#justin woodson

The incumbent mayor gained the biggest advantage over Sugimura in West Maui, where the recovery from the 2023 wildfire put his reelection bid to the test.

Gov. Josh Green signed four measures to strengthen Hawai‘i’s education system by supporting teachers and increasing the affordability and accessibility of school meals. These bills aim to provide keiki and educators with essential tools for success while ensuring no student goes hungry in the classroom.

Two Maui County Council members are headed back to office without a fight, along with Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto and Kahului Rep. Justin Woodson who’re also uncontested for re-election.

State Rep. Elle Cochran of West Maui missed 20% of floor sessions so far this year, the highest absence rate among all House members, according to House of Representatives’ Daily Session Attendance sheets. The records show Cochran was absent for 11 out of 55 session days.

The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives is proud to recognize House Education Week at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol from March 16 – 20, 2026.

Central Maui state Rep. Justin Woodson, chair of the House Committee on Education, is among three honorees for Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance.

More than 270 supporters and staff of Maui Economic Opportunity, including state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Mayor Richard Bissen, helped the nonprofit celebrate 60 years of Helping People, Changing Lives, and retired Hale Mahaolu Executive Director Grant Chun at a fundraising Gala on March 22 at the King Kamehameha Golf […]

A bill that would change rules for assessing “historic” buildings in Hawaiʻi has crossed over from the Senate and is being considered by the state House of Representatives. Senate Bill 15 Senate Draft 1 would amend the definition of “historic property” by requiring that a property meets the criteria for inclusion in the Hawai‘i Register […]

The House Committee on Water & Land recommended favorable action Thursday on a bill to give the state Department of Land and Natural Resources more flexibility in responding to repairs and maintenance in state small boat harbors and parks.

State Rep. Justin H. Woodson (District 9, Kahului, Puʻunēnē, portion of Wailuku) announced that the House draft of the State Budget (HB300 HD1) includes a proposed $100 million appropriation to cover the remaining funds needed for the construction of Central Maui Elementary and Middle School. 

Four Maui County members of the state House of Representatives are seeking state funding for the purchase of an advanced life support ambulance for Central Maui.

Fires — whether they be wildfires or aerial fireworks — are top of mind for many lawmakers as they prepare for this year’s lawmaking session, beginning Wednesday at the state Capitol in Honolulu.

As Hawaiʻi lawmakers get ready for the opening of this year’s legislative session on Jan. 15, members of the House and Senate are holding informational meetings and the Senate Democratic majority has announced its legislative priorities.

House Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura announced House leadership and committee assignments for the 33rd Legislature. Maui Rep. Tyson Miyake was named Majority Whip, Rep. Justin Woodson was named chair of the House Committee on Education, and Rep. Kyle Yamashita was named chair of the House Committee on Finance.

The two-lane Puʻunēnē Avenue bottleneck has long been a headache for Central Maui motorists. Traffic slows to a crawl during get-to-school and pau hana times, morning and afternoon, from Wākea Avenue to Kūihelani Highway.

With lots of places to climb, jump and slide, new playground equipment delivered something vitally important to keiki at King Kamehameha III Elementary School on Tuesday. And, that’s . . . fun!

By virtue of being uncontested, Maui County Council Members Shane Sinenci of East Maui and Gabe Johnson of Lāna‘i will be re-elected to their respective seats this year. Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto is also uncontested for his 5th District Senate seat, and District 9 Rep. Justin Woodson has no opponent to stand in the way of his return to the state House of Representatives.

With a June 4 deadline just a week away, there’s been a flurry of activity in the past three weeks by candidates seeking Maui County political offices, with several checking out and/or filing their official nomination papers.

Kaunakakai Elementary teacher David “Kawika” Gonzales Jr. and Wahieʻe Elementary reading coach Melanie Teraoka are among a list of educators, recognized by their respective complex areas as District Teacher of the Year. They will be recognized along with their counterparts during the Hawaiʻi State Legislature’s Annual Education Week, taking place March 18-22 at the state Capitol.

“I think that’s a huge consideration that needs to be in place before we open, so everybody knows what to do. I think that’s one of the problems—the one road in and one road out for our schools is systemic in the poor planning decisions which amplified the tragedy of the fires,” said Elizabeth Bowen, a teacher at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Intermediate School.