Ellie Cochran leads community engagement for affordable housing review process

The Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee convened on August 20, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding affordable housing and legislative processes. The meeting began with a member expressing enthusiasm for the committee's work, highlighting the importance of community involvement and collaboration with the administration and planning department. The member emphasized the need to identify existing habitable properties that could meet community needs while also generating tax revenue.

Following this, Member Soudencie raised a procedural point regarding the status of Bill 9, which was pending its first reading. Soudencie noted the importance of not proceeding with certain tasks until the bill had been officially passed. The discussion clarified that the formation of a Task Force (TIG) could still occur despite the bill's pending status, as long as it was established correctly and did not interfere with the voting process.

The committee confirmed that testimony would not be required at every meeting, allowing for more streamlined discussions moving forward. Overall, the meeting underscored the committee's commitment to addressing housing challenges in Maui County while ensuring that community voices are heard in the legislative process. The next steps will involve further discussions and the eventual voting on Bill 9.