MAUI NUI PRIORITIES

Committed to Maui Nui’s Future, People, and Place

The Strength to Do What's Right Every Day

Proven Leadership That Delivers for Maui Nui. Under Mayor Richard Bissen’s leadership, the County of Maui has delivered significant progress in housing, wildfire recovery, public safety, infrastructure, and community well-being — with clear results for residents across Maui Nui. 

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About Mayor Richard Bissen

PROSECUTOR. JUDGE. MAYOR.

Change is not coming.
Change is here

  • “Affordability is the foundation of everything we do, because if our residents cannot afford to live here, nothing else works.”

    Addressing affordability requires a coordinated, systemwide response. Mayor Bissen is addressing affordability in a comprehensive way by increasing housing, investing in infrastructure and making responsible financial decisions that protect our residents.

    Progress

    • Record investment in affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund

    • Developed the House Maui strategy aligning public, private and nonprofit partners to advance housing in Maui County

    • Infrastructure investments and use of County owned lands to unlock housing capacity

    • Strong financial management that helps us save money, reduce long-term costs and invest more back into our community

  • “Our priority is keeping kamaʻāina in Maui County by making sure local housing serves local families.”

    House Maui, developed under Mayor Bissen’s leadership, is a community-driven framework that aligns cross-sector partners and leverages County-owned land and infrastructure to reduce costs and accelerate housing for local families.

    Progress

    • House Maui framework guiding long-term housing production

    • Increasing housing supply, delivering more than 880 affordable homes since 2023, increasing production by 190%, and building more than 2,000 homes overall, with nearly 3,000 affordable homes planned by 2030

    • Use of County-owned land to reduce costs and accelerate projects

    • Bill 9 restoring housing inventory to long-term residential use

  • “Water is a public trust, and it must be managed in the best interest of our people, our environment and future generations.”

    Mayor Bissen is committed to bringing water systems under public stewardship so decisions are made locally, with transparency and long-term sustainability in mind.

    Progress

    • Active steps toward East Maui Community Water Authority implementation

    • Ongoing efforts to acquire and manage key water systems across Maui Nui

    • Coordination with Department of Water Supply and long-term infrastructure planning for public stewardship

  • “Our commitment to Lahaina is long-term, and we are focused on helping families and businesses recover, rebuild and return home with dignity.”

    Recovery is not just about rebuilding structures. It is about restoring a community, and that work must be guided by the people of Lahaina. It is about getting it right for the community and honoring Lahaina’s past, present, and future.

    Progress

    • 100% of impacted parcels cleared in historic debris removal effort

    • Approximately $1.6 billion in federal recovery funding secured

    • Transitional housing support extended to hundreds of families

    • Office of Recovery established, providing ongoing support services

    • Approximately 300 sites are under construction, with an expedited permitting process helping rebuild more than 450 homes and hundreds more in the pipeline

Maui Nui Priorities

  • Kamaʻāina Housing

    Prioritizing Housing Solutions That Benefit Local Residents—Keeping Our People Home

  • Recovery

    Moving From Recovery to Readiness

  • Well-Being

    Healthy People, Strong Community

  • Cultural and Natural Resources

    Honoring the Past, Sustaining the Present, Protecting the Future

  • Economic Development and Diversification

    Building a Resilient, Kamaʻāina-Centered Economy

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Prioritizing Housing Solutions That Benefit Local Residents—Keeping Our People Home

Kamaʻāina Housing

Ensuring local families can live and thrive in Maui County begins with housing. We have accelerated the delivery of affordable and workforce homes, invested more than a quarter-billion dollars in new housing, and aligned critical infrastructure to support long-term, sustainable solutions for our community.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

    • 289 affordable units completed in West Maui

      • Expedited permitting and support for Kaiaulu O Kukuia

      • $40M investment, expedited permitting and debris support for Kaiaulu O Kupuohi

    • 223 affordable units underway in Kīhei

      • Hale O Piʻikea — completion by end of 2025

    • 353 units started construction in 2025
      (Līpoa Apartments — 175 units; Hale Pilina — 178 units)

    • 145 units continuing construction
      (Kilohana Makai — 28 units; Līloa Hale — 117 senior units)

    • $1.3 billion in proposed HUD CDBG-DR investments for housing + infrastructure

    • Introduced Bill 9 to transition thousands of vacation rentals to long-term housing for local families

    • $17M invested in the Lānaʻi Affordable Housing Project
      (infrastructure + vertical construction) 

    • RFP released to redevelop the former Haggai Institute (Kīhei)
      (workforce housing, teacher housing, early childhood center) 

    • Reactivated Experimental & Demonstration Housing Fund
      RFP anticipated early 2026 to pilot scalable housing solutions 

    • County-owned sites moving toward entitlement
      in partnership with Department of Planning 

    • Site planning initiated to redevelop Komohana Hale
      (lost in the 2023 Lahaina wildfires) 

    • $6 million to Lahaina Community Land Trust for future community housing 

    • Kaiaulu O Napili has two Affordable Housing Fund appropriations: 

      • FY 2025 Grant- $650,000 for predevelopment (for land use entitlements and environmental studies) 

      • FY 2026 Grant- $2 million for new construction, planning, and design

    • $3M rental assistance in FY25 supporting 500+ families 

    • Funding increased to $4.35M in FY26 to expand support

    • $61M in FY25 supporting 600+ units through the Affordable Housing Fund 

    • $57M in FY26 supporting 1,047 units
      (development, acquisition & rehabilitation)

    • $28M in subsidies administered in FY25–FY26
      supporting 1,500 families through the Housing Choice Voucher Program

    • $1M in down payment support for 13 homeowners 

    • 300+ families assisted through the Homeowner Assistance Fund

    • Disaster Recovery Building Permit system accelerating Lahaina rebuilding 

    • SMA permit suspension mauka of Front Street — up to 1 year saved for 600+ homes 

    • Property tax exemption bill introduced for DHHL homestead leases 

    • $24 million Homeowner Assistance Fund supporting mortgage relief

  • Wastewater & Sewer

    • Central Maui Regional Wastewater Facility modernization — $10.5 million; groundbreaking 2027 

    • Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility upgrades — $10 million

    • Lānaʻi wastewater reclamation planning — $1 million

    • Upgrades in Makawao, Hāna & Upcountry; 7 large-capacity cesspools closing 

    • Pāʻia Pump Station upgrades — $300,000

    • Keʻanae septic improvements — $1 million

    Solid Waste Improvements

    • Coming soon! 

    Water System Improvements

    • $16 million Kahana Well Project; adding 1 MGD by 2025 

    • $4.5 million Upper Kula transmission reliability upgrades 

    • $2.65 million Upcountry capacity improvements 

    $600,000 Kamaole WTP reservoir upgrades

    • Waiʻale Road Extension includes — $87 million 

    • North-South Collector Road / Līloa Drive — $25 million federal 

    • Community safety access upgrades: 

      • Vevau Street — $200,000

    • 1,100 temporary units delivered via State/County/FEMA/CNHA partnership 

    • Sites: Ka Laʻi Ola, Kilohana, Ke Ao Maluhia & Kīhei/Haggai 

    • Permanent utilities installed to support sustained redevelopment

Moving From Recovery to Readiness

Recovery

Recovery from the 2023 wildfires remains a defining responsibility. Our focus has shifted from immediate response to long-term readiness by prioritizing housing stability, resilient infrastructure, and community-led recovery. Securing $1.6 billion in disaster recovery funding is advancing a path forward that keeps people home and strengthens Maui County for generations to come.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

    • 100% of 1,538 impacted properties cleared 

    • More than 400,000 tons of wildfire debris removed safely 

    • Acquired neighboring land to increase capacity at Central Maui Landfill to enable future growth and air space, and accommodate fire debris

    • Secured All debris transferred to permanent site; temporary site restoration on track for 2025 completion 

    • Water and sewer fully restored ahead of schedule — serving 3,890 lots 

    • Removal of 3,200+ burned vehicles completed 

    • Most road access restored, with additional reopening in phases as conditions allow

    • Lahaina Long-Term Recovery Plan co-created with 3,800 residents 

    • 100+ listening sessions in Lahaina and Kula 

    • More than $1.6 billion in federal disaster recovery secured 

    • Office of Recovery and Lahaina Recovery Resource Center established

    • After-Action Reports completed for Police, Fire & MEMA 

    • MEMA staffing expanded from 9 → 25, including on Molokaʻi, Lana‘i and Hāna 

    • Genasys Protect evacuation app & advanced weather sensors deployed 

    • Maui Fire: 29 new positions; Haʻikū Station — $18.58M; Kula apparatus bay — $3.08M 

    • AI early-fire detection sensors installed 

    • MPD: State’s first nighttime public safety helicopter; new patrol K-9 unit 

    • $5 million Molokaʻi Police Station 

    • $150,000 — Hāna police cottages; $1.5 million — Kīhei server room upgrades

    • Data-driven wildfire fuels reduction projects completed in high-risk zones

      • Improving firefighting access and reducing future risk

    • Evacuation and roadway improvements advancing

      • Luakini Street Extension

      • Lahaina Bypass extension approved

    • 1,100 temporary housing units delivered through State/County/FEMA/CNHA partnership

      • Permanent utilities installed to support long-term redevelopment

Well-Being

Healthy People, Strong Community

The well-being of our residents is foundational to a strong and resilient community. We are investing in physical, mental, and financial health by expanding access to mental health care, supporting kūpuna, strengthening families, and creating opportunities for youth through programs, recreation, and shared community spaces.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

    • Expanded trauma-informed counseling and cultural healing services countywide

      • Increasing access for wildfire-impacted families

    • Early childhood capacity restored with 275 childcare seats

      • Supporting working families and long-term workforce stability

    • $410,000 supporting Maui Family Support Services, Feed My Sheep & Hale Mahaolu

    • $400,000 supporting MACC, MAPA & Nisei Veterans Memorial Center

    • $1.43 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui

    • $450,000 for Pāʻia Clean & Safe program

    • $330,000 for Molokaʻi Community Health Center

    • $570,000 for Molokaʻi Rural Health Community Association

    • $150,596 for suicide prevention & child protection services on Molokaʻi

    • Tropic Care partnership delivering no-cost medical, dental & vision services

      • Expanding access for residents on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi

    • Workforce upskilling programs for recovery-impacted residents

      • Supporting financial stability and career mobility

    • Afterschool care, youth sports leagues & PALS programs provided free of charge

      • Expanding safe, accessible programming for keiki

    • First Youth Summit hosted

      • Creating space for youth leadership and civic engagement

    • Continued investment in kūpuna programs and healthy aging services

      • Promoting dignity, connection, and long-term care

    • Maui County Fair returned after a six-year pause

      • Record-breaking attendance of over 120,000 residents and visitors

    • Kahului Transit Center opened; four electric buses added

      • Expanding access and modernizing public transportation

    • Major parks and recreation investments across Maui Nui:

      • $4 million — Keōpūolani & Wells Parks lighting and safety upgrades

      • $1 million — Kanahā Beach Park restrooms

      • $250,000 — Kahului Community Center roof

      • $1 million — Flako Boteilho Gym upgrades

      • $1 million — One Aliʻi Park shade structure (Molokaʻi)

      • $225,000 — Hāna Youth Center

      • $600,000 — Hāna–Keʻanae–Kailua parks

      • $500,000 — Hāna Park tennis & baseball courts

      • $1 million — Lānaʻi Youth Center & Skate Park

      • $28.5 million — War Memorial Gymnasium overhaul underway

      • $7.2 million — War Memorial Stadium track rehabilitation

    • Two new fitness courts delivered in partnership with HMSA

    • Four new playgrounds coming online countywide

      • Creating spaces where keiki can play and families can gather

Honoring the Past, Sustaining the Present, Protecting the Future

Cultural and Natural Resources

Our responsibility to care for Maui County is rooted in Hawaiian values and the principle of mālama ʻāina. We are guided by a culturally informed, community-led approach that honors historic places, respects community identity, and protects our land, water, and ocean resources through stewardship, sustainability, and climate resilience.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

    • Advancing restoration of Mokuʻula and Loko o Mokuhinia

    • Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art — completion 2027

    • Von Tempsky Kula Community Center preserved

    • One Water Strategy exploration underway to advance long-term water security

    • R-1 recycled water expansion — federally funded

    • 257 acres acquired at Pōhākea for fire protection & access; pursuing 423 more acres

    • East Maui watershed protection — $857,746

    • Auwahi Forest restoration — $155,844

    • Kula Community Watershed Alliance — $75,000

    • $7.27 million for Molokaʻi water capacity upgrades

    • Maui County Food & Nutrition Security Plan launched — first in county history

    • $7+ million in grants supporting farmers + local food production

    • Kula Agriculture Park infrastructure improvements

    • West Maui Greenway — $15 million federal; multi-use corridor + firebreak

    • 685 abandoned vehicles removed from ʻUkumehame Valley

    • $5 million in Green Grants supporting marine life & clean energy

    • Invasive species and weed eradication — $285,000

Economic Development and Diversification

Building a Resilient, Kamaʻāina-Centered Economy

Building a resilient future requires a strong, diversified economy that works for local residents. The Office of Economic Development has pivoted to serving as a driver of long-term growth and resilience by supporting local businesses, growing living-wage industries, strengthening workforce pathways, and fostering opportunity—while maintaining a balanced and responsible visitor industry.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

    • Mayor Bissen delivered $13 million in small business disaster relief following the 2023 wildfires.

    • He also invested $1 million in the Economic Recovery Committee and wildfire workforce development initiatives — stabilizing jobs and small businesses during Maui’s most difficult period.

    • Across FY24–FY26, Maui County invested over $25.4 million in agriculture, food security, renewable energy, and innovation initiatives.

    • These investments reduce dependency on a single industry and expand local job opportunities rooted in resilience, sustainability, and self-reliance.

    • Under Mayor Bissen, the Office of Economic Development (OED) leads Hawaiʻi in direct grant investment, including but not limited to the following:

      • Workforce training & upskilling

      • Small business resiliency

      • Micro-enterprise & entrepreneurship

      • Technology & innovation

      • Visitor-industry partnerships

    • Across FY24–FY26, these programs received over $34.8 million in direct support — strengthening local business and career opportunities.

    • Mayor Bissen believes economic strength starts with local families, local businesses, and culturally-rooted enterprise.

    • Maui County supports community-based marketplaces and economic events that provide affordable, low-risk commerce opportunities — especially for early-stage and home-based entrepreneurs.

    • Town Parties:

      • Expand opportunity across districts

      • Support local artisans and vendors

      • Create additional jobs for coordinators, performers, logistics teams, & security

    • These models help businesses:

      • Test concepts

      • Build customer bases

      • Avoid costly leases

      • Strengthen community connection

    • In rural communities like Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Hāna, these models are especially important — where local commerce is both culturally meaningful and economically sustaining.

    • Maui County continues to promote Shop Small initiatives and locally-made products.

    • Support for the Maui County Fair nonprofit management team helps ensure community groups can generate essential annual revenue through food booths, parking operations, and cultural participation.

    • This keeps economic value circulating locally — strengthening small businesses and nonprofit missions.

Efficient, Responsible, and Transparent Government

Operational Excellence & Fiscal Stewardship

Maui County continues to strengthen the foundation of responsible, transparent government under the Bissen Administration. Despite the challenges of wildfire recovery, the County has maintained strong bond ratings and expanded its commitment to energy efficiency—saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands each year. The FY26 budget reflects a focused investment in housing, recovery, infrastructure, sustainability, and cultural stewardship. Through increased federal grant success and careful fiscal management, the County is reducing local costs while advancing long-term community resilience.

Bissen Administration Accomplishments

  • Strong bond ratings maintained throughout wildfire recovery 

  • Energy upgrades saving $639,000 annually today; $1.63 million projected future savings 

  • FY26 Budget focuses on housing, recovery, infrastructure, sustainability & cultural stewardship 

  • Increased federal grant success — lowering costs for local taxpayers