Maui County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maui County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Keokea Industrial urban growth boundary expansion (North Kihei)
Haleakala Ranch and Kaonoulu Ranch propose a large phased residential development adjacent to Kulanihakoi High School, with three village hubs. Supporters call it logical, walkable growth; critics fear promises will vanish once land changes hands.
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.
Maui Research & Technology Park zoning amendments (Bill 141, 2026)
Bill 141 shifts commercial acreage to residential in the Kihei tech park so homes are less dense, while keeping the 1,250-unit cap. Residents watching Kihei growth will see the same number of homes spread over more land, and slightly less commercial build-out.
Lānaʻi Project District 2 (Kōʻele) zoning change (Bills 24 and 25, 2024)
The committee added a sunset to the water-reporting condition: five years of quarterly reports, then annual reports or until a Phase 2 approval, whichever comes first. Water accountability on Lānaʻi stays on the books but won't run forever.
Fiscal Reserve Fund Proposal
A sharp exchange: Chair Lee and Member Batangan pressed the managing director on whether the administration pads the budget with big carryover savings, noting the emergency fund exists for disasters. Nishita countered that the Council itself has added tens of millions to the budget above the mayor's requests in recent years.
Lobbyist regulation in Maui County
Maui is the only Hawaii county without real lobbyist registration and reporting rules. Bill 100 would require registration, training, reporting, and penalties — with some testifiers pushing back on the $5,000 fine for nonprofits. Deferred pending more questions.
Real property tax review board under strain
Five unpaid volunteers handle up to a thousand tax appeals a year in seven-hour meetings, denying over 95% of appeals. The commission suggests routing simple appeals through a county desk review first and questions whether adjudication should rest on volunteers at all.
Temporary wastewater service for new Central Maui school
The new Central Maui school in Waikapu is set to open in 2031, possibly before the county's new wastewater plant is running. This agreement reserves 14,500 gallons per day of temporary capacity at the existing Wailuku-Kahului facility as a plan B.
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.
Safe parking pilot program expansion (Bill 133)
Bill 133 would let people living in vehicles use other county-owned parcels, not just parking lots, and drop requirements for licenses, registration and safety checks at a temporary site for folks on Pulehu Road. It passed first reading and goes for final vote Friday — this meeting was the public's chance to weigh in.
Open Space Fund and wildfire fuel reduction
Rawlins-Fernandez wanted the Open Space Fund to pay for regular removal of wildfire fuel hazards, but pulled the proposal herself to avoid crowding the November ballot. She hopes to revive it in a future charter cycle.
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.
Infrastructure Priority for 100% Affordable and Workforce Housing
New rules push affordable and workforce housing near jobs, schools and transit, spread across South Maui's neighborhoods (minus conservation Sub-Area 6), and encourage developers of 10+ unit projects to face local community associations first. A fight over banning affordable-housing 'credits' was punted to a countywide code change.
County acquisition of flood-prone Waipuilani parcels
South Maui has flooded every year since 2021; testifiers described dead soil, choked wetlands, and debris-filled waters, urging the plan to require stormwater systems, gulch protection, and wetland restoration before new development.