#board of ethics
Maui GREAT Committee to discuss litigation updates; fraud risk and Board of Ethics proposals to follow
The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. to receive comments from the county’s special counsel on the status of the wrongful-termination lawsuit filed this spring by former county official Leo Caires, Committee Chair Kauanoe Batangan announced today.
Maui Council panel rejects charter amendment to set aside transient accommodations tax for climate fund
The Maui County Council’s ongoing review of 14 proposed charter amendments continued Tuesday, with members balking at a proposal to set aside 20% of the County’s annual transient accommodations tax revenue to fund climate plan initiatives.
Council committee reviews budgets for Departments of Water Supply, Management
With another storm system bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, the Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee focused its fiscal year 2027 review Wednesday on addressing emergency resilience and the future of the island’s water infrastructure.
First 100 days: Ethics executive director reports surge in inquiries, calls for staff expansion
The newly established Office of the Board of Ethics is fielding a significantly higher volume of inquiries than in previous years, prompting the executive director to call for expanded staffing in the upcoming fiscal 2026-27 budget.
Maui Board of Ethics declines action on complaints against Council Member Tom Cook
The Maui County Board of Ethics voted 6-0 Wednesday to decline processing two new complaints against Council Member Tom Cook, finding the identical allegations lacked foundational requirements for a formal hearing.
County of Maui Board of Ethics hiring full-time staff, slated to meet Oct. 8
The County of Maui Board of Ethics is postponing its Sept. 10 meeting to focus on restructuring and hiring efforts. The next meeting is scheduled Oct. 8, 2025.
Last-ditch efforts to kill Honuaʻula project amendments fail amid bickering; controversial development passes final vote
On a day full of intense tension and high drama, the Maui County Council voted 5-4 to approve amendments on second-and-final reading for the hotly debated Honuaʻula project. But the final vote of the Council meeting came amid a noisy floor fight between Council Chair Alice Lee and Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez.
Maui Council breezes through remaining agenda items after marathon meeting
After a long “regular” meeting Friday-Saturday, the Maui County Council reconvened Monday morning and made short work of the rest of its agenda items in less than two hours.
Lauren Akitake named first Executive Director of County Board of Ethics
Following a unanimous vote on June 18, 2025, the County of Maui Board of Ethics appointed Lauren Akitake as its first Executive Director/Legal Counsel.
More Maui County employees, but where do they park? No comprehensive plan, yet
With growing numbers of Maui County employees, on paper, at least, is there enough space for them to park at the Kalana O Maui campus in Wailuku?
Voters back more ethics oversight and compensation changes, oppose longer terms for boards
Two charter amendments passed with nearly 60% of the vote. The third, which proposed consecutive terms for board members with no waiting period, was narrowly defeated.
Maui County has 3 charter amendments on November ballot. What would they change?
The proposed amendments address the need for full-time staffing of the Board of Ethics; make it easier for people to serve a second term on county boards and commissions; and better define the role of the Salary Commission.
Maui Council accepting applications for boards and commissions until end of month
The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee is accepting applications for boards and commissions within the County of Maui.
Maui Charter Commission considers Council charter amendment alternatives
Finally, Council’s alternative language to Proposal No. 11 modifying the terms of, and the removal process for, Corporation Counsel and the Prosecuting Attorney was rejected and the Commission voted to eliminate the proposal from consideration in its entirety.
Charter Commission Votes for Greater Public Access and Transparency
Over the next several months the Charter Commission will continue to work through a list of 130 ideas and proposals from the public on how to improve Maui County operations through Charter amendments.
Maui Charter Commission Meets Sept. 30 about Ethics & Boards/Commissions
The Maui Charter Commission will meet Thursday, Sept. 30 at 9 am to receive public testimony about 25 proposals related to ethics and board/commissions as part of its year-long review of proposed amendments to the County Charter, Maui County’s governing document.
Cochran Proposes New Requirements for Board of Ethics, Planning Commission
Her proposal calls for at least two members of the Board of Ethics to be licensed attorneys and to include leaders of environmental protection and Hawaiian cultural groups on county planning commissions.
