County Council
The Maui County Council is a nine-member legislative body elected at-large, each representing a designated residency area. Members serve two-year terms. The council approves the annual budget, passes legislation, and provides oversight of county operations.
Council Members
9
Elected at-large, 2-yr terms
FY27 Council Budget
$13.9M
++3.2% vs FY26
% of Total Budget
0.86%
of $1.62B county budget
Standing Committees
8
Plus special committees
Staff Positions
~50
Not under civil service
FY26 → FY27 Change
$435K
Budget increase
Council Member Tasha "Natasha" Kama — In Memoriam
Council Member Kama, who represented Kahului, passed away on October 26, 2025. The council deadlocked on a successor; Mayor Bissen appointed Kauanoe Batangan in December 2025 per the County Charter. Batangan was sworn in January 6, 2026.
Council Members
Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū
Former Director of Housing and Human Concerns under two Maui mayors (1999–2006); small business owner in real estate, insurance, and media; founder of New Leaf Ranch, a residential reintegration facility for newly released parolees. First served on council 1989–1999.
Key priorities
First elected: 1989
Upcountry (Kula/Makawao)
Former field representative for U.S. Senators Akaka and Hirono; Wailuku Revitalization Coordinator under Mayor Apana; owner of Connec LLC (event management and consulting). Currently in her fifth term on the council.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
ℹ Announced candidacy for Maui County Mayor (2026 election)
First elected: 2016
Kahului
Former congressional aide to Sen. Akaka and Rep. Gabbard; Manager of Maui County Office of Recovery post-wildfire; Deputy Transportation Director and Executive Director of the Maui MPO. Holds degrees from Stanford (B.A.), Columbia (M.P.A.), and University of Tokyo (M.P.P.). Appointed by Mayor Bissen in Dec. 2025 to fill the vacancy left by the late Tasha Kama.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
ℹ Appointed Jan. 2026 to fill seat of late Tasha Kama (Kahului)
First elected: 2026
South Maui (Kīhei/Wailea)
50+ years in construction; general contractor for 25+ years; President of Maui Contractors Association (2006–2008); founding board member of Construction Industry of Maui. Maui resident since 1971.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2022
Lānaʻi
Invasive species technician at Pulama Lānaʻi; organic farmer; former special education teacher at Lahainaluna. Collaborated with The Nature Conservancy on a Lānaʻi fishery sustainability plan; worked to establish a Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area for Lānaʻi.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2020
West Maui (Lahaina/Kāʻanapali)
Former ocean rescue officer with Maui Fire & Public Safety; FEMA ICS-certified; led Save Honolua Coalition and West Maui Preservation Association; Ka Ipu Kukui fellow. Directly represents the Lahaina wildfire disaster area and chaired the 2022 West Maui Community Plan process.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2018
Molokai
J.D. with certificates in Environmental Law and Native Hawaiian Law (UH Mānoa); former Administrative Director of Molokai Community Service Council; board president of Ka Lei o Ka Lāhui. Led passage of STR ban on Molokai and established the Experimental and Demonstration Housing Revolving Fund.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2018
East Maui (Hāna-Keʻanae-Kailua)
Special education teacher for 20 years; president of Hana Community Association; member of Aha Moku Councils for East Maui. Led adoption of the County Water Use and Development Plan covering 30 years of conservation and sourcing strategies.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2018
Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia
Eighth-generation Pāʻia resident; former permit expediter and construction industry advisor; accountant background. Champions 201H affordable housing projects and streamlined permitting. Husband is a Maui County firefighter.
Key priorities
Committee leadership
First elected: 2022
Committee Assignments
● Chair ◐ Vice-Chair · Member
| Committee | Lee | Sugimura | Batangan | Cook | Johnson | Paltin | Rawlins-Fernandez | Sinenci | Uʻu-Hodgins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BFED ↗ Budget, Finance & Economic Development | · | ● | ◐ | · | · | · | · | · | · |
ADEPT ↗ Agriculture, Diversification, Environment & Public Transportation | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ◐ | · | |
DRIP ↗ Disaster Recovery, International Affairs & Planning | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · |
GREAT ↗ Government Relations, Ethics & Transparency | · | · | ● | · | · | ◐ | · | · | ◐ |
HLU ↗ Housing and Land Use | · | ◐ | · | · | · | · | · | ● | |
KAʻĀ ↗ Kōmike Aloha ʻĀina | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · |
WAI ↗ Water and Infrastructure | · | ◐ | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · |
WASSP ↗ Water Authority, Social Services & Parks | · | · | · | ◐ | · | · | ● | · |
Committee Jurisdictions
Annual operating and capital budgets; real property tax ordinances; financial audits; economic development policy. All 9 members serve.
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment & Public Transportation
Chair: Johnson
V-Chair: Sinenci
Agricultural policy; economic diversification; environmental regulation; Maui Bus system; invasive species; food security.
Lahaina wildfire and disaster recovery; international/sister-city relations; General Plan amendments; long-range planning; disaster preparedness.
County charter compliance; code of ethics; county-state and county-federal relations; legislative transparency; council rules; intergovernmental agreements. All 9 members serve.
State land use boundary amendments; zoning ordinances; affordable and workforce housing programs; residential development policy. All 9 members serve.
Archaeology and historic preservation; perpetuation of Native Hawaiian cultural practices; ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi policy; natural and cultural resource protection; Aloha ʻĀina values in county governance.
County water and wastewater infrastructure; roads, highways, and public works; drainage and flood control; county facilities; infrastructure master planning; water source development.
Maui County Board of Water Supply oversight; social services programs; parks and recreation; public health; senior and youth programs; homeless services coordination.
FY27 Council Budget
Source: 050-03a County Council.pdf; 040-01 Revenue and Expenditure Summary Figure 4-7
FY26 Adopted
$13,453,500
FY27 Proposed
$13,888,000
Dollar change
+$434,500
Percent change
+3.2%
Notable: Office of Council Services is not subject to civil service requirements — an unusual arrangement that gives the council full discretion over its own staffing.
Office of Council Services — Staffing
FY27 positions. Note: Council Services is not covered by civil service requirements — all positions are at council discretion.
Elected
Elected position
One per member