Mahalo to everyone who submitted written testimony to make your voices heard on this crucial issue to preserve affordable housing on Maui.
We have great news! The Wailea 670 public hearing, initially scheduled for December 13th, has been postponed and sent back to the Maui Planning Commission due to a procedural error in not adhering to the Maui County Code. Our Executive Director identified violations in Maui County Code sections 19.45.060A and 19.45.050A1, which require a public hearing in South Maui. After being alerted, Council Chair Alice Lee canceled the hearing and removed Wailea 670 (Honua‘ula) from the Council meeting agenda. This ensures that the Maui Planning Commission will now conduct a proper public hearing in South Maui.
Mahalo nui to the hundreds of community members who testified. Your efforts are making a difference, and Council members are taking notice!
Next Steps
Stay tuned for updates as the situation evolves. We will keep you informed about future hearings and opportunities to make your voice heard.
The Wailea 670/Honua‘ula project has a long history of broken promises, poor planning, and disregard for community concerns. The latest amendments proposed to the Maui County Council pose significant risks to Maui’s environment, history, and affordable housing. We need your help to hold the developer accountable and reject these harmful amendments.
The Proposed Changes
If approved, the amendments will:
- Reduce affordable housing units: From 700 promised affordable homes to just 288, while increasing market-rate homes to 862.
- Remove location guarantees: Eliminate the requirement to build 450 affordable units within the project site.
- Delay critical infrastructure improvements: Postpone widening Pi‘ilani Highway indefinitely and shift the responsibility to the Department of Transportation, which has no current plans to undertake this work.
- Reneg on public commitments: Replace the promised $5 million for public parks with vague plans for a cultural/educational center managed by an unspecified nonprofit.
Why This Matters
Approving these reductions sets a dangerous precedent for other large-scale developments, such as Ka‘anapali 2020, and signals to developers that community promises can be abandoned. Every affordable home replaced by a luxury market-rate home—likely priced at $3 million or more—further alienates local residents in favor of out-of-state buyers. Maui’s housing crisis demands accountability, not concessions to profit-driven developers.
Take Action
- Sign the Petition: Demand that the Maui County Council reject these harmful amendments and hold developers accountable to their promises. Sign here
- Submit Written Testimony: Email your concerns to the Housing and Land Use (HLU) Committee at HLU.committee@mauicounty.us. Let them know that any reduction in affordable housing is unacceptable.
- Stay Informed: Visit our website and social media (Facebook, Instagram) for updates and additional details about this issue.
Together, we can protect Maui’s future. Mahalo for standing with us in this fight for affordable housing and community preservation.