Maui Election

Monsanto executives said “We believe this referendum is invalid and contrary to long established state and federal laws that support both the safety and lawful testing and planting of GMO plants.”

Turnout in Maui County was still low, but bucked it’s recent trend as the lowest in the state. That title went to Hawaiʻi County this time around, which recorded a 47.7% turnout.

Maui voters have approved an initiative that places a moratorium on GMO cultivation in Maui County. A total of 23,082 people vote YES in favor of the moratorium, representing 50.2% of the vote, while 22,005 people voted against the measure for a very close 47.9% of the vote.

GMO vote is a YES with 50% of the vote; Cochran wins West Maui; Mayor Arakawa reelected to another term.

The state’s 232 polling places opened as planned today with no major problems reported by mid-day. Here in Maui County, there are a total of 34 polling places and 87,327 registered voters.

All polling places in District 4 will be open on Election Day, despite contingency plans made in preparation for the advance of the June 27 lava flow in Pāhoa.

The last day for walk in voting on Maui is Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kalana O Maui building in Wailuku.

Elections officials are carrying out contingency plans as an advancing lava flow is expected to cut off access to the Pāhoa Community Center polling place for some residents on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Maui County Democratic Party will host its traditional Grand Rally at the Ige-Tsutsui Headquarters located in the Kahului Shopping Center on Thursday, Oct. 30 starting at 5:30 p.m.

The rally comes ahead of the November 4 general election, in which voters will be given the opportunity to vote for or against the initiative.

Individuals in attendance will have a chance to have up close and personal interaction with candidates, while building awareness of West Maui issues.

Early walk-in voting begins at selected sites throughout the state on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. The early walk-in voting will be available through Saturday, Nov. 1, and is available for registered voters who want to vote early instead of going to their polling site on election day.

The Board of Directors and Political Action Committee of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced their Maui candidate endorsements for the upcoming General Election.

Gubernatorial candidates running in the 2014 general election fielded questions on Maui relating to Native Hawaiian Governance, delays in construction of the Kīhei High School, and their thoughts on affordable housing.

Maui county council candidates clarified their stance on the proposed GMO moratorium during a candidate forum hosted by the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce during their 2014 Business Fest.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset will host a mayoral forum featuring incumbent Alan Arakawa, and challenger Tamara Paltin on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014.

The state Office of Elections and County Clerks of Hawaiʻi reminds individuals that the last day to register to vote in the general election is Monday, Oct. 6, 2014.

Political activist Karen Chun of Maui has filed a complaint with the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission alleging that the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Recovery Market Fund has violated state law by not disclosing the original source of their funds.

The amendment seeks to add agricultural enterprises to the list of industries that can access special purpose revenue bonds.

An initiative seeking a moratorium on genetically engineered organisms will remain on the general election ballot in November following a ruling on Monday.