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My name is Matty Schweitzer, I was born and raised in Lahaina, and I'm raising my family here including three children. The decisions being made about this place matter to me personally. They affect our neighbors, our children and whether the families who call Maui home will be able to stay.
Since Aug. 8, 2023, the question of what comes next for Lahaina has carried a weight that is hard to explain to anyone who doesn't call this place home. Rebuilding means more than replacing buildings. It means giving people a real chance to return, raise their families, earn a living and feel that they still have a future here.
That is why I believe we need to pay much closer attention to our local elections.
We spend so much time arguing about national politics, yet many of us know very little about the people making decisions in our own backyard. Housing, water, recovery and the future of our communities deserve more than a quick glance at a campaign sign.
For me, Pāʻele Kiakona is someone worth taking a serious look at.
He is my friend, and I want to be open about that. But friendship alone is not a reason to put someone in office. What matters is the work they have done, the priorities they bring and whether we believe they will remain accountable to the people they represent.
Pāʻele's involvement in Lahaina's recovery began before this campaign. Through his work with Lahaina Strong and the push for housing for displaced residents, he has helped bring attention to a question that should concern all of us: How can our community recover if our people cannot afford to live here?
There are real disagreements about how to address housing. We should be willing to discuss the consequences of different policies and ask difficult questions. But accepting a future where working families keep getting pushed out is not good enough.
The same goes for water and the decisions shaping our recovery. I want leaders who treat those responsibilities with care, listen to the people affected and understand that the choices being made today will affect our children long after this election is over.
I believe Pā'ele is the right person and the best candidate to lead our community through this chapter, but I'm not asking anyone to accept it simply because I say it. I'm asking people to look closely at all of the candidates, ask difficult questions and decide who has earned their confidence.
For me, trust has to be earned through actions, openness and a willingness to answer to the community. I want to feel confident that our representative will put the families who live here at the center of decisions about housing, water and recovery.
I'm supporting Pāʻele because I believe he is the best choice. And if elected, I will expect him to keep earning that trust.
My support comes with expectations. I want him to keep listening, answer hard questions, work with people who disagree with him and follow through. Supporting a candidate should never mean giving them a free pass.
What gives me hope is the commitment that already exists in this community. People care deeply about this place. We need to bring that same care into choosing our representatives and staying involved after election day.
Please take the time to research the candidates. Watch their discussions, read their positions, ask about their records and look beyond the advertising. You do not have to agree with my choice, but I hope you will make an informed choice of your own.
I'm supporting Pāʻele Kiakona for State House District 14 because I believe his commitment to Lahaina and his focus on keeping local families here deserve a place in our state government.
This is our home. Its future deserves our attention.
Matty Schweitzer is a third-generation Lahaina resident, filmmaker, Athlete, and founder of Island Eye Productions. His award-winning documentary Lahaina Rising tells the stories of his hometown and its people following the devastating 2023 wildfires. Deeply rooted in West Maui, Matty is passionate about preserving Lahaina's history & environment, amplifying community voices, and protecting its future for generations to come.