WAILUKU, Hawaii — The state Supreme Court has ruled Maui County Council members who violate county residency requirements automatically forfeit their seats.

The high court held yesterday that the public needn’t take the additional step of pursuing impeachment or recall in order to remove violators from office.
The ruling sends a challenge to County Councilman Sol Kahoohalahala back to Circuit Court. Nineteen Lanai residents are trying to force him out of office.
Kahoohalahala represents Lanai. But the Supreme Court ruled in October in a separate case that he was actually a resident of Lahaina.
Kahoohalahala’s attorney, Ben Lowenthal, says Wednesday’s ruling dealt with a “procedural matter” and had no effect on Kahoohalahala’s status as a council member.
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Information from: The Maui News, http://www.mauinews.com