Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
HRS Chapter 179D dam and reservoir safety barrier
Member Cook warned that state law makes liability so 'toxic' that detention basins to stop South Maui mud floods aren't being built. The committee agreed to raise it in future legislative lobbying.
Wastewater disinfection concerns at Wailuku-Kahului facility
Testifier Travis Lincoln proposed a novel donation-funded model to accelerate 100% R-1 disinfection at the Kihei and Kahului plants, citing elevated fecal bacteria in UIC reports; Mike Moran pressed for clarity on whether South Maui's injection well water is actually UV-treated given poor water quality at Cove Park.
Adopt-A-Street litter and stormwater program
Volunteers adopt stretches of road, pick up litter twice a year, and keep trash out of storm drains and the ocean. The county supplies gear and hauls the bags; the program has three groups but capacity for about ten.
Restoring Hawaiian place names and history in the plan
Historian Lucienne de Naie warned that big detention basins and developments are planned over poorly-surveyed archaeological sites — repeating past mistakes like the Wailea hotel zone built atop a major burial ground.
Protection of Wahi Kupuna and cultural resources
The committee approved policies ensuring Native Hawaiian access to kuleana lands, preserving historic roads like the King's Trail with restoration encouraged where practicable, using Ike Kupuna in development design, and supporting a South Maui cultural center and museum.
Gulch and drainage-way protection policies
Proposed policies would bar new permanent structures in or within 100 feet of gulches and drainageways, but Public Works Director Molina warned the blanket restriction could kill needed flood mitigation and drainage projects. Deferred for more work.
Reviving the Nāulu Cloud Bridge
Restoration and reforestation work spanning leeward Haleakalā to Kahoʻolawe aims to encourage rainfall for the region. The committee wants to see the work in person, which requires closing the meeting to the public because of unexploded ordnance and access limits on the island.
Exceptional Trees Designation
The committee endorsed a plan action to designate historic or culturally significant trees as exceptional trees, and noted a real-world snarl: the county arborist moved to Public Works while the Arborist Committee sits under Parks and Recreation.
Green Waste Composting in South Maui
Currently South Maui's green waste goes to the landfill while a private facility composts in Waikapū, outside the plan area. The committee converted the action into a policy supporting land-use entitlements for a composting operation within the plan area, and flagged a broader General Plan conversation.
South Maui gulch flooding and sediment management
Drone footage showed repeated flooding and sediment buildup on the Keahuaiwi, Waiakoa, Kūlanihākoʻi, and Waipuʻilani gulches, flooding homes, businesses, and roads in Kihei. Testifiers said development in flood zones and narrow channelization make it worse, and pushed for wide gulch buffers and wetland preservation.
Coastal retreat incentives for shoreline properties
The committee is exploring how to help shoreline property owners in the sea-level-rise exposure zone move inland by transferring their water and utility rights to a new parcel — but only for early adopters, not those who hold out and armor the shoreline. It was tabled pending wastewater and water department details.
Climate Action and Resiliency Plan tracking
Gabe Johnson pushed to lock in 20% of TAT revenues — about $13 million a year — for climate resilience, but colleagues said the county already spends $90 million and worried about tying up a shrinking revenue source. The proposal was filed 7-2.
Sea level rise and shoreline management retreat
Members debated whether the County should flag properties for rezoning based on sea level rise exposure, flood zones, or shoreline setback — and whether conditions like certified shoreline surveys and managed-retreat removal plans should attach. Storm damage from recent Kona Lows and hurricane swells framed the urgency.
Managed retreat fund and Paia Mantokuji
A testifier opposed a $2.5 million managed retreat fund request by the Paia Mantokuji mission, saying it funds shoreline armoring instead of relocation and comes with state bills seeking environmental exemptions.
Urban tree canopy and shade equity
South Maui is hot and short on shade, and the committee heard it's an equity issue — wealthy neighborhoods get tree tunnels, North Kihei doesn't. New rules tie development to the county Urban Forest Management Plan until a South Maui tree plan exists, and push for public notice before hazardous tree removal.
Wastewater disinfection and fire-break greenbelt
Travis Liggett pitched a plan to accelerate UV wastewater disinfection and build a reclaimed-water greenbelt firebreak along South Maui — funded, he proposes, by big philanthropy through new "SMILAST" legislation. Councilmember Cook asked him to submit an outline.
Herbicide use waiver on county roadsides
Public Works says it can't keep up with vegetation by hand along 1,000+ miles of road shoulders and wants a two-year waiver to spot-spray herbicides at intersections, guardrails, and pavement cracks. Members worried about glyphosate, kids on sidewalks, runoff into the ocean, and the $7 million already spent on equipment and staff for nonchemical methods.
Sea-level rise and shoreline protection requirements for new hotel zones
Testifiers clashed over whether sea level rise justifies hotel rezoning or instead demands managed retreat, buyouts, and removal of shoreline structures. Advocates cited the county's hazard mitigation plan ($1.2 billion in at-risk replacement value) and urged conditions like no further shoreline armoring and bonded removal obligations.
Keawanui Fishpond and Kaʻamola Ahupuaʻa Restoration
ʻĀina Momona is restoring the Keawanui Fishpond and managing 437 acres mauka to stop erosion that was killing the pond's fish and smothering the reef. The group is asking the County for help permitting traditional practices and for influence with DLNR on access to rivers and valleys.
Food and Nutrition Security Plan (Bill 98)
Bill 98 writes the county's Food and Nutrition Security Plan into the Maui County Code, requiring a public dashboard tracking progress and five-year plan updates. It's advisory for most purposes but gives the plan permanent legal standing to guide future administrations.
Climate action revolving fund
Chair Johnson proposes dedicating 20% of the county's hotel tax — roughly $14 million a year — to fund the county's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, possibly via charter amendment. Most members prefer an ordinance, citing bond-rating worries, TAT revenue declines, and flexibility.
Mokuʻula restoration funding from 500 Front Street lot
Money collected at the 500 Front Street lot flows to the Hawaiian Cultural Restoration Revolving Fund for the Mokuʻula/royal complex area. Members flagged that the lot may be lost to restoration plans and asked for written confirmation of how the funding gap gets covered.