#elle cochran

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Speaking of a Tourism 'Tipping Point,' Community Members Urge Action

Speaking of a Tourism ‘Tipping Point,’ Community Members Urge Action

Cars line the street outside the entrance to ‘Iao Valley. Photo by Larry Stevens

Sitting outside Council Chambers in the late afternoon, Councilmember Shane Sinenci expressed disappointment. It was a rare moment for the usually cheerful councilmember, who hours prior was hopeful of passing a resolution out of the Environmental, Agricultural, and Cultural Preservation Committee he chairs. The…

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‘An Overworked Brothel’ – Maui County Council discusses visitor impacts to our environment and infrastructure It’s easy to make fun of tourists, but it's a lot harder to criticize the tourism industry.

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The Last Cup Of Noodles? How to cope with Maui's changing styrofoam law

The Last Cup Of Noodles? How to cope with Maui’s changing styrofoam law

It’s finally here: “Foam Free Maui,” as the county has billed it. After years of beefing because it was argued that only styrofoam could hold – well – beef, the measure regulating the use of polystyrene has been implemented. As of New Year’s Eve, polystyrene food service containers are banned for “use, sale or provision” in Maui County after a 19-month phase-in period.

Like any change, it has…

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Maui County Says No to the Foam: What Maui's Styrofoam ban means, how we got here, and what's next

Maui County Says No to the Foam: What Maui’s Styrofoam ban means, how we got here, and what’s next

Back in May 2016, a small, dedicated group witnessed a momentous event in Maui County Council chambers: A unanimous vote to restrict the use of polystyrene foam food service wares. The ordinance was years in the making, and marks the second time Maui would take the lead in regulating the proliferation of a single-item plastic commodity. Back in 2010, Maui was the first county in Hawai‘i to…

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Sheraton Maui workers rally for a new deal, prepare for strike vote

Sheraton Maui workers rally for a new deal, prepare for strike vote

Tourists walked the sidewalk fronting the Sheraton Maui looking bewildered as they encountered the crowd of red shirts and bobbing signs that gathered at Ka‘anapali Parkway on Labor Day afternoon. Marching outside the entrance to the hotel, 200 people assembled to pressure the Marriott, Sheraton’s parent company, for a new employment contract by shouting union chants through megaphones and…

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MauiTime endorses Elle Cochran for mayor in 2018 Primary Election

MauiTime endorses Elle Cochran for mayor in 2018 Primary Election

For our endorsement, this race is between Elle Cochran and Don Guzman. Victorino, while being the candidate you’d probably most like to show up at your kid’s baseball game, has said things like, “I take money from everybody,” which is concerning to anyone who considers that money comes with strings attached. As far as we can tell, Mike’s vision is simply to bring in as much money as possible to…

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Mayor's Race: We Walk Story With All Seven Mayoral Candidates

Mayor’s Race: We Walk Story With All Seven Mayoral Candidates

As the executive branch of Maui County, the mayor’s duties include appointing heads of departments and selecting individuals for integral county positions. The mayor guides the county, preparing a budget of almost $800 million that begins council negotiations, and the mayor keeps the county on track, ensuring that the budget is carried out by local government. Needless to say, it’s an important…

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Sand Mining Moratorium Extended After Public Outcry Last week, the Moratorium on Sand Mining of Central Maui Inland Sand expired. The moratorium was signed into law as an ordinance in January of this year to give the county time to assess the sand, which holds immeasurable value as a known burial ground and resting place of Native Hawaiian iwi kupuna (ancestral bones), as well as a non-renewable natural resource.