About This Site
Independent civic accountability project
What is this?
Maui County Watch is an independent, non-partisan civic transparency project covering Maui County government — budget, contracts, grants, staffing, council activity, and government performance. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the County of Maui, the Mayor's office, or the Maui County Council.
Our goal is simple: make it easier for Maui residents to understand where their tax dollars are going and to hold elected officials accountable for spending decisions.
Why does this exist?
Maui County's budget has grown dramatically over the past five years, yet county services — water, wastewater, roads — continue to have deferred maintenance backlogs and rate increases. During this same period, discretionary spending on community grants has grown even faster than the overall budget, with minimal requirements for measurable outcomes or accountability.
Most residents don't have time to sift through hundreds of pages of budget documents. This site does that work and presents the data in a clear, searchable, visual format.
Data sources
- Official Maui County Budget Documents (mauicounty.gov/budget)
- Maui County Council testimony and budget hearing transcripts
- Office of Economic Development annual grant reports
- Department of Housing & Human Concerns annual reports
- Hawaii State DBEDT population and household estimates
Accountability ratings
Each grant is assessed on three criteria:
- Outcomes defined — does the grant agreement require specific, measurable outcomes?
- Results reported — is an annual report with outcome data submitted to the county?
- Independent verification — are reported results independently verified, not just self-reported?
Corrections & contact
If you spot an error, have additional documentation, or want to submit a tip, please email us at [email protected]. We are committed to accuracy and will correct mistakes promptly.
Grant applications, public records, or supporting documents can also be sent to that address. All tips are kept confidential unless you indicate otherwise.