Final request: Kama asks Council to consider appointing Kauanoe Batangan as her successor

Seven-year Maui County Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama, who died Sunday night at Maui Memorial Medical Center, has asked fellow council members to appoint Kauanoe Batangan to serve out the remainder of her term.

“In her final request to the Maui County Council, she humbly asked that Kauanoe Batangan, an experienced and distinguished public servant, be considered to continue her work, carrying forward the mission of expanding opportunities for our Maui County families,” stated a press release from Kama’s Council Office on Monday afternoon. 

The Council has 30 days to name a successor. If the Council, now divided 4-4 is deadlocked, then the appointment of Kama’s successor will be made by Mayor Richard Bissen.

The stakes are high for those choosing Kama’s successor. By default, he or she will be the swing vote on the evenly divided Council — between the four traditional, more conservative Democrats and four progressive-leaning ʻOhana Coalition members.

Also, beginning last July 1, council members received a pay raise approved in early April by the Maui County Salary Commission. The Council chair’s pay went from $86,336 to $106,367, which is $20,031 more or 23.2%. And, the eight other council members’ annual pay rose from $80,299 to $101,302, a $21,003 raise of 26.2%.

Batangan, previously the deputy director of the Maui County Department of Transportation, currently serves as the executive director of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization, which serves as a transportation planning agency for the island of Maui. The agency does not construct roadway projects. It works with state and Maui County departments to plan all types of transportation projects on Maui. Batangan is a 2024 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow, and his biography is on its website.

In email Monday afternoon, Batangan said that now “I feel it’s important to focus on honoring the life of a kind, dedicated community advocate and deeply missed member of our community.”

“Over the years, Councilmember Kama and I had many discussions about our shared commitment to the people of Kahului and a shared vision for the uplifting of our people,” he said. “In her final hours, Councilmember was committed to ensuring her community was taken care of and asked if I would consider finishing her term. This truly exemplifies the selflessness and commitment she showed throughout her life.” 

Batangan said that before Kama passed, she was assured that “when the appropriate time comes, I would be willing to be considered by the Council to fill her seat. Until then, I hope as a community we can take this time to reflect on the life of a great leader and friend to many.”

The Kama office news release also said that, before her passing, “Kama expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected on her lifelong calling to faith and public service: ‘My father taught me that a life of service is an act of worship. It has been my deepest honor to live that lesson through this Council. As I prepare to return home to our Lord, I do so with gratitude, peace, and unwavering faith in God’s goodness.'” 

Kama also served as senior pastor of the Christian Ministry Church. She was a graduate of the University of Hawai’i Maui College where she was student body president during her tenure at the college.

She was an advocate for Hawaiian Home Land beneficiaries and the broader Native Hawaiian community, according to her office. She was a parent member and lifelong contributor to the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations established in 1987. Most recently, she served as vice-chair for the National Association of Native County Leaders and Allies, an affinity group within the National Association of Counties, where she helped elevate indigenous leadership on a national platform.  

Meanwhile, heartfelt expressions of sadness and condolences on the loss of continued to pour in today, less than a day after the nearly seven-year councilor died Sunday night.

Kama, 73, died at 9:25 p.m. Sunday at Maui Memorial Medical Center, surrounded by her loved ones, her family shared in a Facebook post. At 3 p.m. today, condolence comments on her page have grown to nearly 132.

For Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, Kama’s loss was felt deeply.

“Tasha wasn’t just my colleague — she was my best friend,” she said. “We sat next to each other in the Council Chamber, and we often carpooled to community events together. In all those hours we shared, I saw her heart — her deep love for her family, her faith, and her unwavering dedication to the people of Maui County.

“Tasha was humble, kind, and selfless — always putting others first. She gave everything she had to make life better for our community,” Sugimura said. “I will miss her laughter, her wisdom, and her steady presence beside me. Maui County has lost one of its brightest lights. My deepest aloha and prayers go out to Tasha’s ‘ohana and all who loved her.”

Mayor Bissen ordered flags flown at half-staff this week at the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku to honor her memory.

“It is with deep sadness that we learn of the passing of Maui County Council Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Tasha Kama,” Bissen said. “She was a woman of deep faith, compassion and aloha — a leader whose every action reflected her love for our people and her commitment to service.

“Tasha led with humility and strength, always guided by her belief in doing what was just and right for our community. Her wisdom, warmth and unwavering faith touched countless lives and will continue to guide us long after her passing.

“On behalf of the County of Maui, Kaʻihi and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Kama ʻohana, her colleagues on the Maui County Council, and all who were blessed to know and serve alongside her.”

The Maui state Senate delegation issued statements on Monday afternoon.

“My deepest condolences to the ‘ohana of Tasha Kama,” said Sen. Lynn DeCoite, who represents residents of Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. “Today, we remember a remarkable friend whose spirit touched us all. Her legacy of kindness and love will forever be a guiding light. Let us carry her memory forward in our hearts and in our actions.”

West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey, whose district includes Māʻalaea and Waikapū, said he was left with a “heavy heart” from Kama’s passing.

“I first met Tasha years ago when she was serving as the director of a local nonprofit, where she devoted herself to helping those most in need,” he said. “Her compassion, humility, and steadfast advocacy for social services touched the lives of countless Maui residents. She led with love and a quiet strength that inspired everyone around her. May her memory be a blessing to her loved ones, and may the example of her kindness, her faith, and her dedication continue to inspire and comfort all whose lives she touched. Her passing leaves a profound void in our community, but her spirit of service and aloha will continue to guide us forward.”

Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto said Kama was a “truly dedicated public servant who led with compassion, optimism and aloha.”

“She was persistent — running for office multiple times before being elected — and we are so fortunate for the time she served on the Council,” he said. “Her unwavering commitment to our community and her joyful spirit will be deeply missed. I’m grateful for the time we shared and the wisdom she imparted.”

Gov. Josh Green said: “Jaime and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama and extend our sincere condolences to her ʻohana during this difficult time.

“Tasha devoted her life to public service, championing affordable housing, uplifting kūpuna and families in need — and guiding Maui County with faith, kindness and aloha,” he said. “Her legacy of service will continue to guide us as we work together to move Maui and the state forward in her honor.”

US Rep. Jill Tokuda said: “I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama, a dedicated public servant who gave her heart and soul to the County of Maui.”

“She was a warm hand and mother to all, holding us together during good and bad times,” Tokuda said. “Even in the most challenging moments, she brought people together with calmness, integrity, and a genuine respect for everyone’s differences, while remaining committed to finding solutions that worked. Sending my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Kama ʻohana, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to work alongside such an inspiring and passionate leader — she will truly be missed.”

US Sen. Brian Schatz honored Kama as a “dedicated public servant who spent years working to make life better for the people of Maui.”

“She was kind and generous, but not afraid to take on some of the county’s most pressing challenges, including housing and Native Hawaiian health care,” Schatz said. “Maui, and especially Central Maui, are better off today because of her tireless advocacy and hard work. I send my deepest sympathy and aloha to the Kama ‘ohana.”

Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke said that Kama “exemplified the spirit of aloha through her leadership and years of service to the people of Maui. Deeply connected in faith, each priority she championed was rooted in her commitment to uplifting her community and future generations who call Maui Nui home. The entire State of Hawaiʻi and Maui County will continue to benefit from the selfless leadership of Councilmember Kama and her lasting legacy.”

The Maui Police Department also released a statement, extending “its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Councilmember Tasha Kama.”

“Councilmember Kama will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to the people of Maui County and her years of selfless public service,” the MPD statement said. “Her leadership, compassion, and deep commitment to her constituents were evident in all her endeavors.

“Councilmember Kama was a true advocate for our community,” said Police Chief John Pelletier. “She stood firmly in support of the men and women of the Maui Police Department and deeply believed in collaboration, compassion, and accountability. Her leadership and aloha will continue to inspire us.”

“The legacy of service, strength, and faith that Councilmember Kama leaves behind will remain in the hearts of those she touched,” the department statement concluded. “The Maui Police Department joins the community in mourning her passing and honors her lasting contributions to the County of Maui.”

Kama held the Council’s Kahului residency seat since January 2019, after defeating former Mayor Alan Arakawa in the November 2018 general election. In this current term, she chaired the Housing and Land Use Committee.

A memorial service has yet to be announced.

Editor’s note: Maui Now will update this post to add expressions of condolences on the passing of the late council member.