FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The following questions have been prepared by the Office of Council Services.




Where is the County building located? What are the Council members' phone numbers, fax numbers, and mailing addresses? Which Council member has been elected from residency area? Who chairs the Council's committees? Which Council member should I contact to voice my concerns? Is the public allowed to testify at Committee/Council meetings? What is the procedure to testify at a Committee meeting? What is the procedure to testify at a Council meeting? How do I submit testimony if I can't be there in person? To whom should my testimony be addressed? Do I have to sign up prior to the start of the meeting or can I sign up during the meeting? How many copies of my hand-delivered or mailed testimony are needed? How do I get my name on the mailing list to receive Committee or Council agendas? Where are the Council members' offices located? How does the Council act on my request? What's on the Council meeting agenda? What's on the Committee meeting agenda? How do I get specific information regarding the most recent Council meeting? What is a bill; how do I get copies? What is an ordinance; how do I get copies? How do I get copies of resolutions, deeds, contracts? How do I get copies of committee reports? How do I get copies of committee agenda items? How do I get copies of Council agenda items? How do I get copies of Council meeting minutes? How do I get copies of committee meeting minutes? How do I get copies of other Council-related documents/matters? What does the Office of Council Services do? What does the Office of the County Clerk do? How do I contact/call Council members if I live on Lana`i? How do I contact/call Council members if I live on Moloka`i? Does the Council have satellite offices? Where can I return lava rocks back to Hawaii? Where can I get help to plan a wedding on Maui? What are the requirements to perform a wedding? Where do I submit a request for general police information or patches? Where can I get copies of: marriage certificates, death certificates and birth certificates? Where or how do we record documents? (deed, leases, etc) Where can I get a list of real estate foreclosures in Maui County?

1. Where is the County building located?

200 South High Street in Wailuku, Maui, Hawai`i, across from the Wailuku Public Library.

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2. What are the Council members' phone numbers, fax numbers, and mailing addresses?

Mailing address: 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793-2155.

Please view the Contact Information page for all City Council Members.

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3. Which Council member has been elected from my residency area? (Please note that all County voters all eligible to vote in Council elections for all nine residency areas.)

Council Member	Residency Area
G. Riki Hokama	Lanai
Danny A. Mateo	Molokai
Michelle Anderson	South Maui
Gladys Coelho Baisa	Pukalani -- Kula -- Ulupalakua
Jo Anne Johnson	West Maui
Bill Kauakea Medeiros	East Maui (Hana-Keanae-Kailua)
Michael J. Molina	Makawao -- Haiku -- Paia
Joseph Pontanilla	Kahului
Michael P. Victorino	Wailuku -- Waihee --Waikapu

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4. Who chairs the Council's committees?

Council Member	Committe
Michelle Anderson	Water Resources Committee
Danny A. Mateo	Policy Committee
Michael J. Molina	Land Use Committee
Joseph Pontanilla	Budget and Finance Committee
Gladys Coelho Baisa	Planning Committee

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5. Which Council member should I contact to voice my concerns?

Although they are subject to district residency requirements, Council members are elected "at large" by the voters of the County. Therefore, concerns may be voiced to any Council member.

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6. Is the public allowed to testify at Committee/Council meetings?

Yes. The public is welcome to submit oral or written testimony at all Council and Committee meetings.

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7. What is the procedure to testify at a Committee meeting?

Oral and written testimony are accepted on any agenda item. Because procedures vary slightly from one Committee to another, please contact the appropriate Committee staff for details or refer to the Committee's agenda for instructions.

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8. What is the procedure to testify at a Council meeting?

Oral and written testimony are accepted on any agenda item. The Council receives oral testimony first from persons whose testimony forms are submitted prior to the convening of the meeting. Initially, each person will be allowed to speak for three minutes on each item, and at the discretion of the Council Chair, an additional minute may be granted to conclude the testimony. An additional three minutes on each item will be granted to those who are unable to conclude their testimony, after all others desiring to speak have been heard.

Thereafter, persons whose testimony forms are submitted after the meeting convenes, but before the testimony portion ends, will be allowed to present oral testimony for three minutes on each item. The Chair may grant an additional minute to conclude the testimony. Written testimony shall be submitted to the Committee or Council staff before or during the testimony portion of the meeting.

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9. How do I submit testimony if I can't be there in person?

For Committee meeting matters, written testimony should be addressed to the Committee Chair and mailed or faxed to the Office of Council Services, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, 808-270-7686 (fax). For Council meeting matters, written testimony should be addressed to the Council Chair and mailed or faxed to the Office of the County Clerk, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, 808-270-7171 (fax).

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10. To whom should my written testimony be addressed?

For Committee meeting matters, please address testimony to the Committee Chair. For Council meeting matters, please address testimony to the Council Chair.

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11. Do I have to sign up prior to the start of the meeting or can I sign up during the meeting?

Generally, testifiers may sign up before the Committee meeting convenes or during the Committee meeting, provided the matter is still under discussion by the Committee. For Council meetings, testifiers may sign up after the meeting convenes, provided the testimony portion has not ended.

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12. How many copies of my hand-delivered or mailed testimony are needed?

For Committee meetings, 16 copies are requested to be submitted to the appropriate Committee staff so copies can be distributed to the Members in a timely manner. For Council meetings, 15 copies are requested to be submitted to the County Clerk's staff. If written testimony is e-mailed or faxed, please submit at least 24 hours before the meeting so that copies can be provided to Council members in a timely manner.

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13. How do I get my name on the mailing list to receive Committee or Council agendas?

You may subscribe to the agendas by clicking the link "E-mail Subscriptions" on the main page. Council and Committee agendas may also be viewed by visiting the link under the County Council on the main page. If you don't have web access, contact the following:

For Committee meeting agendas, please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838. For Council meeting agendas, please contact the Office of the County Clerk at 808-270-7748.

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14. Where are the Council members' offices located?

The Council Chair's office is located on the 7th floor of the Kalana O Maui (County) building; the other Council members' offices are located on the 8th floor.

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15. How does the Council act on my request?

The public contacts the Council, via letter, telephone, fax, e-mail, or in person. If the Council has advisory, investigative, or legislative authority over the matter, the Council Chair places the communication on the next Council meeting agenda. At the Council meeting, the issue is introduced and referred to the appropriate standing committee. (If the issue requires expeditious legislative action, the Council may, by a two-thirds vote, waive the referral to committee and take action at the meeting.)

The Committee schedules the issue for discussion and accepts public testimony. The Committee may act (i.e., draft a bill or resolution) or may conduct further research on the issue. When the Committee makes a recommendation to the full Council (adopt, accept, file, first reading, etc.), a committee report is prepared and scheduled for consideration by the full Council at the next Council meeting.

At the Council meeting, the Council acts by adopting the recommendations contained in the committee report (bill is passed on first reading, resolution is adopted, communication is filed, etc.). Digests of all bills that pass first reading, along with the Council's voting record, are published in the newspaper at least three days before final reading. Sometimes, the issue may be recommitted or returned to Committee for further discussion. All bills and certain resolutions requiring two readings are placed on the following Council meeting agenda for final action.

If a bill is not passed on second and final reading at the Council meeting, it may be: (1) recommitted to Committee, (2) filed, or (3) postponed until a specific date. If the bill is passed on second and final reading, the bill title and Council voting record are, once again, published in the newspaper. The bill is sent to the Mayor for approval.

For bills relating to the Fiscal Year's Budget and Capital Program, the Mayor has 20 days to approve or veto the bill. If the Mayor does not return the bill with a disapproval within that time, the bill shall take effect as an ordinance as if the Mayor had signed it. The Council may, within 10 days after the bill has been returned, reconsider and pass the bill by a two-thirds vote. The County Clerk assigns an ordinance number.

For all other bills, the Mayor has 10 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to approve or veto the bill. If the Mayor does not return the bill with a disapproval within that time, the bill shall take effect as an ordinance as if the Mayor had signed it. The Council may, after 5 days and within 30 days, reconsider and pass the bill by a two-thirds vote. The County Clerk assigns an ordinance number.

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16. What's on the Council meeting agenda?

Please visit the Office of the County Clerk page and select the "County Council agendas".

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17. What's on the Committee meeting agenda?

Please select a committee: Budget and Finance Committee (BF), Committee of the Whole (COW), Housing and Human Services Committee (HHS), Land Use Committee (LU), Parks and Economic Development Committee (PED), Planning Committee (PC), Public Works Committee (PW), and Water Resources Committee (WR).

Not sure? Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838 for assistance.

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18. How do I get specific information regarding the most recent Council meeting?

Please contact the Office of the County Clerk at 808-270-7748.

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19. What is a bill; how do I get copies?

A bill is a draft of a proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body. Generally, bills are referred to one of the eight standing Council Committees. Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838 for the specific Committee information.

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20. What is an ordinance; how do I get copies?

An ordinance is a law or regulation enacted by the County. Ordinances from 1999 can be viewed by visiting the Office of the County Clerk's page and selecting the "Ordinances" link. The Maui County Code is the codified collection of ordinances.

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21. How do I get copies of resolutions?

Please contact the Office of the County Clerk at 808-270-7748 for copies of these documents in final form or by visiting the Office of the County Clerk page and selecting the "Resolutions" link. Drafts may be obtained from the originating department.

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22. How do I get copies of committee reports?

Please select a committee: Budget and Finance Committee (BF), Committee of the Whole (COW), Housing and Human Services Committee (HHS), Land Use Committee (LU), Parks and Economic Development Committee (PED), Planning Committee (PC), Public Works Committee (PW), and Water Resources Committee (WR).

Not sure? Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838 for assistance.

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23. How do I get copies of committee agenda items?

Please select a committee: Budget and Finance Committee (BF), Committee of the Whole (COW), Housing and Human Services Committee (HHS), Land Use Committee (LU), Parks and Economic Development Committee (PED), Planning Committee (PC), Public Works Committee (PW), and Water Resources Committee (WR).

Not sure? Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838 for assistance.

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24. How do I get copies of Council agenda items?

Copies of Council agenda items may be obtained by contacting the Office of the County Clerk at 808-270-7748.

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25. How do I get copies of Council meeting minutes?

Please contact the Office of the County Clerk at 808-270-7748 or visit The Office of the County Clerk's page, and select the "Minutes" link.

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26. How do I get copies of committee meeting minutes?

Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838 or visit the County Council's page, and select Council Committees, then the "Minutes" link.

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27. How do I get copies of other Council-related documents/matters?

Please contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7838.

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28. What does the Office of Council Services do?

The Office of Council Services is established under Section 3-7 of the Maui County Charter of the County of Maui. The Office provides legislative services to the nine Council members and eight standing committees. The Office also provides assistance to other governmental agencies, and to the general public.

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29. What does the Office of the County Clerk do?

The Office of the County Clerk is established under Section 5-1 of the Maui County Charter of the County of Maui. The Office provides legislative services to the Council, and conducts elections in the County. The Office also provides assistance to other governmental agencies, and to the general public.

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30. How do I contact/call Council members if I live on Lana`i?

The Office of Council Services can be reached by dialing toll-free: 1-800-272-0098.

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31. How do I contact/call Council members if I live on Moloka`i?

The Office of Council Services can be reached by dialing toll-free: 1-800-272-0026.

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32. Does the Council have satellite offices?

Yes. The Hana Council Office is located at the Old Hana School, across the Hana ball park, Hana, 808-248-7513, 808-248-7883 (fax). The Moloka`i Council Office is located at the Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai, 808-553-3888, 808-553-3055 (fax). The Lana`i Council Office is located at the Lana`i Community Center, Lana`i City, 808-565-7094, 808-565-6436 (fax).

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33. Where can I return lava rocks back to Hawaii?

Hawaii National Park
PO Box 52
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718

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34. Where can I get help to plan a wedding on Maui?

Visit the Maui Visitors Bureau

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35. What are the requirements to perform a wedding?

Hawaii Revised Statutes ("HRS") Section 572-11, states: "It shall not be lawful for any person to perform the marriage ceremony within the State without first obtaining from the Department of Health a license to solemnize marriages." According to information obtained from the State Department of Health, State of Hawaii, the Department issues licenses to perform marriages pursuant to Section 572-12, HRS.

For further information, go to the Hawaii Department of Health website at www.hawaii.gov/doh/. At the left side of the page, place your cursor over "Permits & Licensing". From the drop down menu, select "Trades and Professions". On the Trade & Professions page, select "Licensing to Perform Marriages"

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36. Where do I submit a request for general police information or patches?

Send your requests to Maui Police Department

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37. Where can I get copies of: marriage certificates, death certificates and birth certificates?

In the State of Hawaii marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates are considered "vital records". Vital records are maintained by the State Department of Health.

Go to www.hawaii.gov/doh, the webpage of the Hawaii State Department of Health. Under "Popular Links", select the link entitled "Certified Copies of Vital Records" to obtain information that will hopefully lead to the record you seek.

38. Where or how do we record documents? (deed, leases, etc)

Bureau of Conveyances Website. In the State of Hawaii, the respective offices of the City/County Clerk are not responsible for recording or maintaining a public record/registry of transactions relating to real property, commercial transactions, liens, etc.

Hawaii is reputedly the only state in the nation with a single statewide recording office, the Bureau of Conveyances. The Bureau of Conveyances ("BOC") is an agency of State government. Please visit the Bureau of Conveyances' website at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/bc/ for contact and other information to the BOC. See the links in the Navigate box and/or the links located at approximately the middle of the page

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39. Where can I get a list of real estate foreclosures in Maui County?

Generally, foreclosures are noticed in the classified ad section of the newspapers having "general circulation" in the State of Hawaii and at the Circuit Court within the judicial circuit where the property is located.

In the State of Hawaii there are judicial and non-judicial foreclosures. The law governing judicial and non-judicial foreclosures is State law and can be found in the appropriate section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

There is also a subset of foreclosures having to do with County real property tax liens. For information and procedures regarding County real property tax lien foreclosures sales, see the Maui County Code at http://ordlink.com/codes/maui/index.htm. On the left side of the page, select "Title 3. Revenue and Finance". Then, select "Chapter 3.48 REAL PROPERTY TAX". Thereafter, see selections under Article VI. Liens and Foreclosures.

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