Maui County directors of Human Concerns, Planning sworn in

After the appointments were confirmed recently by the Maui County Council, Margaret “Maggie” Willis was sworn in as County of Maui Director of Human Concerns and Jacky Takakura was sworn in as County Director of Planning on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Kalana o Maui building in Wailuku.

“Both of our new directors bring expertise, strong leadership and deep commitment to serving our community,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “We’re thankful that they have stepped forward to fill these vital roles. Their work will help make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.”

Willis has more than two decades of experience as a private and public social services management professional. Her project work includes grants management; policy and program design and implementation; and homelessness and homeless prevention for vulnerable populations.

She has led the development and implementation of successful homeless services, housing and diversion programs across Los Angeles County, Santa Monica, Glendale and San Diego.

Key accomplishments include designing a point-of-arrest diversion program with the Los Angeles City Attorney and Los Angeles Police Department, leading shelter and transitional housing acquisitions, securing partnerships to develop a mixed-use housing and health services facility, and directing large-scale initiatives such as annual homeless counts, multidisciplinary street outreach teams and a COVID-era emergency rental assistance program serving hundreds of households.

Before joining the County, Willis served as Director of Los Angeles County’s Benefits Entitlement Services Team, managing over 100 staff who assist more than 5,000 homeless and at-risk disabled individuals in securing stable income through SSI/SSDI and related benefit programs.

Willis received a bachelor’s degree in communications from University of Texas at Austin.

Takakura, who was appointed as Planning Director in February, began her County career in 1998 and has served in both the Department of Water Supply and the Department of Planning. Within Planning, she has worked in the Zoning and Enforcement Division, served as Deputy Planning Director from July to December 2022, and most recently held the position of Long Range Division Planning Program Administrator since January 2023.

Takakura earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and Japanese language and literature from the University of Washington in Seattle and a professional certificate in urban and regional planning from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Prior to joining the County, Takakura worked for Ernst & Young Telecommunications Consulting in Seattle and taught English in Japan.

Jessica Crouse, who had been serving as acting director of the Department of Human Concerns since the retirement of longtime director Lori Tsuhako at the end of December, was sworn in as deputy director.

Before being named deputy director of the department in July 2024, Crouse worked in the County Department of Housing and Human Concerns Housing Division for five years. Later, she founded and led Crouse Consulting LLC, a management and business leadership consulting firm. Born and raised on Maui, Crouse obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public administration, both from Arizona State University.

Ana Lillis remains deputy director of the Planning Department.