There are certain places and things that have become such a part of the landscape of our lives here in Maui County that it sometimes feels like they’ve always been here. Maybe some of your favorite spots to eat, to shop or to relax feel like that.
But they weren’t always here. There was a time—in some cases, a very long time ago—when each of these places or things was just an idea. They all have an origin story.
The 1970s: Change is coming
Fifty years ago, the Maui County Charter Commission began discussions on changes to our islands’ local-government framework.
According to minutes from their meetings, the Charter Commission met almost every week for more than a year to consider proposing changes to the Charter of the County of Maui—the constitutional document for local governance for the islands of Kaho‘olawe, Lānaʻi, Maui and Molokai.
Commission members who volunteered their time and expertise were:
- Charles A. Kekumano,
- Edwina Bright,
- Hideo Abe,
- Catalino Agliam,
- Margaret Cameron,
- Sanae Moikeha,
- Ralph Murakami,
- Stephen Petro,
- Lloyd Sodetani,
- Joseph M. Souki and
- Allan Sparks.
The Charter Commission proposed increasing the mayor’s term of office from two to four years with a limitation of two consecutive terms.
They also proposed a new Department of the Prosecuting Attorney and a Department of the Corporation Counsel. The County Attorney’s office had been handling all of the county’s legal work, both criminal and civil.
The Charter Commission also proposed providing the mayor a managing director, who would be responsible for the coordination and efficiency of work throughout the executive branch.
And they proposed a new Office of Council Services to provide the Maui County Council professional, independent staffing.
All of these proposals remain in the County Charter today after being approved by the electorate in the 1976 general election.
Strengthening the legislative branch
According to meeting minutes, James Izumi, Director of Personnel Services, told Charter Commission members that all council staff positions were subject to approval by the mayor.
To many, creating an Office of Council Services was seen as a move to strengthen the council in its policy-making role, allowing the legislative body to carry out its own studies and research independent of the executive branch. OCS would also be able to help councilmembers generate ideas and proposals independent of what the mayor’s administration might present.
In its report, the Charter Commission wrote that an Office of Council Services was necessary for the council’s “proper performance.”
Not everyone agreed. In an editorial provided to the Charter Commission, concerns were raised that the new charter failed to describe the size or scope of the office and suggested that OCS positions might just be political-patronage jobs.
OCS is born
On Nov. 2, 1976, voters headed to the polls to cast their ballot. When asked “Shall the revised Charter of the County of Maui be adopted?” Maui County voters responded with 11,610 “yes” votes and 8,980 “no” votes.
Just two months later, on Jan. 7, 1977, the Maui County Council led by Chairman Goro Hokama voted 9–0 to adopt Resolution 77-5 and establish OCS, including the Director of Council Services and Deputy Director of Council Services positions.
Imua
Today, OCS has a staff of more than 30 full-time employees and several part-time employees. To ensure professionalism, the council requires annual perfomance evaluations of all OCS employees. And to ensure transparency, the employment of full-time staff members must be approved by resolution, with a maximum term of two years, and salaries are based on a pay scale in the County Code.
OCS’ primary role is supporting the council’s eight standing committees. Each committee chair is provided a staff from OCS that includes a lead Legislative Analyst, a backup Legislative Analyst, a Committee Secretary and a Legislative Attorney. These OCS staffers work with each committee chair and Executive Assistants from the committee chair and Executive Assistants from the committee chair’s office to help the committee make well-considered recommendations to the council on referred bills and resolutions. OCS staff members are responsibile for:
- writing meeting agendas and conducting meetings in compliance with the County Charter and the state Sunshine Law,
- amending legislation based on the committee’s votes and
- helping the committee chair write committee reports.
During the current council term, OCS will implement a new charter amendment for a bilingual government by preparing all meeting agendas in both English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
OCS’ work will also buttress the Maui County Council’s policy-making work through a variety of legislative tasks, including:
- bolstering disaster recovery following the August 2023 wildfires,
- overhauling the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance,
- updating the South Maui Community Plan,
- balancing the county’s budget,
- encouraging public engagement with county issues,
- lobbying the state and federal governments,
- maintaining ethics and transparency in local government,
- promoting the availability of affordable housing and
- preserving cultural and environmental resources.
And if history is any indication, the council and its staff—including not just OCS, but also the Office of the County Clerk’s legislative division and the councilmembers’ Executive Assistants—will also encounter a variety of unforeseeable issues during the term.
And it all started 50 years ago with a group of 11 community leaders who sparked change.
For information on how to become a part of the Office of Council Services team, please visit: Jobs – Nā ʻOihana – Maui County Council.
