Maui County Council Meeting January 23, 2026: Ceremonial Resolutions, Appointments, and Key Ordinances on Factory-Built Housing and Water Conservation
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Maui County Council Meeting – January 23, 2026
The Maui County Council convened on January 23, 2026, at 9:12 a.m. (with a scheduled start time of 19:15 UTC) under Chair Alice Lee. The meeting included ceremonial resolutions honoring a collegiate baseball star and healthcare heroes, public testimony on several bills, appointments to boards and commissions, and first- and second-reading votes on ordinances addressing water conservation, factory-built housing in the Lahaina burn zone, and property tax exemptions. Key debates centered on Bill 15 (factory-built housing), Bill 161 (interim swimming pool restrictions in West Maui), and Bill 168 (affordable housing property tax exemption). The council also took action on committee referrals and filings.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ceremonial Resolution 26-6 (Vihiva Aloy): Family members and friends testified in support, expressing pride in the baseball player's achievements and his role as an ambassador of aloha.
- Ceremonial Resolution 26-7 (Healthcare Honorees): Testifiers praised the dedication of awardees, including Richard Coloma (community health worker) and Eliza Sanaro (scholarship recipient), highlighting their work with kapuna and vulnerable populations.
- Bill 15 (Factory-built housing): Mark Clemente (Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters) raised concerns about inspection authority, liability, equal safety standards, and warranties. Noe Al Pitao questioned transportation logistics and insurance. Elikia Kona supported the bill, citing water shortage urgency. James Langford advocated for 3D-printed homes.
- Bill 161 (Swimming pool moratorium): Joey Medeiros (pool builder) argued pools use less water than grass, suggesting alternatives like pool covers. Elikia Kona and others supported the temporary moratorium, citing West Maui's water system exceeding capacity by 41.8%.
- Bill 168 (Property tax exemption): Alan Lloyd (Maui Tenants and Workers Association) supported the intent but argued the $400,000 exemption is too small to incentivize landlords, and recommended requiring participation and certification.
- Bill 17 (Social host ordinance repeal): Rick Collins (Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth) requested the bill be moved to committee for refinement rather than repeal. Reverend Dennis Barger and Lori Tanner testified in support of retaining the ordinance to prevent underage drinking.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 26-6 (Congratulating Vihiva Aloy): Adopted unanimously after testimony and family remarks.
- Resolution 26-7 (Healthcare Honorees): Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution 26-8 (Real Property Tax Reform Committee roster): Adopted 9-0, replacing late councilmember Tasha Kama with Kawanoi Batangan.
- Resolution 26-9 (South Maui Community Plan time extension): Adopted 9-0, extending the planning commission's deadline to June 30, 2026.
- Resolution 26-10 (Appointing Faith Chase to Police Commission): After extensive discussion on multiple board service and qualifications, the motion to adopt failed 4-5. Subsequently, a motion to file the resolution carried 5-4.
- Resolution 26-12 (HANA Advisory Committee): Amended to approve Cheryl Ann Leigh (designated cultural practitioner) and Bailey June Sprite, placing Faith Chase on the disapproval list. Adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 26-13 (Commission on Healing Solutions for Homelessness): Amended to approve Zach Mathers (designated faith-based leader), term expiring 2031. Adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 26-14 (East Maui Regional Community Board): Amended to reappoint Norman Bush Martin Jr. and Lurlin Scott for full terms, with Faith Chase and Verilyn Latham moved to disapproval. Adopted 9-0.
- Bill 15 (Factory-built housing in Lahaina burn zone): First reading passed 6-3 after floor amendments to limit scope to residential housing only, exclude commercial structures, and add a sunset date of December 31, 2031, with a report to council on success metrics. The bill was referred to the Housing and Land Use Committee for further work before second reading.
- Bill 161 (Interim swimming pool restrictions): Second reading passed 6-2-1 (excused). The moratorium applies to new private swimming pools in the West Maui community plan area until water supply capacity is determined.
- Bill 168 (Property tax exemption for affordable housing): Second reading passed 7-0-2 (excused). The bill provides a $400,000 exemption for long-term rental properties, effective for the next tax year.
- Bills 158, 177, 178, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 18, 19, 20: Passed on second and final reading with minimal debate, including appropriations for wastewater projects, historic preservation, EPA stormwater grants, and affordable housing programs.
Key Outcomes
- Votes and Decisions:
- Resolution 26-6, 26-7: Adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 26-8, 26-9: Adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 26-10: Motion to file carried 5-4 (after initial failure 4-5).
- Resolution 26-12, 26-13, 26-14: Adopted 9-0.
- Bill 15 (first reading): Passed 6-3 (aye: Senecy, U Hodgins, Rollins Fernandez, Johnson, Paulton, Lee; nay: Cook, Sugimura, Batangan).
- Bill 161 (second reading): Passed 6-2-1 (aye: Senecy, Rollins Fernandez, Johnson, Paulton, Batangan, Lee; nay: Cook, Sugimura; excused: U Hodgins).
- Bill 168 (second reading): Passed 7-0-2 (excused: Batangan, U Hodgins).
- Bills 158, 177, 178, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 18, 19, 20: All passed on second reading with 8-0-1 or 8-0-2 votes.
- Referrals: Bill 13 (advertising on buses) to ADEPT; Bill 14 (workforce housing preference) to HLU; Bill 16 (low-speed electric bicycles) to Hawaii committee; Resolution 26-11 (charter amendment on council vacancies) to GRET.
- Next Steps: Bill 15 will be heard in committee (HLU) before second reading, with a report from Public Works on success metrics. The social host ordinance (Bill 17) was postponed to the next council meeting pending a 7B discussion.
Meeting Transcript
Well, the council meeting of January 23rd, 2026, please come to order. It is now 912 a.m. Good morning and aloha, everyone. Aloha. Ohio Gozai Mus. Roll call. Chair proceeding with roll call. Councilmember Shane Senensi. Aloha Kakayaka and Ohio Gazemas. Councilmember Nohilani Uhodgins. Aloha Chair. Aloha, everyone. Councilmember Tom Cook. Aloha Fraydi. There's um we have people in Kihei office on standby if anybody wants to give testimony. Really happy to be here this morning, greet our friends from Japan, and also to honor our student. Thank you. Councilmember County Rollins Fernandez. Aloha Kakahiyaka and Lonoy Kamaka Hiki. Uh, there is currently no testifiers or staff at the Molokai District Office because staff is helping with Kahele uh for Mol Makahiki. Um so uh anyone in Molokai, just call in. Councilmember Gabe Johnson. Well, how chair, council members, community members, there's no testifiers at the Lanay District Office, and I'm here in ready to work. Thank you. Councilmember Tamara Poulton. Aloha Kakayaka Kako, live in the rec from the council chambers, Vice Chair Yukile Sugimora. Good morning, everybody. Ohio Kazimas, and I really appreciate the council welcoming the uh our guests from Izumisano City. Um, looking forward to a productive meeting, Chair. Councilmember Kawanoi Batangun. Aloha Kakahakako, and a special good morning to the Hamana from Commander Mystic School's Maui. And Council Chair Alice Lee. Good morning, and aloha kaku. Chair, all members are present, which means you do have a quorum to conduct the business of the council for the record. My name is Moana Ludi, and I'm the county clerk. Seated next to me is Rochelle Thompson, the deputy clerk. And joining us from our legislative division staff is Joyce Murashige, Lauren Saldana, Del Yoshida, and Arthur Suyama assisting the council with order and decorum is our ambassador Ryan Martins. Joining the meeting from the Office of Council Services is Deputy Director Rochelle Kawasaki and Legislative Attorney Peter Hanano. It established a comprehensive framework of prevention, protection, and prosecution. Chair, please join us this Monday in the WhatsApp committee as we meet with the representatives from Hooikaika Partnership and with parents and children together to review data on child abuse and neglect, domestic abuse and human trafficking in Maui County. Thank you. Thank you very much. May I now ask that everyone join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? Before we proceed with today's agenda, may I please request that everyone keep their microphones muted unless it's your turn to speak. As a reminder, testimony must pertain to items on the meeting agenda. When testifying, please direct your remarks to the council and not to any individual council member or member of the public. Each testifier will be allowed to speak for up to three minutes on each item. For individuals wishing to testify on Teams, please click the raise your hand button to be added to the log. If you are calling in, please follow phone prompts to be added to this testifier log. If you wish to testify anonymously, please sign in as anonymous, and you will be given a testifier number.
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