Top Maui mayoral candidates, voters talk wildfire recovery, public corruption case

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Energetic dancing and elaborate decorations brightened the old Central Pacific Bank along Kahului’s Kaahumanu Avenue Saturday evening for Maui mayoral candidate Yuki Lei Sugimura’s primary election celebration.

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After results revealed the current Maui County Council vice chair would advance to the general election, she addressed the dozens of her supporters in attendance, saying, “I will fight really hard so that we win in November.”

Besides the party speeches and policy promises, Sugimura also addressed the federal public corruption charges against Maui Police Department Lt. Michael Vaituulala, which were announced just days before the primary.

“All of us were devastated, as a community was, and it certainly doesn’t build trust in county government,” Sugimura said.

The case was also top of mind for last-minute voters.

“I think it’s important for these elections to get the right people in office for us, especially here on Maui. I feel like we’ve been through so many trials and tribulations, so getting the right people there means a lot,” said voter Tiare Sua, who cast her ballot at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku, the county’s main voter service center.

Another adversity still impacting the island was the wildfires that happened exactly three years ago on election day.

Incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen, who led the race by nearly 3,000 votes over Sugimura, put aside campaigning to remember the tragedy with those impacted.

Read more Three years on, Maui fire survivors continue struggling with impacts on mental, physical health

“Just being in community, being with pastors. We were able to visit the crosses last night and do that event, and the rest was just all day in Lahaina,” Bissen told Hawaii News Now on election night.

Sugimura acknowledged trying to unseat an incumbent is a tall order, but she is looking forward to the general election.

“We made it, right. My goal was to be the top two. And of course I would like to be the top, but hey, it’s an incumbent, and I knew by going into this race what that meant,” Sugimura added.

Bissen thanked voters for making him their first choice.

“Our team, everyone has worked hard. Those who believed in us, and continued to believe in us. I think the most important thing for me is to live up to that trust and live up to that faith that people have people have placed in me,” Bissen said.

As they await the general election, Bissen said he would spend Sunday at Church, while Sugimura plans to wave signs on Monday to thank those who voted for her.

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View all election night coverage here.