Visiting Maui with Grace

Along with the Mayor and Governor announcing that Maui is officially open on November 1st, HTA has launched a new campaign named Mālama Maui. In coordination with various community members and partners, HTA produced new videos featuring Maui residents welcoming mindful visitation and sharing how visitors can Mālama Maui. In addition, Governor Josh Green, M.D.’s Office of Wellness and Resilience, HTA and County of Maui have partnered to create informational flyers and screen signage with tips for respectful, compassionate and responsible travel to support the community’s healing. These resources are being distributed broadly to visitors, airlines, accommodations, rental car companies, shops, restaurants, tour operators and other businesses.

Some of their travel tips that you can share with you guests include:

• Make sure you’ve packed two things on a trip: patience and grace. Expect to wait for longer than you’re used to for food or other services.
• Support local businesses. Your visit will support Maui businesses that rely on tourism for their families’ livelihood. Visit MauiNuiFirst.com for various ways to eat, shop, play, stay and support local.
• Hosting uninvited volunteers in direct recovery work may be difficult at this time. Visit MauiNuiStrong.info for efforts welcoming volunteers and contributions.
• Do not enter Lahaina Town or take photos of the area, even from afar. The area is restricted because conditions can be hazardous to your health. Respect the privacy of survivors and the dignity of those who lost their lives.
• Do not ask about a resident’s personal experience with the disaster. While a question such as “Were you impacted by the fire?” may be intended to be supportive, many survivors are not ready to share their experiences with others.
• If you come across a memorial service or other private gathering, leave the area immediately. Respect the gathered survivors and residents — do not take photos or videos.

Visit HTA’s Mālama Maui toolkit to view and download these resources, including an updated map of Maui at: www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/maui-recovery/for-businesses/. The toolkit is available for community members, industry partners and businesses to utilize.

The County of Maui has also launched the MauiNuiFirst.com website with listings of local businesses, including Bed and Breakfast operations, Short Term Rentals, activities and events that visitors can support.

Another place to list and look for Maui Businesses to support: facebook.com/mauishoppingonline

To share the HTA video:

Mālama Maui

Real Property Tax Exemption Bills

The County Council has a few new proposals for real property tax relief for properties affected by the wildfire disaster.

Bill 91 - Introduced by Alice Lee. Finds that all properties damaged and or destroyed should be temporarily exempt from RPT. https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12393173&GUID=E2F03139-7D9F-4B81-8BB5-158133E93ACC

Bil 95 - Introduced by Tamara Paltin. Offers a real property tax exemption for properties classified as commercialized residential (B&B), STR-TVR, and Hotel/Resort that rent their property to a displaced person or family https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12372620&GUID=CD2638AB-EC76-4416-B2F9-9C0CD55D06B3

Bill 102- Introduced by Yukilei Sugimura. Gives property that was destroyed or damaged exemptions from rpt, delinquent tax and penalties for 3 years beginning from 1/1/2024, however if property is sold during this period then the new landowner is responsible for paying taxes from the date of the sale. https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12372644&GUID=5C4722A9-D619-4B9F-BF79-5CCB3681062B

These proposals will be discussed at tomorrow's Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee, beginning at 9am. https://mauicounty.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1084403&GUID=13FA4B2E-E6A2-4561-AA86-D07A2BFD023F&Options=info|&Search=

To submit testimony you can go to this link: https://mauicounty.granicusideas.com/meetings/1862-budget-finance-and-economic-development-committee-2023-2025-on-2023-10-31-9-00-am/agenda_items

And submit them digitally.

The finance director has brought up a number of clarifications for these bills (see here), and we are still not clear on implementation or if assessment division will be asking for other clarifications as well. We support these bills that incentivize tax relief for owners of STRs that choose to rent their properties to displaced families. We will keep you posted on updates to this bill as it moves through this process.

Finally, feel free to reach out to your County Council representatives via email or phone: 



• Alice.Lee@mauicounty.us, Council Chair, Phone: (808) 270-7760; 
• Yukilei.Sugimura@mauicounty.us, Vice-Chair, Phone: (808) 270-7939;
• Tasha.Kama@mauicounty.us , Presiding Officer Pro Tempore, Phone: (808) 270-5501;
• Thomas.Cook@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-7108;
• Gabe.Johnson@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-7768;
• Tamara.Paltin@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-5504;
• Keani.Rawlins@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-7678;
• Shane.Sinenci@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-7246;
• Nohe.Uu-Hodgins@mauicounty.us, Councilmember, Phone: (808) 270-5507;

Wildfire Disaster Recovery Group

We are forming a group of interested member owners, management teams and individuals interested in discussing topics related to the wildfire disaster and rebuilding. Please sign up below to be included in future emails and meetings.