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Maui County is at a crossroads and we cannot afford to stand still. My vision is clear: a Maui where local families can afford to live, build careers, and raise the next generation right here at home. That will take decisive, accountable leadership grounded in listening, strengthened by collaboration, and focused on delivering real results.For too long, we’ve been reacting to crises instead of planning for the future. I will change that. We will invest in infrastructure, cut through delays, support local businesses, and grow an economy that works for our people, not against them.This is about restoring trust, setting a higher standard for county government, and taking action with purpose and urgency. Maui’s future depends on it—and I am ready to lead.To move forward, we need practical leadership. My campaign is focused around three guiding principles designed to serve the people who call these islands home:

My Vision for Maui's Future

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From Town Hall meetings to working within our communities, Yuki Lei believes that the best solutions take shape when our community is part of the process.

Yuki Listens

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<h2>Invest in Maui Nui’s Future: Support Yuki Lei for Mayor.</h2>This grassroots campaign is powered by community members like you. Every contribution goes directly toward sharing Yuki Lei's vision with voters across the county, funding vital outreach and building the momentum we need to successfully advance through the primary and win the general election.Choose the way you'd like to contribute below:<h3>Contribute by Mail</h3>If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to Friends of Yuki Lei Sugimura.You can mail your contribution to:Friends of Yuki Lei Sugimura PO Box 901362 Kula, HI 96790<h3>Contribute Online</h3>The fastest and easiest way to support the campaign is through our secure online portal.<a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/yuki-lei-sugimura-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donate</a>

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Election Day is Saturday, August 8, 2026. Ballots will be in your mailbox July 21, 2026.

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Rebuild Trust in County Government

Focus on Basics for Affordable Housing

An Economy that Actually Works for Us

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<h2>Roots in Maui Nui</h2>Born and raised in Wailuku, Yuki Lei is a product of Maui’s plantation heritage and local values. She is a proud graduate of Baldwin High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. For over two decades, she has called Upcountry Maui home, residing in Kula with her husband, Takashi "Tak" Sugimura. Living in a rural agricultural district has shaped her pragmatic approach to governance, grounding her policy decisions in the realities of those who farm the land, commute for work and manage household budgets. <h2>A Career of Community Building</h2>Long before she held elected office, Yuki Lei was already a driving force behind Maui’s local economy and culture. As a small business owner of Connec, LLC, she understood the challenges facing local entrepreneurs. She turned that understanding into action by organizing some of the island’s most beloved events, which served to revitalize historic towns and boost local commerce. <ul><li>Revitalizing Wailuku: She was a key organizer for the Wailuku First Friday town parties, an initiative that brought life and business back to Market Street.</li><li>Celebrating Culture: She served as the County Coordinator for the Festivals of Aloha and co-chaired the Maui Matsuri and Maui Chinese New Year’s Festival, ensuring Maui’s diverse cultures were celebrated and preserved. </li></ul><h2>Experience at the Highest Levels</h2>Yuki Lei’s understanding of government was forged through service to Hawaii’s legendary leaders. She served as a Field Representative for U.S. Senators Daniel Akaka and Mazie Hirono, and worked closely with the office of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye as the Maui Coordinator for the "Hawaii 3R's" school repair program. These roles gave her a masterclass in how federal, state, and county governments intersect, teaching her how to cut through red tape to deliver funding and resources to the local level. <h2>Leadership on the County Council </h2>First elected to the Maui County Council in 2016 to represent the Upcountry residency area, Yuki Lei quickly earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative and a tireless advocate for infrastructure. <ul><li>Fiscal Guardianship: As Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee, she oversees the county’s multi-million dollar budget, fighting for transparency and ensuring taxpayer money is focused on core services.</li><li>Infrastructure Focus: Previously serving as Chair of the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee (2021-2023), she championed the "basics" of governance—water, roads, and wastewater—viewing them as the essential foundation for solving the housing crisis.</li><li>Public Safety: She has authored and passed impactful legislation, including the ban on smoking in vehicles with minors present, protecting the health of Maui’s keiki. </li></ul><h2>Always Accessible</h2>Yuki is famous for listening intently, and her "Talk Story" sessions at the Upcountry Farmers Market are proof. There, amidst local produce and neighbors, she listens to the concerns of residents, proving week after week that she is a leader who remains grounded in community and shows up.

Creating a better future for Maui Nui takes all of us working together. Whether you have an hour to spare or want to help lead a neighborhood team canvassing, your voice and your energy matter. Yuki Lei is ready to lead with experience and heart, but she can’t do it without you.<h4>Ways You Can Help:</h4><ul><li>Vote for Yuki Lei</li><li>Advocate for Yuki Lei</li><li>Host a "Talk Story" Event</li><li>Volunteer</li><li><a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/yuki-lei-sugimura-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donate</a></li></ul>

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<h2>A Lifetime of Making it Happen</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/e6ddcb41-8d98-46af-9024-3b7c56d5d732/dd73cf53-3048-4f84-a314-b9b0485b1eeb/dd73cf53-3048-4f84-a314-b9b0485b1eeb.tif?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1000%2C958&amp;w=1500" alt="Yuki Lei smiling headshot" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Yuki Lei Sugimura has spent decades bridging the gap between government and the people it serves. From the halls of the U.S. Senate to the grassroots of the Upcountry Farmers Market, she has built a reputation as a leader who listens, shows up, and gets the job done. Now, she is running for Mayor to bring fiscal responsibility, infrastructure solutions, and genuine community collaboration to the County’s highest office.

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Yuki Lei is honored to have the strong backing of our local labor unions and cooperatives. Together, we are fighting for good-paying jobs, affordable living, and a stronger, more resilient future for all of Maui County.

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Yuki Lei for Mayor

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Transparency and accountability cannot just be buzzwords, they must be the standard.&nbsp; As Mayor, I will commit to rebuilding trust and ensuring that my administration is open, accessible, and honest about what is achievable.<ul><li>Efficiency: Reduce wait times and delays of services to improve efficiency and ensure that government is working for you, not against you.</li><li>Accountability: Establishing clear metrics for success in every department. If a program isn’t meeting its goals, we will improve it and ensure resources are being used effectively.</li></ul>

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For residents, local businesses and future generations. Our economy faces fragile times. We need a system that prioritizes the people who live here and the small businesses that form the backbone of our community. As a small business owner myself, I understand the struggle of making payroll and navigating regulations. <ul><li>Local Business Support: Shifting the county’s mindset from regulator to partner to help local entrepreneurs succeed.</li><li>Cost of Living: Fighting for economic policies that address the high cost of living, ensuring that a paycheck in Maui County is enough to live a good life here.</li><li>Future Generations: Creating diverse job opportunities beyond tourism, in agriculture, technology, and trades, so our children don’t have to leave Maui Nui to find a career.</li></ul>

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We must build communities where families can stay and thrive. The housing crisis is breaking up our families. To fix it, we have to stop skipping steps and focus on the basics that allow housing to happen: pipes, permitting and pavement. We cannot have homes without water, sewer capacity, and roads. <ul><li>Infrastructure First: Investing in water resources, roads, and other essential infrastructure projects that make housing possible and communities livable for generations to come.</li><li>Streamlined Process: Cutting red tape to speed up housing and lower costs for local families.</li><li>Homes for Local Families: Partnering with private industry to build attainable homes for local families, while supporting the schools, parks, and public services that help communities thrive.</li></ul>