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Maui Elections 2026
Portrait of Yuki Lei Sugimura

Maui County Mayor

Yuki Lei Sugimura

Age 72 · Born and raised in Wailuku; lives in Kula, Upcountry

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Full profileCampaign website →

Five-term Maui County Council member (since 2016), currently Vice Chair and Chair of the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee. UH Mānoa graduate; former student body president at Baldwin High School. Known for “Talk Story” sessions at the Upcountry Farmers Market. Recognized as a fiscal conservative and infrastructure advocate on the council.

Council tenure

5 terms

Since 2016

2024 council vote

31,765 (50%)

Among the top council vote-getters

Cash-on-hand vs Bissen

>2.5×

Campaign Spending Commission

Polling lead

2 of 3 polls

Pre-primary reporting

Policy alone doesn't build homes. Pipes, permits and pavement do.

Source: Campaign platform

Platform pillars

  • Pipes, Permits & Pavement
  • Fiscal responsibility
  • Permitting reform
  • Economic diversification
  • Accountability & transparency

Where they stand

  • Bill 9

    Dissenting vote; would not repeal. Concerned about ~$60M annual property tax loss; would focus on minimizing economic damage.

  • Housing

    Infrastructure-first: cut average permit time from 300 days; self-certification within 60 days.

  • Water

    Water infrastructure as part of pipes, permits, and pavement.

  • Permitting

    Self-certification if a permit is not approved within 60 days.

  • Lahaina recovery

    Believes businesses should have been rebuilt alongside homes so jobs would be ready when residents return.

Career

  1. n/a

    Field Representative for Sens. Daniel Akaka and Mazie Hirono

  2. n/a

    Founder, Connec LLC (event management)

  3. 2016-present

    Maui County Council (Upcountry); Vice Chair; Budget Committee Chair

Explore filed contributions →

In their words

Questionnaires

Outside surveys and Q&As this candidate has answered.

All questionnaires →