A new political split on the Maui County Council could mean tougher rules on development and tourism, which is good news for residents worried about overbuilding but a concern for the tourism industry.

• The nine-member council flipped from a council leaning toward development to one with six members seen as more skeptical of new development and growth.
• That six-vote block is a "supermajority," meaning the council can override vetoes from the mayor, giving it real power to push through policy changes.
• Newcomers joining the council include a taro farmer and a former airport manager, alongside a returning member who narrowly won back a seat she'd previously lost.
• The mayor expects the council to push for limits on new development and caps on tourism, reflecting a broader shift in local sentiment against overdevelopment.
• The hotel and lodging industry says it's open to working with the new council and prefers solutions like agritourism over stricter regulation, while voicing some concern about the shift.

Outlook: Expect the new council to move on measures curbing development and tourism growth, though how far those changes go is still unclear.