Maui Election

With the decision of Councilmember Kelly King to step down from the Maui County Council, environmental scientist Robin Knox announced she is running to fill the South Maui Council Seat with King’s full endorsement.

The State of Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued a ruling today denying the petition challenging the 2021 Reapportionment Commission Plan and has ordered the termination of the temporary injunction of candidate filing for US Representative, State Senate and State Representative contests.  

Maui County Councilmember Mike Molina, who currently holds the Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia residency seat, submitted his nomination form to the County Clerk’s office on Wednesday, signaling the start of his Mayoral campaign.  

Former 2nd Circuit Court Judge, Richard Bissen, announced he is pulling his official candidacy papers for Maui County Mayor, following an earlier announcement in January of his intent to run.

The State of Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued a court order temporarily suspending candidate filing for the offices of US Representative, State Senate, and State Representative contests until further notice from the court. The order arises from a challenge of the 2021 State Reapportionment Plan.

Candidate filing for the 2022 Election cycle kicks off on March 1 and runs through June 7, 2022.

The members of the Oʻahu County Democratic Party’s House District 39 selection body – comprised of the party’s precinct officers and district council chair who reside in House District 39 – have selected three names to send to Governor David Ige for his consideration to fill the House vacancy created by the resignation of Ty Cullen from the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Green formally announced his campaign for governor. Elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Green previously served in the State House and State Senate from 2004 to 2018.

US Rep. Kaialiʻi Kahele continues making his rounds on Maui today as he updates various government and community organizations on issues pending before Congress.

Known for his public school teaching and Maui County Council tenure, Mike Molina announced Tuesday evening he will leave his Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia residency seat in a bid for mayor. 

Maui County 2022 mayoral candidate, Richard Bissen, plans to engage with voters in a bi-weekly Q&A called Bissen Listens. The first episode will be held as a Facebook Live video on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. via the Richard Bissen for Maui County Mayor Facebook page.

After recently retiring from the state judiciary, decorated former 2nd Circuit Court Chief Judge Richard T. Bissen Jr. is now making a run for the County of Maui’s top leadership position. Bissen announced his mayoral bid via news release today, saying that he is looking forward to collaborating with residents and will use “intelligence and heart” to improve Maui County.

Mayor Michael Victorino announced today that he is seeking re-election in a race this year that will decide the County of Maui’s top leadership position.

This action serves to honor Robert J. Dole who died this morning at the age of 98.

Anderson served as mayor of the City and County of Honolulu from 1981 to 1985. She was the first woman to ever hold the office of Mayor in the City and County of Honolulu.

Over the next several months the Maui County Charter Commission will discuss 130 charter amendment proposals that will be considered for placement on the November 2022 ballot.  At its meeting on Thursday, the Commission chose not to adopt seven of the proposals placed before it, deferred action on another, and transferred two to the County Council.  

If ratified by voters during the November 2022 election, the proposal would change the current countywide “at-large” election process in which all county voters select all nine councilmembers, to a system where voters would elect councilmembers from within three “regional districts”, each district comprised of three residency areas.

The Governor now has until Monday, Aug. 16 to select one of these individuals to serve as the next State House Representative from House District 13.

The Maui County Democratic Party’s selection body has narrowed the list of names for consideration to the Senate District 7 vacancy to: Lynn DeCoite, Yuki Lei Sugimura and Leo Caires.

Maui County Democrats will honor former State Senator J. Kalani English when they convene May 22 via Zoom for their Biennial Convention.