Critical Hearing Alert: Stop Developers from Taking Away Affordable Housing

Two proposed amendments to the Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project have been referred directly to the Housing and Land Use Committee of the Maui County Council for a hearing on Monday, 11/25 at 10 AM that will reconvene on Monday 12/2 at 1:45pm. The two bills on the Committee Agenda seek amendments that drastically reduce the number of affordable homes promised to our community and allow developers to sidestep key infrastructure obligations. This is a critical moment to ensure developers are held accountable to their commitments and to protect housing opportunities for Maui’s residents. We need your voice! Oral testimony will no longer be accepted, so please submit written testimony to HLU.committee@mauicounty.us

Oppose modifications to Bill 171 and 172

Bill 171
The proposed modifications to Bill 171 would eliminate the requirement that “Four hundred fifty affordable units shall be within the project district,” reducing the commitment to only 288 affordable units instead of the promised 700 that secured Maui County Council’s narrow approval of the project in 2008. This sets a dangerous precedent for large projects like Kaʻanapali 2020, which also pledged 50% affordable housing.

Every affordable home lost will be replaced by a market-priced unit, likely selling for around $3 million—luxury homes inaccessible to Maui’s residents. We urge the Council to reject this amendment and maintain the requirement for at least 450 affordable units to ensure accountability.

Bill 172
The proposed changes in Bill 172 would overwhelmingly favor the developer at the expense of the community:

1. Condition of Zoning #2:
   The amendment introduces ambiguity regarding who will be responsible for widening Piʻilani Highway to four lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive, allowing either the developer or the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) to take responsibility. This could lead to confusion and delays, as it is unclear which entity will be held accountable.
   Please oppose this amendment.
2. Delay of Highway Widening:
   The developer seeks to delay widening Piʻilani Highway, a project promised 16 years ago. Allowing units to be built before this highway is expanded would cause significant congestion, with construction traffic clogging the existing two-lane road. Maui residents deserve better than empty promises.
   Please oppose this amendment and demand immediate action to widen Piʻilani Highway.
3. Overdue Donation to South Maui Community Parks:
   The developers committed to a $5 million donation for constructing playing fields at South Maui Community Parks, to be paid upon Phase II approval in 2022. It is now two years overdue. Instead, the developers propose giving land and cash to an unspecified non-profit to build a cultural/educational/community center within the project area. This vague proposal lacks guarantees that it will benefit Maui residents.It’s time to hold the developers accountable for their original promise. The $5 million commitment from 2008 should be adjusted for inflation, amounting to $7.5 million today, and must be allocated toward playing fields for the South Maui Community Parks as initially promised.
   Please oppose this amendment and demand updated, inflation-adjusted contributions.

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ATTEND IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE.
Meeting info: Monday, 11/25 at 10 am

• Video testimony via Teams link: http://tinyurl.com/HLU-Committee
• In-person testimony and viewing: Council Chamber, Kalana O Maui Building, 8th Flr., 200 South High St., Wailuku, Hawai‘i
• Submit written testimony ASAP to HLU.committee@mauicounty.us

How else you can help:

1. Submit Comments to oppose the developerʻs proposed amendments, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable homes shall be required.
2. You can also email comments to HLU.committee@mauicounty.us
3. Contact the members of the Housing & Land Use committee directly to share your concerns and ask them to be tougher negotiators with these developers to build more affordable housing, not less.
   • Tasha Kama, Chair tasha.kama@mauicounty.us (808) 270-5501
   • Tom Cook, Vice-Chair thomas.cook@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7108
   • Gabe Johnson, gabe.johnson@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7768
   • Alice L. Lee, alice.lee@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7760
   • Tamara Paltin, tamara.paltin@mauicounty.us (808) 270-5504
   • Keani N.W. Rawlins-Fernandez, keani.rawlins@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7678
   • Shane M. Sinenci, shane.sinenci@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7246
   • Yuki Lei K. Sugimura, yukilei.sugimura@mauicounty.us (808) 270-7939
   • Nohelani U‘u-Hodgins, nohe.uu-hodgins@mauicounty.us (808) 270-5507
4. Share our website, forward our emails, and repost our social media content on Facebook and Instagram to amplify the message and rally our community into action.
5. Get caught up on the issue. Watch the replay of the South Maui Forum and reach out to us if you want to get more involved!

The following quote from late Council member Danny Mateo is from the minutes of the Maui County Council when the project was getting approval in 2008:

“Seven hundred affordable units is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t remember the last time one developer helped to create this many affordable units. And yes, it is a long term build out. But nonetheless, we will be getting initial upfront and there’s 450 affordable units that will be provided within the development project itself.” 

“ . . . if by allowing 700 market units to be built that will provide for the 700 affordables then I’m willing to give it that chance.”

Read more quotes from the 2008 Maui County Council

Maui Tomorrow Vice President Lucienne de Naie, testified in 2008: 

“Let me just say that many things have been promised on this site already that have now been changed. I hope and pray that if you make this decision to move forward, that this is exactly what we see delivered. I guess just over the years you get a little cynical because so many–where’s the worker’s houses in Wailea that everyone thought was such a great idea? They don’t exist . . .”