At the annual State of the County Address, Mayor Richard Bissen struck a tone of resilience, laying out a roadmap for Maui's recovery and future development on March 7th. Focusing on housing challenges, emergency preparedness, and community welfare, Mayor Bissen articulated a clear response to the crises that have shaken the region, including the catastrophic wildfires a year and a half ago.
"While our community may be in different stages of healing, I stand before you tonight to say: The state of our County is determined," Bissen firmly stated during his speech. This resolve to boldly move forward was highlighted by plans for housing initiatives meant to keep local residents grounded in their communities, as per the details shared by Maui County's official release.
In the address, Bissen emphasized the completion of 620 housing units last year and the expectation of over 1,200 new units to come in the next two years. He discussed the use of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, with more than $1.2 billion allocated for housing reconstruction and infrastructure development over the next six years. This was a key point underlying his commitment to resolving housing pressures on Maui.
Additionally, addressing a long-standing issue, the Mayor plans to introduce legislation aimed to ease property tax burdens for DHHL homestead lessees. "This bill will exempt improved homestead leases from real property taxes beyond the minimum tax," Mayor Bissen told the audience, which is slated to duly protect Native Hawaiian families from escalating costs, as per Maui County's official release.
Mayor Bissen also announced a range of other initiatives including the "Safe Parking" program, a comprehensive water management plan for Lahaina named "One Water Strategy," the "Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan," flood solutions for South Maui, and energy-saving programs anticipated to conserve over $1.6 million in their first year. These strategic plans aim to enhance Maui's overall resilience against future disasters and economic challenges while also ensuring that cultural and natural resources are effectively safeguarded, as reported by Maui County.
The mayor emphasized fiscal responsibility, highlighting Maui County's strong financial health and high bond ratings, which lower capital project costs. The event was livestreamed on the County of Maui Facebook page and rebroadcast on AKAKŪ Maui Channel 53. Full transcripts of the speech are available on the Maui County's website.
