The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi announced the endorsement of Mayor Richard Bissen in his campaign for reelection as mayor of Maui County.

In its endorsement, the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi recognized Bissen for his “commitment to protecting Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems and his alignment with the organization’s core values of anti-racism, balance, collaboration, justice and transformation.” The organization also emphasized the connection between environmental stewardship and the well-being of Hawaiʻi’s people, including the protection of water, land and community health.

In its endorsement letter, Rob Weltman, political committee chair of the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Maui Group, thanked Bissen for his “dedication to protecting our unique natural heritage” and his “commitment to the principles of equity and justice that guide our work.”

“I’m honored to earn the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi’s endorsement because protecting Maui Nui is not separate from serving our people. It is part of the same kuleana,” Bissen said. “Our water, our ʻāina and our natural resources belong to generations beyond our own. Leadership means having the courage to protect them, use them responsibly and make decisions based on what is right for Maui Nui’s long-term future.”

The Sierra Club Hawaiʻi reports, “that commitment has been reflected in initiatives advanced during the Bissen administration to strengthen stewardship of Maui Nui’s natural and cultural resources.” The organization outlined the following initiatives:

• Bringing water into the public trust: The administration has advanced efforts to acquire privately held water systems in West Maui, including Maui Land & Pineapple, Launiupoko and Olowalu water assets. If completed, these efforts would increase public stewardship of West Maui’s drinking water systems from 45% to 93%, strengthening long-term water security while supporting environmental protection, agriculture, traditional and cultural practices and local housing.
• Advancing community stewardship of East Maui water: The administration has supported the East Maui Water Authority and efforts to place management of East Maui water resources under greater public stewardship, incorporating watershed protection, local expertise and Native Hawaiian cultural and generational knowledge into long-term water management.
• Protecting water quality and conserving drinking water: The County has secured more than $15 million in federal funding for R-1 recycled-water initiatives and is expanding recycled-water systems for irrigation, agriculture and revegetation, reducing demand on drinking water and reliance on injection wells. The administration has also advanced the One Water Strategy for Lahaina, integrating drinking water, wastewater and stormwater planning for long-term sustainability.
• Restoring Lahaina’s cultural landscape: Through the Department of ʻŌiwi Resources, the County is advancing the restoration and long-term stewardship of Lahaina’s historic Royal Complex, including Mokuʻula and Loko o Mokuhinia. The County secured $2 million in federal historic preservation funding to support planning and initial implementation of the restoration effort.
• Strengthening cultural stewardship: The administration supported the launch and development of Maui County’s first Department of ʻŌiwi Resources, which works to protect cultural sites and resources, perpetuate Hawaiian language and knowledge, support healthy ecosystems and incorporate Native Hawaiian perspectives into County decision-making.
• Preserving open space and protecting watersheds: The administration has supported land conservation efforts at Honolua Bay and on Molokaʻi, while advancing watershed protection, reforestation and land-management initiatives in areas including Kula, Lahaina and East Maui.

“Our future should not force us to choose between protecting the place we love and creating opportunity for the people who call it home,” Bissen said. “We can protect our natural resources, build stronger communities, create housing our local families can afford and move Maui Nui forward without losing what makes these islands special.”

The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is part of the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization. Its work focuses on protecting natural places, advancing environmental justice, promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources and protecting the natural and human environment.

For more information, visit bissen2026.com or contact the Bissen 2026 Campaign Team at aloha@bissen2026.com.

The General Election ballot will feature incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen and Council Vice-Chair Yuki-Lei Sugimura, vying for the Countyʻs top spot. Both edged out eight other competitors in the crowded Primary Election held last month.