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State Rep. Tina Wildberger told her constituents that she will not be running for re-election or seeking any other political office this year, saying that she wanted to support the next wave of progressive candidates.

“When I first sought office, the pool of progressive, community-focused candidates in South Maui was non-existent,” she said in a statement. “Today, we have dedicated candidates who want to serve our constituents and I am pleased to pass the baton.”

Wildberger began her political career in 2016 when she enrolled in the Hawaiian Alliance for Progressive Action’s Kuleana Academy, a program geared toward identifying future political leaders and providing leadership training, according to the statement.

Two years later, she was elected to represent South Maui in the state House, and has helped advocate to protect Na Wai Eha — South Maui’s water source — from landing in the hands of a private entity, according to her statement.

She was reelected for a second term in 2020, and helped push to protect South Maui against the growing threat of the climate crisis and natural disasters. Over the years, she served on legislative committees that tackled some of South Maui’s most pressing challenges, including water, environmental protection and land conservation.

“While I won’t be serving as an elected official, I will continue to advocate for issues that impact our beautiful community of South Maui,” Wildberger said. “My interests lie in disaster preparedness and mitigation. I look forward to contributing to this important work.”

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.