#mayor bissen

Launched in November 2023, the Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program connects Maui wildfire survivors with trained disaster case managers who help assess needs, develop recovery plans and connect survivors with appropriate resources.

Friends of Richard Bissen announced the endorsement of the Hawaiʻi Longshore Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Mayor Richard Bissen’s campaign for re-election.

After ongoing meetings with Haʻikū residents and touring key County of Maui roadways in Haʻikū, Mayor Richard Bissen is implementing the second and third phase of County’s speed table review.

The Bissen 2026 campaign invites friends, families, supporters, and community members from across Maui Nui to gather for Hana Hou Night, an evening celebrating community, local music, and the shared commitment to building a stronger future for Maui County.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawaiʻi held its annual Law Enforcement Recognition ceremony on Thursday, June 25 to honor the dedicated individuals who have gone above and beyond in the fight against impaired driving.

“For years, the Olowalu area has faced a critical gap in emergency response coverage. When seconds matter most, distance can mean the difference between life and death. This new fire station will change that reality. Once completed, it will allow our firefighters to respond to emergencies in this region at least 15 minutes faster than from the nearest station in Lahaina. That is not just an improvement—that is lifesaving,” said Chief Bradford Ventura.

To prepare for a powerful kona storm, Mayor Richard Bissen signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday, that lets the county access state and federal assistance and streamlines procedures to quickly deploy resources, personnel and services if needed.

In his address, he highlighted Maui County’s continued progress across housing, recovery, well-being and economic stability, while outlining actions to strengthen communities and build a resilient future.

Officials today, Feb. 8, 2026, restricted Hāna Highway to local traffic only due to reports of fallen trees and landslides, among other safety issues, during the severe weather event that started Saturday. This means only residents and visitors living or staying in East Maui should be driving on Hāna Highway through the front (Haʻikū) or the back (Kaupō) sides.

Mayor Richard Bissen will travel out of the state from the late morning of Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, until the evening of Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

Maui County Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. and the US Air Force Band “Small Kine” Unite for Maui’s International Peace Day hosted by Teran James Young Foundation, Sept. 21, 2025.

Mayor Richard Bissen is bringing Holomua Kākou back to Molokaʻi on Monday, Aug. 25, and Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, as part of his continuing efforts to take county government to the rural areas of Maui County.

Mayor Bissen will visit New York City from July 15-18 to speak at the UN on sustainability and attend UN Foundation meetings with Hawai‘i Green Growth. From July 20-25, he will travel to Los Angeles to support wildfire recovery efforts with After the Fire USA.

Mayor Richard Bissen signed into law an approximately $1.56 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget on Friday. The document address core priorities — housing for kamaʻāina, recovery and well-being, and the protection of our cultural and natural resources.

Beginning Saturday, May 24, 2025, access to the shoreline on the north and south ends of Lahaina Harbor will be made available for recreational, noncommercial purposes, the County of Maui Office of Recovery announced.

Bissen will attend the 80th National Session of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design from March 19-21, 2025, in California. He will present on the Kahului Community Center Park project.

In response to a surge in thefts in fire-impacted areas, the County of Maui is taking action to enhance security. To address these concerns, the County will install security cameras in key, high-risk locations to deter criminal activity and support law enforcement efforts.  

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen will travel out of the state from this morning, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, until the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi released today a second policy brief regarding how to speed up homebuilding on Maui in the wake of the deadly August 2023 wildfires that killed 102 people in Lahaina and left thousands of people homeless. It outlines four actions to assist with the rebuilding of destroyed housing or the construction of new temporary housing in the Lahaina burn zone, and two reforms that it says would increase Maui County’s housing stock in general.

Maui County officials issued an update shortly before 9 p.m., notifying the public there are NO evacuations called at this time. However, Maui Police Department officers are going through Kula neighborhoods notifying residents to PREPARE to evacuate if necessary and to sign up for MEMA Alerts.