Keani Rawlins-Fernandez
HI · Councilmember, Maui County Council, Molokaʻi
Keani Rawlins-Fernandez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, with certificates in Native Hawaiian Rights and environmental law. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaiʻi.
Where Keani Rawlins-Fernandez stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (4 records), Housing Affordability (5 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 4 support
Testified at an Air Force public hearing against more telescopes on Haleakala. She said the military uses national security as a trump card.
February 21, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: mauinow.com
Moved and voted to pass Maui County's first climate action plan (Bill 136, 2024). It passed 7-0.
December 23, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: mauicounty.gov
Moved and voted to oppose a planned Air Force telescope site on Haleakala. The council adopted the resolution 9-0.
June 5, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: mauicounty.gov
Presented a plan to the county Board of Water Supply to give hotels and resorts their own water rate. She called it a way to get the biggest users to save water.
February 17, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: mauicounty.us
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Voted yes on the county budget for July 2026 through June 2027. The council passed it 9-0.
June 5, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: mauicounty.gov
Led the budget committee that wrote the county's 2022-23 budget. The council passed a $1.07 billion budget, $24.8 million more than the mayor asked.
June 8, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: mauicounty.us
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 5 support
Voted no on two measures to rezone many apartment vacation rentals as hotels so they can keep renting to tourists. Both passed 7-1. Her amendment to one of them failed 2-6.
July 24, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: mauicounty.gov
Voted yes on Bill 9, which ends vacation rentals in apartment zones by 2029 in West Maui and 2031 elsewhere. It passed 5-3.
December 15, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: mauicounty.us
Introduced the "caps bill" limiting the number of tourist lodging units by area (Bill 159, 2022). It also banned camper-van rentals on public land. The council passed it.
November 4, 2022Supports Housing Affordability
Source: mauicounty.us
Introduced the 'Aina Kupuna bill, which became law (Ordinance 5307). It gives the lowest property tax rate to land kept in one family for about 80 years.
December 6, 2021Supports Housing Affordability
Source: mauicounty.us
Proposed a law giving a $200,000 property tax break to owners who rent to the same tenant for at least 12 months (Bill 129, 2020). The council passed it unanimously.
December 4, 2020Supports Housing Affordability
Source: mauicounty.us
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Backed farmer Bobby Pahia for the Upcountry seat on the Maui County Council. She stood with him when he announced his campaign.
January 14, 2026
Source: mauinow.com
Chaired the committee that sent two Hawaiian-language bills to the council. The council passed them, starting Hawaiian classes for county workers and Hawaiian in official papers.
January 17, 2025
Source: mauicounty.us
Moved and voted to urge the governor to bring back Kaleo Manuel as top deputy of the state water commission. The resolution passed 7-2.
October 6, 2023
Source: mauicounty.gov
Started a new council job for a Hawaiian language communications specialist during budget talks. The council approved the first hire on Aug. 5, 2022.
August 5, 2022
Source: mauicounty.us
Voted yes on a new 3 percent county tax on hotel and vacation rental stays (Bill 101, 2021). It passed 7-0.
October 1, 2021
Source: mauicounty.gov
Introduced a resolution asking state lawmakers to legalize, regulate and tax adult cannabis and clear old marijuana convictions. The council adopted it 9-0.
February 5, 2021
Source: mauicounty.us
Was elected council vice-chair by a 9-0 vote for the 2021-23 term. She was also named chair of the budget committee.
January 2, 2021
Source: mauicounty.us
Voted yes on a bill that set up tiered property tax rates in Maui County (Bill 58, 2019). The council passed it 7-1.
November 22, 2019
Source: mauicounty.gov
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Her campaign committee, Kokua Keani, agreed to pay an $83.33 fine to the state Campaign Spending Commission. The committee had filed an ad spending report late.
October 17, 2018
Source: ags.hawaii.gov
Past race Keani Rawlins-Fernandez ran in:
- Maui County Councilmember - Molokai · November 3, 2026 · Maui County, Hawaii · incumbent