P. Denise La Costa has announced her candidacy for Maui County mayor in 2026, joining incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen and Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura in the race.
A Maui resident for 36 years, La Costa currently serves as president of the West Maui Community Task Force. She previously served on the Maui County Planning Commission, among various other roles in business and the community.
She told Aloha State Daily that her campaign will focus on rebuilding Lahaina, increasing housing and reforming county bureaucracy.
“These goals are not mutually exclusive and should not be treated as if they are,” she said.
Her plans include prioritizing restoration of core infrastructure downtown so businesses can reopen, introducing pre-approved building templates for non-critical areas to allow permits within 30 days, and completing coordinated multi-agency reviews for historic or shoreline properties within 90 days.
“Business owners in Lahaina poured their sweat, blood and tears into that town. Government should be helping them rebuild, not standing in their way,” La Costa told ASD.
She also suggested establishing a tax-increment financing zone to direct a portion of new economic activity in Lahaina toward long-term safety improvements and resilient infrastructure.
La Costa criticized Bill 9, which seeks to convert short-term rentals into long-term housing, arguing it would reduce county tax revenues without meaningfully addressing housing supply.
“The mayor has said we can’t build our way out of the housing crisis. I strongly disagree,” she told ASD.
Her proposals include redirecting tax revenue she says would otherwise be lost under Bill 9 into a first-time homebuyer fund to help local families with down payments, while expanding housing options such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, mixed-use developments and work-live housing. She also said she would accelerate construction for Native Hawaiian families in partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Citing concerns over Maui’s reliance on tourism, which she said has contributed to high living costs and low wages, La Costa said diversifying the economy is key. She pointed to small-footprint industries such as renewable energy, climate research, arts, media and technology as opportunities aligned with Maui’s values.
On county operations, La Costa said she would streamline permitting, publish backlog timelines and create a public ombudsman to help residents and businesses navigate government processes.
Public safety remains a top priority, she said. Reflecting on challenges during the Lahaina fire, La Costa emphasized emergency preparedness, redundant communication systems and visible leadership during crises.
“There will never be a loss in communication again. That will not happen on my watch,” she said.
Describing her leadership style as collaborative and results-driven, La Costa said she supports merit-based hiring and accountability in county government.
“As mayor, I will represent everyone in Maui County — every background, every community, every family,” she said.
According to the Office of the Maui County Clerk, Feb. 2 marked the first day to pick up nomination papers for the 2026 election. The filing deadline is June 2, with voter service centers opening July 27 ahead of the Aug. 8 primary and Oct. 20 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
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