Permitting
A rare cross-candidate agreement — average permit times near 300 days are a crisis. Solutions diverge.
Rare area of agreement across the field: Maui’s average permit time — reported near 300 days, among the longest in the state — is unsustainable for housing and recovery. Candidates differ on timelines, self-certification, and template-based approvals.
Where leading candidates stand
Richard T. Bissen Jr.
NuancedDSA backlog cleared from 400+ to 51 active reviews; ongoing reform.
Yuki Lei Sugimura
SupportsSelf-certification — construction begins if a permit is not approved within 60 days.
P. Denise La Costa
SupportsPre-approved building templates (30-day permits for non-critical areas); coordinated multi-agency reviews within 90 days for historic/shoreline properties.