Tamara Paltin Maui County residents are counting on elected officials to more effectively manage tourism — by planning for a future that prioritizes community needs and by caring for our precious island resources. Concerns about overreliance on tourism are seen in recent news stories, public opinion surveys and discussions among friends and family. While the downturn caused by COVID-19 necessitated self-reflection by government and industry leaders, many of us have been envisioning a different future for a long time. In an interview on Hawaii Public Radio’s “The Conversation” on March 8, 2019 — early in my first term — I voiced concerns about crowded beaches and roads, strained infrastructure and visitor incursions into remote areas, causing safety risks for people and environmental damage to our ecological and cultural resources. As a legislator and concerned parent, I’ve remained committed to advocating for a reassessment of how we allocate our limited assets.