On the evening of March 7, Maui's community is set to gather at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center's Castle Theater, where Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. will deliver the 2025 State of the County Address. From 5 to 7 p.m., residents of Maui County are welcome to join, with doors opening an hour before the event kicks off, and those who are unable to attend in person can tune in through various live broadcasts or view the address on channels and platforms post-event, according to the Maui County official announcement.
Highlighting the strides Maui County has made since the devastating 2023 wildfires, Mayor Bissen plans to discuss response achievements, ongoing recovery initiatives, and the objective of rebuilding the historic Lahaina town; it is an agenda that promises a detailed look into the county's past trials and future endeavors. Furthermore, addressing the islands' housing crunch remains a top concern, ensuring the local residents, the kamaʻāina, can continue to call their communities home, and such issues will undoubtedly be touched upon during Mayor Bissen's forthcoming address.
The Mayor has earmarked his 2025 priorities for the County, focusing on Kamaʻāina Housing incentives and exploring further solutions to sustain local residence continuity, advancement in recovery and wellness endeavors that aim to foster Maui's healing, rebuilding, and progression, and the enduring protection of its cultural and natural resources to safeguard the heritage for generations yet to come, outlined in detail on the county's official notice.
For those interested in experiencing the address firsthand, admission and parking are free with an RSVP encouraged but not mandatory, the County of Maui Office of the Mayor offers further information at (808) 270-7855, and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center can be located at 1 Cameron Way in Kahului, to ensure accessibility for community members the county has made provisions for live broadcasting the event on AKAKŪ Maui Community Media Channel 53 and live streaming on the County of Maui Facebook page; with subsequent availability on www.mauicounty.gov, www.youtube.com/@countyofmaui, and www.Akaku.org.
