"Wailuku is dead." That could have been the rallying call of those testifying in support of the Wailuku Civic Complex at the March 29 meeting of Maui County Council’s Economic Development and Budget Committee. The lead suspect in the death of this historic town? Well, that remains a mystery with multiple suspects. But proponents of the complex made it clear that the … [Read more...] about The Battle for Wailuku: In debating the Wailuku Civic Complex, stakeholders grapple over “revitalization”
Maui County Council
Councilmember Tasha Kama Flexes: Vote to confirm Wong signals independence
Social media is where broken hearts are shared. Immediately after Councilmember Tasha Kama changed her committee vote – a known swing vote – to approve Mayor Mike Victorino’s embattled appointment for Corporation Counsel, Patrick Wong, the nastiness began. The most hurtful comments came in the form of name calling. Others leveled unsubstantiated allegations of nepotism. But of … [Read more...] about Councilmember Tasha Kama Flexes: Vote to confirm Wong signals independence
Community Divisions Displayed at Last Week’s Anticlimactic County Council Meeting
Last week, the Maui County Council convened for what was supposed to be the conclusion of the confirmation process for Mayor Mike Victorino’s first round of nominees to head county departments. After almost 70 testifiers showed up in Council Chambers to testify on Feb. 15, time ran out for the councilmembers to cast their final votes on Victorino’s nominees, delaying decision … [Read more...] about Community Divisions Displayed at Last Week’s Anticlimactic County Council Meeting
Riki Hokama, Parliamentarian
A friend of mine calls Councilmember Riki Hokama (Lana‘i) by a Trumpian nickname: “Tricky Riki.” The name, this person would say, has been earned over the councilmember’s many years of service at the council, but one entanglement at last week’s director-confirmation hearing for acting Prosecuting Attorney J.D. Kim shows why the nickname stuck – and why the same person who … [Read more...] about Riki Hokama, Parliamentarian
Breaking: Chair, vice chair, and memberships announced for new Maui County Council committees
[UPDATE: This article first noted Riki Hokama as a voting member of the Environmental, Agriculture, and Cultural Preservation Committee. At the close of the council meeting, Hokama motioned to reconsider the committees, resulting in his membership in the EACP as a voting member to be replaced by Alice Lee.] The Maui County Council continued organizational business today … [Read more...] about Breaking: Chair, vice chair, and memberships announced for new Maui County Council committees