Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lānaʻi bypass road condition
A decades-old condition required Pūlama to build a bypass road around Lānaʻi City once half the units were occupied — a trigger the downsized project will never hit. The committee split 5-4 on deleting it, with members arguing over safety, evacuation, and who should pay for infrastructure.
North-South Collector Road and eminent domain
Mayer called Piʻilani an eight-to-ten-mile cul-de-sac and estimated 6,800 additional vehicles if all planned units build out; the possible road link to Veterans Highway is a two-lane road with no funding in the plan.
North Kihei Road Relocation and Shoreline Management
Erosion has already eaten 600 feet of Mākena Lane, and the plan now 'must' address the inevitable relocation of North Kīhei Road. The committee added the MPO and DPW as lead agencies so the project can be prioritized for federal funding.
Developer infrastructure debt accounting
Longtime watchdog Christopher Salem again demanded a full ledger of thousands of old private developer reimbursement agreements he says shifted tens of millions onto residents.
Kīhei Mauka bypass and evacuation routes
After the 2023 fires and a tsunami scare, South Maui residents are scared about having only one road out of Kīhei. Public Works said the mauka bypass is a state project with no progress, and the county can't "require" the state to build it — but landowners and the Maui MPO may help get it moving.
ADA and pedestrian accessibility
Blind resident Frank Barbosa asked the county to install tactile guide strips at crosswalks countywide after he was struck by a vehicle in a county parking structure. Members discussed a possible universal-design policy and invited him to serve on the disability commission.
Wahikuli and Fleming Road speeding
A resident near Fleming Road says cars fly down the hill at 40 mph past pedestrians and wheelchairs, with no speed bumps installed despite repeated requests to Public Works.
Lahaina bypass north extension
The long-sought Lahaina bypass north extension got a conditional award of up to $100 million in recovery funds toward its roughly $220 million cost, with state and federal highway funds covering the rest. It's about a five-year project and the corridor could carry R-1 water lines.
Maalaea transit hub and interregional transit
The county's ferry project is moving: an environmental study RFP closes April 9, but the environmental assessment could take one to two years. Chair Johnson wants a future committee briefing, and Rep. Tokuda's office is reportedly eager to help fund a vessel.