Kahului, Hawaii Public Records

Each city or community within the county may have its own police presence, but they all coordinate efforts to manage major crimes and emergencies effectively, ensuring a cohesive approach to law enforcement across the islands.

Public safety in Kahului is primarily the responsibility of the Kahului Police Department, which works in conjunction with the Maui County Sheriff's Office to address law enforcement needs across the region. The Kahului Hawaii Inmate Search service provides information on individuals currently incarcerated at the local detention facility. Residents seeking access to criminal history records can utilize the services of the Kahului Hawaii Criminal History Records office, which maintains comprehensive databases of arrest records and other law enforcement information.

Kahului voters are served by the Maui County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all of Maui County including Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The Elections Division is located at 200 South High Street, 6th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793 (phone: 808-270-7749, website: mauicounty.gov/334/Elections-Division). This office handles voter registration, absentee voting, polling place administration, candidate filing, and election result certification for all federal, state, and county elections affecting Kahului residents. Hawaii uses all-mail voting for most elections, though in-person voting options are also available at voter service centers.

Kahului residents can register to vote online at hawaiivotes.hawaii.gov, the official portal operated by the Hawaii Office of Elections. Registration is open to U.S. citizens who are Hawaii residents and at least 18 years old by election day. The online system requires a Hawaii driver's license or state ID number. The voter registration deadline is 30 days before any election for new registrations, though Hawaii offers same-day registration at voter service centers during the early voting period and on Election Day. Voter registration can also be completed by mail using forms available from the County Clerk's office or at various government offices throughout Kahului and Maui.

As an unincorporated community, Kahului does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, Kahului residents participate in Maui County elections for County Council (nine members elected from residency areas), Mayor, Prosecuting Attorney, and other county offices. County elections are held in even-numbered years during the general election in November. The next county elections will be held in November 2026, when voters will elect County Council members and potentially the Mayor depending on term cycles. Kahului falls within County Council residency area boundaries that must be confirmed through the Elections Division.

Kahului residents can find their assigned polling place or voter service center location by using the online lookup tool at hawaiivotes.hawaii.gov or by contacting the Maui County Elections Division. Polling locations in and near Kahului have included the University of Hawaii Maui College campus, Kahului Community Center, and other public facilities. Hawaii has transitioned primarily to mail-in voting, with ballots automatically mailed to all registered voters approximately 18 days before each election. Voters may return ballots by mail (postage-free), deposit them in official ballot drop boxes located throughout Maui County, or vote in person at voter service centers during the early voting period (typically 10 days before Election Day) or on Election Day itself.

Public election records in Hawaii include voter registration lists (available to candidates and political organizations under specific conditions, not for commercial use), campaign finance reports (searchable at ags.hawaii.gov/campaign), candidate filing information, and precinct-level election results. The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission maintains detailed reports of contributions and expenditures for state and county candidates and committees. Complete election results by precinct are published by the Hawaii Office of Elections at elections.hawaii.gov following certification.

In the November 2024 general election, Maui County recorded approximately 74,000 ballots cast from about 105,000 registered voters, representing roughly 70% turnout for the presidential election. Kahului precincts generally showed turnout consistent with county averages, reflecting strong civic engagement particularly in federal and state races.

The November 3, 2026 general election will include critical races for Kahului and Maui County voters. At the federal level, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono's seat is not up in 2026 (next election 2024), but one of Hawaii's two U.S. House seats representing Maui will be on the ballot. At the state level, Hawaii holds gubernatorial elections in midterm years (2026), so voters will elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor as a ticket, as well as numerous state House and state Senate seats representing Kahului districts. All nine Maui County Council seats will be on the ballot, as will the Maui County Mayor if the cycle aligns (County Mayor terms are four years). Primary elections for partisan races are held in August, with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Hawaii offers comprehensive absentee and mail-in voting. Since Hawaii conducts elections primarily by mail, all registered voters automatically receive a ballot packet by mail approximately 18 days before Election Day. Voters who do not receive their ballot, need a replacement, or prefer to vote in person may visit any voter service center during early voting or on Election Day. Military and overseas voters can request ballots electronically through the Federal Voting Assistance Program portal. Ballot drop boxes are available throughout Maui County, with locations listed at hawaiivotes.hawaii.gov, and remain accessible until 7:00 PM on Election Day.