Maui County committee recommends a slate of board appointments, disapproves one planning nominee after debate

The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee on Thursday recommended a slate of nominees to serve on several Maui County boards and commissions and voted to disapprove one nominee to the Maui Planning Commission.

Committee members approved multiple nominations for advisory boards, boards that review liquor and development matters, and commissions including the Civil Service and Salary commissions. The committee put forward the nominees to the full County Council and moved one planning nominee to the disapproval list after sustained concern about fit and island-specific experience.

Why it matters: The committee's recommendations shape who will make local land-use, public-safety, historic-preservation and other policy decisions across Maui County. Several of the bodies the committee acted on — notably the Maui Planning Commission and the Cultural Resources Commission — will play key roles in post-fire rebuilding in West Maui and in future reviews of coastal and community plans.

What the committee decided

- The committee voted to approve nominees for the Animal Control Board, Civil Service Commission, Liquor Control Adjudication Board, Liquor Control Commission, Fire and Public Safety Commission, Maui Redevelopment Agency, Commission on Persons with Disabilities, Maui County Cultural Resource Commission, Salary Commission and the Urban Design Review Board.

- The committee amended and approved a housing advisory-board resolution that placed four nominees on the approval list and moved one nominee to disapproval after members debated whether a candidate lacking local construction experience should be appointed to the new housing advisory board.

- The committee voted to place Mary Ann Kamalani Pahukoa, a candidate for the Maui Planning Commission, on the disapproval list after several members said they had concerns about temperament and about whether she has the broad planning experience the commission needs; the motion to disapprove carried 5'to'4.

Notable discussion points

Housing advisory board: balance of local experience and outside expertise Committee members discussed whether the newly formed housing advisory board should prioritize local construction experience. Council member Paul Finn pressed for local expertise, saying, "I would like to see more local experiences," and other members echoed concern that building on Maui requires specific, place-based knowledge.

The committee ultimately approved four nominees for the housing advisory board and moved one name to disapproval. The action was recorded as an amendment to the main motion and carried by committee vote.

Planning commission: disagreement over temperament and representation The most contested vote involved the nominee for the Maui Planning Commission. Several council members said they worried the nominee's style and lack of planning experience could hinder deliberations on complex land-use matters. Member statements referenced the commission's broad remit — islandwide community plans, special management area permits and coastal issues — and some members said the seat requires a candidate with substantial planning or development experience.

Other council members and several public commentators argued the nominee would bring an important cultural and community perspective, especially from East Maui. Council member Rollins Fernandez said the commission also needs voices grounded in Hawaiian cultural practice and community advocacy.

Quotations from the hearing "I'm excited to be up for a nomination, and continue to serve with, the county of Maui and volunteer," said Mike Garat, a nominee to the Animal Control Board, as he introduced himself to the committee.

Lehua Kilihune Li Chang, a nominee to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, described the urgency she felt about disaster planning after the Maui fire: "We lost a hundred and 2 people that shouldn't have been." She told members she wanted to help the commission focus on evacuation and recovery planning for people with disabilities.

Council member Paul Finn, speaking in support of prioritizing local experience on the housing board, told the committee: "I would like to see more local experiences because I feel that they understand the specific obstacles when it comes to building in Maui County." (First reference expresses full name and role.)

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-24 (Animal Control Board): Recommended for approval — Mike (Michael) Garat and Ronald Larson placed on approval list. Outcome: approved by committee (voice vote recorded; roll call affirmed the motion; committee vote recorded as passing). Evidence: committee discussion and roll call recorded in the transcript.

- Resolution 25-27 (Civil Service Commission): Gregory Jenkins recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee (roll-call tally recorded as carry).

- Resolution 25-3032 (Housing Advisory Board): Motion amended to place four nominees on the approval list and to move one nominee (mister Chenayev) to disapproval after debate on local experience. Outcome: motion as amended carried by committee (final tally recorded in transcript).

- Resolution 25-303 (Liquor Control Adjudication Board): Mark Toku Honda recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee (9-0 recorded at voice/roll call).

- Resolution 25-36 (Cultural Resources Commission): Dora Milliken and Mau'i (Maui) Pearson recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee after Q&A (committee passed motion as amended).

- Resolution 25-37 (Maui Planning Commission): Mary Ann Kamalani Pahukoa placed on Exhibit C for disapproval following lengthier debate about fit and experience. Outcome: disapproved by committee (roll-call tally 5 in favor of disapproval, 4 opposed).

- Resolution 25-38 (Maui Redevelopment Agency): Paul Kumar recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee (roll call showed majority in favor, with some members excused).

- Resolution 25-41 (Salary Commission): Lester Yano recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee.

- Resolution 25-31 (Fire and Public Safety Commission): John Tautaupele and Karen Miller Green recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee.

- Resolution 25-34 (Liquor Control Commission): Edwin Misaki recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee.

- Resolution 25-35 (Commission on Persons with Disabilities): Lehua Kilihune Li Chang and a second nominee recommended for approval. Outcome: approved by committee.

- Resolution 25-40 (Real Property Tax Review Board): A nominee was placed on the disapproval list (committee voted to disapprove). Outcome: disapproved by committee.

- Resolution 25-42 (Urban Design Review Board): Recommended for approval (nominee Dindinger). Outcome: approved by committee.

Committee process and next steps The committee's recommendations will be posted for the full County Council's Feb. 21 agenda; the Council has until Feb. 28 to act on the nominations. Members asked staff and the administration about streamlining nomination paperwork and closing gaps where vacancy deadlines were missed; staff said they are working on an ordinance to fill those process gaps so seats do not remain vacant for extended periods.

Ending The committee's actions moved several key seats closer to being filled ahead of rebuilding and permit decisions in West Maui. The full Council will consider the committee's recommendations at its Feb. 21 meeting; the committee record notes the Council's deadline to act on the slate is Feb. 28.