In Loving Memory of Councilmember Tasha Kama

A lifetime of faith, service, and aloha for the people of Maui

from Office of Maui Councilmember Tasha Kama, October 27, 2025

WAILUKU, MAUI — The County of Maui mourns the passing of Councilmember and Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Tasha Kama, a cherished leader, mentor, and advocate whose life embodied service, compassion, and faith.

For more than four decades, Councilmember Kama dedicated herself to advocating for others, building bridges across our community, advancing social justice, and expanding opportunities for all working families. Her passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of those who had the privilege to know and serve alongside her.

Born and raised on O’ahu, Tasha has made Maui her home since 1983. She dedicated her life to the belief that true strength lies in community. Before entering public office, she served as a social justice organizer with Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) Maui, where she worked to uplift local residents and families, ensuring their voices be heard. She served as a parent member of the Hawai’i State Council on Developmental Disabilities, advocating for inclusion and dignity for children and adults with special needs.

Rooted in her unwavering belief in the power of community, Tasha Kama has long been a steadfast advocate for Hawaiian Home Land beneficiaries and the broader Native Hawaiian community. She was a parent member and lifelong contributor to the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) established in 1987. Most recently, she served as Vice-Chair for the National Association of Native County Leaders and Allies (NANCLA), an affinity group within the National Association of Counties (NACo), where she helped elevate indigenous leadership on a national platform.

Tasha is a proud graduate of the University of Hawai’i Maui College and served as Student Body President during her time at UHMC. Tasha also served as the Senior Pastor of the Christian Ministry Church. Known to many as Kahu Kama, she led with humility and inspired countless congregants with her leadership and spirit.

In the 2018 election, she was chosen for the Kahului residency seat on the Maui County Council, where she quickly became known for her calm strength, balance, and grace. Her colleagues elected her Presiding Officer Pro Tempore, recognizing her as a steady and trusted voice of fairness. Throughout her tenure, Councilmember Kama was deeply committed to addressing Maui County’s housing and economic challenges. She often spoke of her heartbreak seeing local families separated by the high cost of living and the outmigration of young people forced to seek opportunities elsewhere. To her, housing was more than a policy issue, it was a reflection of our shared moral duty to care for and empower one another.

Before her passing, Councilmember Kama expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected on her lifelong calling to faith and public service: “My father taught me that a life of service is an act of worship. It has been my deepest honor to live that lesson through this Council. As I prepare to return home to our Lord, I do so with gratitude, peace, and unwavering faith in God’s goodness.”

In her final request to the Maui County Council, she humbly asked that Kauanoe Batangan, an experienced and distinguished public servant, be considered to continue her work, carrying forward the mission of expanding opportunities for our Maui County families.

Councilmember Kama’s legacy is one of faith in action, grounded in her love for God, her family, and this community. Her leadership was defined by humility, her words by empathy, and her service by aloha.

The County of Maui extends its deepest condolences to the Kama ‘ohana, her colleagues on the Council, and the many community members whose lives she touched through her ministry and service.

Plans to honor Councilmember Kama’s life and contributions will be announced in the coming days.

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LINK: Kauanoe Batagan Executive Director Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization

MN: Final request: Kama asks Council to consider appointing Kauanoe Batangan as her successor : Maui Now