Legislative Priorities 2026

MHLA represents Maui County’s visitor industry at county and state levels, encompassing hotels, timeshares, resort condominiums, and allied businesses. The association also supports workforce and community development through the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, scholarships, and annual community events such as the Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Excellence in Education Golf Tournament, and Kupuna Appreciation initiatives.

MHLA is committed to a tourism model that honors residents’ needs, strengthens the local economy, and preserves Maui as a world-class destination. In response to evolving economic conditions, MHLA’s 2026 priorities focus on:

MHLA’s positions promote balanced tourism strategies that uplift residents, enhance visitor experiences, and distribute economic benefits equitably while strengthening collaboration across local businesses, cultural groups, and industry partners.

1. A Healthy Maui Community

Guest Education, Sustainability & Cultural Sensitivity

Expand visitor education to encourage respectful engagement with Maui’s culture, environment, and sustainability efforts through accessible and proactive outreach.

Community Wellness, Prosperity & Economic Diversity

Support initiatives that improve residents’ quality of life, foster local entrepreneurship, and diversify the economy—especially through creative industries, agriculture, and locally made products that complement sustainable tourism.

Resident Sentiment

Regularly measure community perspectives on tourism to guide policies that balance visitor satisfaction with resident well-being and reduce friction between visitors and locals.

Crisis Mitigation

Collaborate with public and private partners on prevention and preparedness strategies—including fire mitigation, storm readiness, vegetation management, firebreaks, and emergency planning—to protect communities and visitor areas.

Environmental Stewardship

Champion responsible land and ocean management, industry-wide waste and emissions reduction, and regenerative practices that restore Maui’s ecosystems.

Water Supply & Usage

Promote conservation, efficient technologies, water recycling, and investment in sustainable water infrastructure to ensure long-term water security.

Energy Independence

Advance renewable energy adoption—such as solar, microgrids, and battery storage—and support green building standards and sustainable energy use across the tourism sector.

Workforce Development

Strengthen partnerships with schools and community programs to create clear hospitality career pathways, expand affordable staff housing, and prioritize local recruitment, training, and leadership development.

Green Fee

Support a transparent, purpose-driven environmental fee that funds resource protection, habitat restoration, and climate adaptation projects.

2. A Healthy Maui Destination

Guest Education & Sustainability

Develop comprehensive campaigns promoting respectful behavior, cultural appreciation, environmental care, and visitor participation in stewardship programs and conservation activities.

Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP)

Align industry actions with County and State DMAP priorities to manage visitor impacts, protect resources, and advance regenerative tourism.

Culture & Authentic Experiences

Support offerings that highlight genuine Hawaiian culture, arts, and values, enriching visitor understanding of Maui’s heritage.

Activities, Weddings & Transportation

Advocate for safe, high-quality, environmentally responsible services that prioritize local employment and authentic cultural representation.

Public Spaces, Beaches & Infrastructure

Improve visitor and resident experiences through enhanced public spaces, beach access, transportation flow, and airport facilities while safeguarding Maui’s natural and cultural character.

Airlift to OGG (Kahului Airport)

Work with airline and tourism partners to secure responsible, sustainable air service that aligns with Maui’s capacity, infrastructure resilience, and environmental commitments.

Sustainability Dashboard

Develop a centralized platform that tracks environmental metrics—energy, water, waste, and visitor impact—to guide data-driven policy decisions and measure progress.

Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT)

Advocate for fair allocation of TAT revenues to fund tourism management, infrastructure, housing, and environmental protection.

Tax Incentives for Sustainability

Support tax incentives, credits, and rebates for businesses that reduce resource consumption or implement certified green technologies, encouraging broad participation in sustainability initiatives.

For the previous 2025 Position Statements listing CLICK HERE

Ka leo ho'okipa

Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is the collective voice of members in Maui County and we must advocate together as one voice to our State and County leaders. Be a part of our advocacy efforts! Join the MHLA Member Advocacy Committee and receive alerts on bills affecting our members, get training on how to monitor hearings for the State and County, and learn how to submit testimony.

To Join the Advocacy Committee CLICK HERE