Maui Discussion

Op-Ed: Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz, Sharon Moriwaki, and Troy Hashimoto weigh in on housing. “While tax relief puts vital funds back into the pockets of working families, the State cannot stem the tide of out-migration without taking aggressive action on the biggest cost of living driver: housing,” the Senators said.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects people of all ages, including many families across Hawaiʻi. Managing asthma in the islands can be especially important due to environmental factors such as humidity, seasonal pollen, trade winds, and volcanic emissions that can affect air quality. With May being National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, now is an important time to understand how to recognize symptoms and take steps to manage asthma effectively.

Op-Ed:  Jonathan Helton with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi explains how a recently passed bill could ease the rebuilding of Lahaina’s roads, water lines and sewer system following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

Op-Ed: Rose Lau, a registered nurse is Director, Native Hawaiian Health and Population Health Management Programs at UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawaiʻi. In this role, she oversees maternity programs for members like Hāpai Mālama, which provides coverage for hāpai moms and keiki, including prenatal, postpartum and behavioral health services.

Monica Marrow is the Executive Director of What Makes You Feel Beautiful, a Maui-based nonprofit supporting girls and families through mentorship, social-emotional learning, and community care programs, including MAUI GEMS.

Op-Ed: Marnie Masuda, leader Maui Indivisible shares her thoughts on tax relief, urging passage of SB3125 and SB3028.

Op-Ed: Currently, two bills relating to water carriers in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, Senate Bill 2694 and House Bill 2386, are moving forward, raising awareness and growing concern for businesses and community organizations.

Op-Ed: Jonathan Helton, a policy analyst with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi, discusses proposed ADU rules that he says could help boost Maui County’s housing supply.

Op-Ed: “As we continue recovery, we must also prepare for a second kona storm approaching this weekend. In many areas – debris, saturated soils, and compromised infrastructure remain ongoing concerns,” said Tom Cook, Council Member, South Maui residency area.

While coconut palms top the list of CRB’s preferred foods, endangered loulu is also on the menu. Loulu’s small crowns are easier for beetles to penetrate than those of coconut palms, which results in a higher risk of lethal damage or secondary fungal infection. Extinction is a worry.

While text messages disappear, a Valentine’s card endures; a handwritten message also carries thought — and heart — spanning miles.

Scientists studying coqui frogs found a compelling relationship between vegetation habitat and population density. The study also found that habitat removal makes citric acid treatment more effective.

Op-Ed: Jonathan Helton with the Grassroots Institute of Hawaiʻi comments on a bill coming up before the Maui Council on Friday that would exempt from the county zoning height limits certain properties that were destroyed by the August 2023 fires. He urges that the Council broaden the scope of the measure to include all affected property owners.

Op-Ed: Why I voted ‘No’ for Bill 9 (2025)by Tom Cook, Council Member, South Maui residency area Today, the Council voted to pass Bill 9 (2025) on second and final reading. The bill now heads to the Mayor for signature and enactment. Once the Ordinance takes effect, the amortization period, three years for West Maui […]

Views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author’s alone and do not reflect or represent the opinions, policies or positions of Maui Now.

Op-Ed: As parts of East Maui face a historic drought, two local water leaders say Maui stands at a crossroads.

Op-Ed: Maui County Council Member, Gabe Johnson shares his thoughts as he seeks to honor the history of Filipinos in Maui County during Filipino American History Month.

A property owner within the boundaries of the proposed Kamehamenui Forest Reserve project in Kula shares thoughts about the state’s draft environmental assessment, concerning the management of 3,434 acres of state-acquired land.

In a new op-ed, policy analyst Jonathan Helton shares how red tape, economic losses and resident departures are slowing Lahaina’s recovery — and why policymakers must act quickly to change it.

Brandi Saragosa, Chief Operating Officer at the Maui Food Bank shares some thoughts in observance of Hunger Action Month in September. In this op-ed piece she said, “It is a reminder that none of our neighbors should go hungry. It’s a time to raise awareness about food insecurity and to stand together as a community so everyone has access to nutritious food.”