Thank you for being a voice on Maui. The Coconut Poll is a weekly survey where we love to get your feedback on local issues. Select comments may appear in print.
5/14/2020
Are you comfortable with the pace of reopenings in the state and county? Why or why not?
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/reopeningmaui
4/30/2020, 5/7/2020
Do you live in a household with school-aged children? How have you adjusted to the stay-at-home order? Tell us about it!
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stayathomekids
4/23/2020
Do you think public workers should receive a pay cut to make up for budget shortfalls due to COVID-19?
Read more: https://mauitime.com/news/health/gov-ige-talks-cuts-the-governor-receives-criticism-for-proposals-to-cut-pay-for-public-workers/(opens in a new tab)
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/paycuts
4/16/2020
Have you discovered a skill or hobby in the last month that you might not have explored if not for the stay-at-home order?
4/9/2020
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COVIDActivities
Do you think the current social distancing rules go TOO FAR?
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DistancingRules
4/2/2020
Do you think lowering the county hotel tax rate is a good way to recover from the impacts of COVID? Why or why not?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/mayors-budget-boosts-tourism-is-it-the-best-way-to-recover-from-covid-19
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/covidhoteltax
3/19/2020, 3/26/2020
Are you experiencing financial impacts from COVID-19? How so?
Read our stories: https://mauitime.com/covid19
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CovidFinances
3/12/2020
Do you trust Mahi Pono? Why or why not?
Read our stories: https://mauitime.com/news/business/on-mauitimes-mahi-pono-coverage-mahi-ponos-community-relations-director-has-called-our-reporter-corrupt-and-dishonest-thats-false-and-it/ and https://mauitime.com/news/science-and-environment/mahi-ponos-pesticide-files-mahi-pono-uses-paraquat-and-another-chemical-toxic-to-marine-life-and-bees-is-it-practicing-sustainable-agriculture/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MahiPono
3/5/2020
Do you agree with our endorsement of Bernie Sanders? Why or why not?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/solidarity-forever-mauitime-endorses-bernie-sanders/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PresidentialPrimary
2/27/2020
Do you think the wave of youth activism is a good thing? Why or why not? Are they justified for speaking up, or should they leave the conversation and decision-making to adults?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/on-county-single-use-plastic-ban-differences-emerge-regarding-sense-of-urgency/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/youthactivism2020
2/20/2020
Are you voting in the Democratic Presidential Primary Election? Why or why not? If you are, tell us who you’re voting for and why!
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/get-ready-to-vote-in-the-upcoming-presidential-primary-election/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DemocraticPrimary2020
2/13/2020
To combat illegal sex trafficking, should prostitution be decriminalized for both the prostitute AND the sex buyer?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/sex-trafficking-linked-to-homelessness-and-other-factors-report-says/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DecrimProstitution
2/6/2020
Has Hawai‘i’s cost of living affected your physical and/or mental health?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/health/raise-the-minimum-wage-and-reduce-suicide-study-says/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020HealthAndWellness
1/30/2020
Is $13 an hour by 2024 an acceptable state minimum wage?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/a-dream-deferred-a-week-after-martin-luther-king-jr-day-the-war-on-the-poor-continues/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MinWage
1/23/2020
Should the county government be more involved in building, renting, and managing housing as a public good?
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mauicountyhousing
1/16/2020
Does the prevalence of out-of-state homebuyers concern you?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/nearly-half-of-maui-homes-sold-in-last-decade-were-bought-by-non-residents-dbedt-reports/
Take the poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FZMWWXW
1/9/2020
Are you satisfied with the new cannabis decriminalization law affecting possession of 3-or-less grams of cannabis?
Read the story: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/decriminalization-what-you-need-to-know/
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/decriminalizeit
Discussion 3/22/2019
Do you think Hawai‘i’s children of today will have a better or worse standard of living when they are your age?
This week we talked about survey results that showed 45% of Hawai‘i’s residents have, or have a household member who has, seriously considered leaving the state. That’s just one troubling finding.
Read more in our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/survey-says-alarming-numbers-of-hawaii-residents-seriously-considering-leaving-the-state/
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/futureofkeiki
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Discussion 3/14/2019
Do you think paid administrative leave is appropriate for government employees under investigation for crime?
This week we talked about Corporation Counsel Pat Wong’s arrest and subsequent placement on paid administrative leave.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/law-enforcement/corporation-counsel-pat-wong-arrested-for-physical-abuse-given-paid-leave/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wongspaidleave
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Discussion 3/8/2019
Do you think Native Hawaiian indigenous agriculture is relevant today?
This week we talked about a study in the journal Nature about Hawaiian indigenous agriculture, and the opportunities for local food production and climate change resiliency it could provide.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/science-and-environment/pre-contact-hawaiian-agriculture-systems-provide-opportunities-for-the-future-study-finds/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hawaiiag
Image by Sean H. Hower
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Discussion 3/1/2019
Do you think the situation at the U.S. Southern Border is a national emergency?
Last week we walked story with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, who thinks it is only a national emergency in President Trump’s mind.
See our article and video: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/walk-story-with-senator-mazie-hirono/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
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Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/USBorderWall
Discussion 2/14/2019
Should Hawai‘i’s cannabis laws be more liberal?
This week we talked about MPD Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu’s testimony against HB1383, a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession and create a working group to investigate the future of cannabis-law reform in the state.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/police-chief-tivoli-faaumu-doesnt-want-you-to-get-high/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HIcannabislaw
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Discussion 2/8/2019
Do you think there is an “establishment” smear campaign against presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard?
This week we talked about Gabbard’s official campaign launch, which came amid a report that stated she had support from Russia’s state-run media. The candidate and her supporters have suggested the accusations are part of a smear campaign against adversaries of the establishment.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/gabbard-officially-announces-presidential-run-nbc-news-reports-russian-support/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Tulsismear
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Discussion 1/25/2019
Should the county raise the hotel/resort real property tax rate?
This week we talked about Hawai‘i hotels’ increased revenue, and the fact that Maui County has the lowest hotel and resort real property tax of any county in Hawai‘i.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/hawaii-hotel-revenue-climbs-despite-turbulent-year-do-we-get-a-cut/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/resorttaxes
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Discussion 1/25/2019
Do you support the Wailuku Civic Complex as planned?
See our article, map, and infographic: https://mauitime.com/news/community-news/wailuku-civic-complex-winner-or-monstrosity/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in
print! #coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wailukucivic
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Discussion 1/21/19
Do you think Tulsi Gabbard is a viable presidential candidate?
This week we talked about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s announcement that she is running for president.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/tulsi-gabbard-announces-2020-presidential-bid-amid-questions-about-her-record/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Tulsi4Presidenti
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Discussion 1/11/19
Have you been negatively affected by the government shutdown??
This week we talked about how the federal government shutdown is affecting Maui residents.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/essential-but-unpaid-how-the-u-s-government-shutdown-is-affecting-mauis-residents/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/govtshutdownmaui
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Discussion 1/5/2019
Do you think 2019 will be better or worse for Maui politics?
This week, we talked about the last council meeting of 2018: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/the-dec-27-council-meeting-was-so-2018-heres-to-a-better-2019/
Now, in 2019, Maui has a new mayor and county council.
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mauipolitics2019
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Discussion 12/20/2018
Would you participate in local government more if you could testify via video chat?
This week we talked about concern that the scheduled Dec. 27 public hearing and potential special council meeting will make it difficult for the public to participate.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/concern-grows-over-tentatively-scheduled-last-minute-public-hearing-and-special-council-meeting/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/govtvideochat
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Discussion 12/11/18
Do you think the Department of Liquor Control acts in an overly punitive and retaliatory way?
This week we talked about the scathing third-party audit of the Maui County Department of Liquor control that shed light on the mismanaged department.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/law-enforcement/scathing-liquor-control-audit-presented-to-pea-committee-referred-to-new-council/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/liquorcommission
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Discussion 11/30/2018:
What do you think about Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura’s relationship with the cattle industry?
This week we talked about a bill Sugimura introduced regarding animal control that ignited a public response. Sugimura said she got the language from cattlemen.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/does-yuki-lei-sugimura-hate-animals-a-poorly-written-bill-ignites-social-media-and-causes-a-whole-lot-of-drama/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Option 1: Too cozy with big agriculture business
Option 2: It’s OK. They’re her constituents
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mauicattleindustry
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Discussion 11/26/2018 : Do you think the Maui County Council is trying to push last-minute decisions through before the new members take office?
Last week we talked about the council’s deliberation of controversial items (like the appropriation for $40m for the Wailuku Civic Complex) in the last few weeks before the newly elected councilmembers take office.
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LameDuckCouncil
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Discussion 11/16/2018: Should Alexander and Baldwin hold public meetings regarding the future of the old sugarcane land?
This week we talked about the mysterious fate of A&B’s Maui holdings, including reports that they have a partner to farm the entire Central Valley, rumors that a Canadian pension fund is in the final stages of a 55,000-acre purchase, and continued requests for water diversion permits.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/what-will-be-the-fate-of-mauis-central-valley-amid-reports-that-it-is-selling-maui-holdings-ab-receives-permits-for-continued-water-diversion-sierra-club-is-contesting-the-decision/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SugarLands
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Discussion: 11/9/2018: Do you agree with the County Code that a 12-room transient vacation rental can be allowed to receive special use permits to operate in Country Town Business Districts such as Pa‘ia, Makawao, and Hana Town?
This week we talked about the Protect Pa‘ia rally outside Pa‘ia Inn.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/protests-at-paia-inn-owner-claims-activists-spread-misinformation
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/specialvacationrental
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Discussion 11/2/2018: Have you experienced county officials carrying out their duties with inappropriate political/personal bias?
This week we talked about the controversy surrounding the grant given to 250th Celebration of Queen Ka‘ahumanu, and Atay’s rebuttal that the grant was wrongfully terminated as part of a coordinated, personal, and politically motivated attack.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/county-vs-atay/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CountyvsAtay
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Discussion 10/26/2018: Would you vote for a constitutional amendment to allow the state legislature the power to tax properties in order to support public education?
This week we talked about how the Hawai‘i Supreme Court invalidated the ballot question for a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the state to apply a surcharge to investment property in order to support education, because the question’s language was not clear enough
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/education-news/con-am-gets-canned-now-what/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CON-AM
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Coconut Poll 10/18/2018: Do you think Sheraton Maui was right to “trespass” three of their striking workers?
This week we talked about three Sheraton workers who were banned from the hotel property for a year after security stopped them for handing out leaflets to hotel guests regarding the ongoing strike.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/business/three-sheraton-maui-workers-barred-from-property-one-in-handcuffs-as-strike-enters-second-week/
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print! #coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mauiworkersrights
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Discussion 10/05/2018: Do you think gender is a spectrum?
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/health/hawaiis-transgender-youth-experience-significant-health-and-social-inequity-department-of-health-reports/
This week we talked about a Department of Health report that found transgender public high school students face significant health and social inequity as a result of “minority stress” created through the rigid binary gender identity norms imposed by mainstream Western culture.
Share your opinion and comment below or to editor@mauitime to have your voice heard and for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/genderspectrum
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Discussion 9/27/2018: Should sex buyers be more aggressively penalized by the state and law enforcement?
See our article:
https://mauitime.com/news/politics/astronomical-prostitution-demand-in-hawaii-study-finds/
This week we talked about a study by the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and Arizona State University School of Social Work that found demand for prostitution in Hawaii was significantly higher than anywhere else measured in the US.
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print!
#coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/sexbuyers
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Discussion 9/21/2018
This week we talked about how unexcused councilmember absences led to a lack of quorum for a Sept. 17 Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee meeting, meaning no deliberation or decision-making could take place although public testimony was received.
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/councilmembersdayoff
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Discussion 9/14/2018
This week we talked about the County Planning Commission’s progress update regarding plans to better regulate illegal short term vacation rental units. See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/planning-department-plans-to-enforce-transient-vacation-rental-rules/
Do you think the county is doing enough to regulate short term vacation rental units?
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print! #coconutpoll
Take The Poll: hhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mauivacationrental
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Discussion 8/30/2018:
This week we talked about the discovery of “direct evidence” of surface water-ice on the moon.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/science-and-environment/see-you-on-the-ice-side-of-the-moon/
Do you think humans will colonize space before we destroy Earth?
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MoonColony
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Discussion 8/17/2018:
This week we talked about the Primary Election and local progressive candidates.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/primary-election-wrap-up-just-how-progressive-is-hawaii/
Do you think the government should provide free public college education?
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/freecollege
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Discussion 8/9/2018:
Do you think local county and state governments should do more to ban single-use plastics?
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/banplastics
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Discussion 8/4//2018
Should we recognize more Hawaiian Kingdom historical days like La Ho‘iho‘i Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day)?
Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiihistoricaldays
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Discussion 7/27/2018: This week we talked about the extension to the Sand Mining Moratorium.
See https://mauitime.com/news/politics/sand-mining-moratorium-extended-after-public-outcry/
Do you think the Central Maui Sand Dune, which stretches from Kahului and Wailuku all the way to Ma‘alaea, should be developed or preserved?
Vote and leave a comment for a chance to appear in print!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SANDMININGMAUI
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Discussion 7/12/2018: Proud to be American? This week we reflected on what Independence Day means in these times, in this place.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/culture/history/happy-independence-day/
Are you proud to be an American?
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/proudamerican
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Discussion 7/5/2018: Public Debates and Candidates This week we talked about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s absence from the Hawaii News Now Superdebate.
See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-dodges-debate/
Should Tulsi Gabbard participate in a public debate with Sherry Alu Campagna? Vote and leave a comment below for a chance to appear in print! #coconutpoll
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tulsigabbard
see results at https://mauitime.com/news/politics/congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-dodges-debate/
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Discussion 6/30/2018: White Privilege https://mauitime.com/culture/maui-community/mauitime-reflects-on-white-privilege-and-calls-for-writers/
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/whiteprivilegemauitime
To see the results go to https://mauitime.com/culture/maui-community/mauitime-reflects-on-white-privilege-and-calls-for-writers/
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Discussion 6/21/2018: How do you feel about seed-agrochemical companies’ operations in Hawai‘i?
This week we talked about the Hawai‘i’s historic chlorpyrifos ban. See our article: https://mauitime.com/news/politics/governor-ige-signs-historic-pesticide-ban-into-hawaii-law/
Create your own user feedback survey
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/chlorpyrifos
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Discussion 6/14/18
Coconut Wireless Poll: This week was a good week for Hawai‘i’s environment. Multiple state bills were signed by Governor Ige to mitigate climate change and limit pollution.
Check out our article: https://mauitime.com/news/science-and-environment/environmental-progress-made-with-hawaii-state-bills-signed-into-law/ and please take a moment to Vote and comment below to share your thoughts in our print issue!
Take The Poll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/environmentpoll