Maui and “responding to their concerns as they asked for help of me in person.”

When the Civil Beat “Blog” asked about Cochran’s absences and whether she might return some of the per diem payments to taxpayers, she was quoted as saying, “Don’t you have anything better to investigate?” Then, hung up, according to the online news website.

Beginning Monday morning, Maui Now attempted to contact Cochran on her personal cellphone, which went immediately to voicemail. And, Maui Now called and left a voicemail message for Cochran at her state office; and an email to her official state representative in box. An attempt to reach her via a personal email bounced back as undeliverable.

Cochran’s extended absences from the Capitol (until now not well known) have prompted some strong condemnation from her constituents, including at least one call for her resignation from office.

Realtor and West Maui Taxpayers Association President Joseph Pluta said in an email Monday: “Elle’s attendance record speaks for itself. West Maui obviously does not receive the representation it needs and deserves. Period.”

Also Monday, WMTA Executive Director Rick Nava said in a phone interview that he was not keeping track of Cochran’s attendance at the state Legislature and didn’t realize she had that many absences.

Now that he’s aware of her absence rate, Nava said, “that’s unacceptable, of course, not only with her but with anyone who has a job.”

Cochran should resign her seat to allow Gov. Josh Green to appoint a replacement who’ll represent West Maui at the state Capitol, he said.

Nava said he heard that Cochran was “preoccupied” with advocating for a West Maui hospital. He said he had a brief discussion with her about extending the Lahaina bypass road during a Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting in Lahaina.

The Lahaina bypass road is of utmost importance to Nava, who said the portion that has been built so far served as an evacuation route for Lahaina wildfire survivors. “It saved my life and my family’s lives,” he said. The bypass road has not yet been extended north to Honokōwai.

Moore said the state Constitution allows the Legislature to discipline its members for misconduct, including neglect of duty.

“But this is not a straightforward issue when there are no legal or ethical violations,” he said. “There is no system for evaluating attendance or job performance. After all, unlike in most workplaces, lawmakers are not subject to internal performance reviews. That role belongs to the voters. While internal discipline is possible, it risks becoming inconsistent or politicized. My fear is that once lawmakers begin sanctioning each other for attendance, it raises the question of where the line is and who gets to draw it.”

Moore said the electorate should judge the matter.

“Accountability in this case should come through the electoral process,” he said. “Voters are the ultimate authority. If they believe their representative is not doing the job, they can choose someone else. Even if many people in the district are not yet aware of these absences, they likely will be by the time of the next election. The media has reported the issue, and it’s almost certain that any challenger will raise it. Voters will have a chance to hear Rep. Cochran’s explanation and decide whether it is persuasive.”

Members of the House of Representatives have two-year terms and face re-election in even-numbered years. According to the state Office of Elections, the next primary election will be Aug. 8, 2026, and the general election will be Nov. 3, 2026.

Currently, members of the House and Senate earn $74,160 annually, not counting per diem. (Adding per diem payments means that Neighbor Island rank-and-file lawmakers receive nearly 31% more than their Oʻahu counterparts, although Oʻahu members do not pay additional expenses arising from Neighbor Island travel and accommodations.)

Under a plan crafted by the state Commission on Salaries, pay increases are scheduled for legislators. Rank-and-file members will see their pay rise 32% to $97,896 effective Jan. 1, 2027, then to $101,808 in 2028, $105,876 in 2029, and ultimately to $114,348 by Jan. 1, 2030. The speaker and president will receive higher corresponding salaries, also reaching $128,052 by 2030.