Fire recovery, water, invasive species: Maui County candidates tackle district issues
Each community is facing unique issues at a time when the balance of power on the council appears poised to shift.
Full Story
The Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative is a Maui-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Donate Learn about HJI

Each community is facing unique issues at a time when the balance of power on the council appears poised to shift.
Full Story
Candidates tackled issues facing their districts as they vie for seats on a council whose balance of power could change in this election.

As all four counties recover from flooding and damages, leaders say coastal retreat, better access and backup power are needed, especially in rural areas.

Candidates say water should be reserved for affordable housing, farming and fire mitigation, not luxury developments, as Hawai'i emerges from years of drought.

Heavy rainfall has helped decrease fire risk, but first responders are still on alert during high hurricane winds.

Farmers were still recovering from major damage and crop losses in the Kona low storms in March when Hurricane Lala swept by in August.

Lahainaluna and Paradise high schools will face each other tonight in a "Unity Bowl" that aims to showcase the resilience of two communities recovering from devastating fires.

Mug shots and arrest details are still available to the public, but often only upon request or by checking records.

The two-year-old department approved by voters has been working on a variety of priorities, including the Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan, incorporating ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi back into government and putting to use the knowledge encoded in the mother tongue.

The project in South Maui initially called for 900 housing units and faced backlash from residents who said it would cater to wealthy off-island buyers.

The $3 million Olowalu Fire Station project was fully funded until the Canadian company supplying the modular building for the station was hit with 50% steel tariffs by the U.S. last year.

Darrell Richard, one of the six residents trapped by the collapse, said he's grateful for the deliveries of supplies but worried about the future. “I don’t need gas,” he said. “I need a bridge.”

Desalination plants, which the county hopes could create more potable water for Central, South and West Maui, could cost anywhere from $119 million to $328 million.

After outages in recent storms, many frustrated residents are seeking out the satellite-based Starlink or other ways to stay connected in emergencies.

Michiko Smith scours beaches for washed ashore marine trash, which is often smelly, that she can turn into artistic treasure.

A new report by the University of Hawai'i found improvements in housing stability but less progress in the overall economy.