2018 would not go gentle into the night, and the restless popping of firecrackers chattered into Tuesday like the last gasps of a year with unfinished business. But finally – and with many BANGs to herald it in – 2019 arrived. Take a breath of fresh air. You’re gonna need it to keep up. You see, Maui is changing, and while good people took time off to celebrate the holiday … [Read more...] about The Dec. 27 council meeting was so 2018. Here’s to a better 2019
Mike White
Concern grows over tentatively scheduled last-minute public hearing and special council meeting
With less than two weeks left in power and the clock ticking for the current Maui County Council, Council Chair Mike White is still angling for Hail Mary passes to take a number of controversial bills to the endzone. After last week’s marathon two-day council meeting which included a full day of public testimony, hotly contested bills dictating the momentum of the Wailuku Civic … [Read more...] about Concern grows over tentatively scheduled last-minute public hearing and special council meeting
Councilmembers’ Day Off Part 2: Grading councilmember attendance
At any job, a basic rule is show up. Last month, we ran a story (Sept. 20, “Councilmembers’ Day Off”) about an Infrastructure and Environmental Management County Council Committee meeting that showed how this simple requirement was flouted by some of Maui’s county councilmembers, to the detriment of council business. As it turned out, the Sept. 17 meeting was just the latest of … [Read more...] about Councilmembers’ Day Off Part 2: Grading councilmember attendance
Councilmembers’ Day Off: Majority of voting members absent for Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee meeting
The Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, began with a lecture. “I’ve had numerous meetings that we could not deliberate and do the work of this community due to lack of quorum,” Committee Chair Elle Cochran announced after taking roll and marking Councilmembers Don Guzman, Riki Hokama, and Mike White with unexcused absences. “We … [Read more...] about Councilmembers’ Day Off: Majority of voting members absent for Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee meeting
Maui County Council hires controversial former state Taxation Director Maria Zielinski
The Maui County Council has appointed Maria E. Zielinski, the former Hawaii state Tax Director who suddenly resigned in December following news reports that her department was allegedly interfering with an independent consultant’s work, the new director of its Office of Council Services (OCS). The vote on Apr. 6 was eight to one in favor of Zielinski, with only Councilmember … [Read more...] about Maui County Council hires controversial former state Taxation Director Maria Zielinski