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Maui County Council closes public testimony after single speaker at fuel tax hearing
Summary
At a public hearing on proposed fuel tax rates for fiscal year 2026, the Maui County Council heard from one testifier who urged greater public transit use and referenced state and county law; the council closed oral testimony and accepted written comments with no objections.
The Maui County Council convened a public hearing on proposed fuel tax rates for fiscal year 2026 and received a single public speaker before closing oral testimony and accepting written comments.
J.C. Law, a registered testifier, spoke at the hearing and read from what he identified as a provision of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and the Maui County Code. Law said motorists and fuel dependence have moved the community “off the path of horses and oxes,” and urged greater use of buses, saying, "I think we went, we went too far... oil is is kinda ruined in the world... more people drive the buses." He also said he appreciated advice on the fuel taxes from Kelly King.
County staff told testifiers that oral remarks must pertain to items on the agenda and that each speaker would be limited to three minutes. The clerk noted only one person was signed up to testify; after Law finished, the clerk made a last call for additional speakers. With no further requests, the council asked if there were any objections to closing public testimony and accepting written testimony. There were no objections and the clerk stated, "So ordered." The council reconvened at 9:08 a.m. and adjourned at 9:15 a.m.
The hearing record therefore includes Law’s oral remarks and any written testimony submitted to the council; the transcript does not record any debate among council members about the proposed rates during the public-hearing segment.
Procedural details announced at the hearing included a request that remote participants disclose if minors were present in the room and a reminder that decorum would be enforced; examples of disruptive behavior the clerk listed included heckling, shouting and profanity.
No vote on the proposed fuel tax rates is recorded in the hearing transcript provided. The clerk announced a quorum was present for the council to conduct business; Council Member Tasha Kama (Council Member pro tempore) was excused.
