Lahaina Strong will host a community-led candidate forum bringing together candidates for the Maui County Mayor and County Council races to meet directly with the community and share their priorities, plans, and vision for Maui County’s future.

With Maui County voters preparing to receive and fill out their 2026 General Election ballots, Lahaina Strong is encouraging community members to attend the forum, listen to the candidates, and take the opportunity to make an informed decision about who they want representing them and their communities.

“Our community has been through so much, and the decisions made by our next mayor and County Council will directly impact the future of Lahaina and Maui County. This forum is about giving our community the opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for our votes. We want people to come, listen, ask questions, and make the decision that feels right for them and their families come November,” said Jordan Ruidas, Lahaina Strong organizer.

Lahaina Strong is collaborating with Kaheāwai Media to help bring this community conversation to the Lahaina community. “Through this partnership, we’re creating more opportunities for our community to hear directly from candidates, stay informed, and engage in the issues that will shape our collective future. We’re grateful to Kaheāwai Media for helping amplify community voices not only on Maui but around Hawaiʻi and making this conversation accessible to more of our people,” organizers said.

“We know how important it is for our communities to have access to trusted and actionable information, especially around elections. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support our partner, Lahaina Strong, in gathering questions from the community, bringing them directly to the candidates, and surfacing answers that equip people to make informed decisions about who they want to represent them,” said Tyler Sonnemaker, Kaheāwai Media co-founder and storyteller.

For Lahaina Strong organizer Deandre Makakoa, civic participation is an important part of protecting the future of the community.

“Voting is one of the ways we get to exercise our voice and our kuleana. The people we elect will be making decisions that affect our housing, our ʻāina, our resources, our families, and our future. It’s important that we take the time to know who the candidates are, what they stand for, and what they envision for our community before we cast our ballots,” said Makakoa.

The forum is designed to provide voters with an opportunity to hear from candidates directly and learn more about where they stand on issues important to Lahaina and communities across Maui County.

The Lahaina Strong Candidate Forum will be broadcast live by Akakū Maui Community Media, making it easy for the community to tune in from wherever they are. Watch live on cable channel 54 or stream the forum on ʻAkakū’s YouTube channel.

Lahaina Strong is encouraging all community members to RSVP and join this important conversation.

“Whether you are a longtime Lahaina resident, a displaced community member, a young voter, or simply someone who cares about the future of Maui, this is an opportunity to listen, learn, and participate in our democratic process,” organizers said.

Lahaina Strong Candidate Forum

Candidates: Maui County Mayor & County Council
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
Time: Dinner 5 p.m., Forum to start at 5:30
Location: Hanakaʻōʻō (Canoe Beach) / Livestream and broadcast via Akakū
RSVP: bit.ly/lsforumrsvp