Two Long-Vacant Seats Filled on Lānaʻi Planning Commission

Two new members have joined the Lānaʻi Planning Commission after two seats remained vacant for more than a year.

The nine-member commission reviews Lānaʻi land-use and Community Plan matters and acts on Special Management Area issues.

Lisa Galloway attended her first meeting Aug. 19, following Taylor, who made his first appearance July 15. Both were appointed by the Maui County Council in June to seats vacant since April 2025.

At Taylor’s first meeting, Chair Butch Gima asked him to “tell us something about being a resident of Lānaʻi and what brought you here.” Taylor said he came to Lānaʻi about 12 years ago after spending 40 years in Alaska.

“I’m an economist by training, but I’m retired,” Taylor said. He previously worked as a professor and spent most of his career as an economic consultant and forensic economist in civil litigation.

Galloway, a 17-year Lānaʻi resident, previously taught biology and environmental sciences at Lānaʻi High and Elementary School and now works with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Center on Disability Studies. She said she is nearing retirement.

The appointments followed more than a year of vacancies and repeated concerns over the County’s nomination process. Butch sought updates from the Independent Nomination Board several times, saying in February that the board had not returned his calls, emails or texts about applicants. The Maui County Council ultimately exercised its authority to appoint Taylor and Galloway to terms through March 31, 2030.

Three more commissioner terms expire March 31, 2027. Butch asked that the upcoming vacancies remain on the monthly agenda and said Lānaʻi residents should apply before Dec. 31.

The Aug. 19 meeting also included an update on the proposed Hawaiian Islands FiberLink project at Mānele Small Boat Harbor and SMA minor permit rule changes. Commissioners requested updates on the County-owned former First Hawaiian Bank property and the next Lānaʻi Community Plan review.