For “MAN OF THE YEAR”: It was a THREE-WAY TIE between former Mayor Alan Arakawa, Mike Foley, and Rob Parsons.

Many people in their 50’s and 60’s born and raised on Maui say this was the finest Administration they ever saw on Maui and the first Administration they ever felt right about.

Former Mayor Alan Arakawa: MAN OF THE YEAR / Courage of Vision for Maui

The former Mayor of Maui, Hawaii took a strong stand and had the COURAGE to hire MIKE FOLEY to protect Maui.
We knew Mayor Arakawa was “the real thing” when he appointed Mike Foley to become the new Director of Planning for Maui County. Mike had 35 years experience as a courageous Planning Director and Planner for cities in California that were major vacation and resort destinations. And, when appointed by the Mayor, Mike was on the board of directors of two major Maui environmental organizations, Maui Tomorrow and Maui Coastal Land Trust.

With exciting leaders like Mike Foley partnering with the Mayor, Mayor Arakawa was facing a political future that could parallel the Big Island’s popular Mayor Harry Kim. That was important because it looked like in the next Mayoral election in November 2006 the majority of Maui land developers’ campaign money would NOT be behind Mayor Arakawa. There were TWO key opponent candidates, not the Mayor, who had the majority of financial support from major developers. Therefore, the strategy of the Big Island’s Mayor Harry Kim in which without much re-election campaign money needed and with the strong, popular, grassroots support among the Maui County populace did appear to very possibly be the way to provide this Mayor the winning wave to ride for re-election. However he lost.

Mike Foley: MAN OF THE YEAR / Da Maui Sheriff
This is the Man who helped Maui simply follow its laws for land use and development, the man who kept The Maui News interesting to read. Every day this island got a little better because of MIKE FOLEY'S vision and courage. With Mike as a key administration leader leading the charge to keep beautiful and green all of Maui County and to keep the island of Maui as the World’s #1 island (according to Conde Nast magazine), a Maui resident could wake up every day feeling a little better.

Rob Parsons: MAN OF THE YEAR / Maui Preservation
This gentleman changed the rules for running for Mayor when he ran in the Primary Election in 2002. He ran against an incumbent who allegedly forgot how and where he got $700,000 in campaign contributions from. In the Final Election, Rob was not in the election, but he cast a mean swing vote and delivered the critical environmental voting bloc to Mr. Alan Arakawa who became the new Mayor of Maui County.

For “WOMAN OF THE YEAR”:

Charmaine Tavares: WOMAN OF THE YEAR
As a longtime member of the Maui County Council, the future Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares had an amazing vision of how Maui could be much more sustaining in agriculture and energy, and how this could be a lifesaver for Maui – isolated in the middle of the Pacific – during these unusual times.

A FEW OTHER KEY AWARDS

Jan Yagi Buen: MAUI AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABILITY
As an Assistant to the Mayor she represented Maui County AGRICULTURE at the State Legislature and lobbied to secure financial benefits for Maui County’s agriculture. With Maui alone with the other Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific, Jan dedicatedly worked to have Maui be able to protect itself by being able to grow more of its own produce and fruit. Agriculture will also protect Maui’s greenspace and tourist-attracting world class views.

Kevin Kihara: HEART OF KEOKEA
He and his wife own a classic, little country store in the old Hawaiian style. This gentleman’s big heart, fine mind, and great sense of humor and fun contribute a lot to helping the people of the villages of Keokea and Ulupalakua on the island of Maui.