HLU-36 Bills 171 and 72 (2024) BILL 171 (2024) AND BILL 172 (2024), AMENDING CHAPTER 19.90A, MAUI COUNTY CODE, AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 3554, AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED, RELATING TO K?HEI-M?KENA PROJECT DISTRICT 9 (WAILEA 670) (HLU-36)
Chair Kama, Vice Chair Cook, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Ana Tuiasosopo. I am the District Representative and Trustee for Operating Engineers Local 3 (OE3). We are the largest Construction Trades Local in the United States. I and the members of Operating Engineers Local 3 support Bill 171 and 172, which would amend Chapter 19.90A and Ordinance 2554, relating to the Kīhei-Mākena project district 9 (Wailea 670).
Hello, I am writing to oppose the proposed bills 171 and 172 which would substantially change the agreement made in 2008 for affordable housing units. The proposed bills would eliminate the agreed upon number of affordable housing units. What would be the benefit to Maui County in agreeing to this. Over the years we have seen the developers petition to change things they agreed on with the County, in order to get the permits they need. This development is a very bad idea for so many reasons. Please reject these changes. Jeanne Schaaf, Wailea resident.
Please do the job you were voted in to do, protect Maui. How can you allow unchecked development without knowing how much water is available, how much cost to taxpayers there will be for roads, schools, insurance, sidewalks, medical care, etc? What kind of future do you want for Maui? Changing what was already promised and allowing these amendments is not pono. We need affordable housing more than what was estimated before and resources are less. How can we grow sustainably? Why are you negotiating with developers??? We want you to get the correct information about water, resources and vision for the future and then craft a plan that the developers can follow.
The Pi'ilani is already too busy and now you want to add 3,000 more homes without widening it? Wow. So the developers just build, make money and then leave the locals holding the bag for so many costs, inconvenience and lower quality of life. SOP. unsustainable and a black mark on you if you allow this on your watch. What is the rush? Slow down and get a bigger perspective. And if you think that using reverse osmosis water will work, where do you think they will send the salty toxic run off?????
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required.
In addition, please make it clear that Pi'ilani Highway will be widened to four lanes - by the developers only - right now, before any new housing is built.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Please do what is pono and oppose all these amendments to the conditions that would be terrible for South Maui. Many people worked very hard for many years to negotiate these already compromised agreements. Mahalo
Fred Spanjaard
long time Maui resident and registered voter
Hello Committee Members,
I am writing to ask the committee to reject the request by the developer of Honua’ula/Wailea 670 to remove the language in Bill 171 that says “Four hundred fifty affordable units shall be within the project district,” allowing the developer in turn to get away with building only 288 affordable units. The developer promised 700 affordable units in 2008, and this only narrowly persuaded the Maui County Council to approve the project. Every affordable home that is being lost will be replaced by a luxury home that Maui’s people cannot afford. Please reject this amendment, and please stand fast by requiring at least 450 affordable units be built. Even more importantly, if we teach developers to overpromise on their initial application and then allow them to underdeliver by downgrading their promises on affordable housing, every single developer will do this very same thing, and the people of Maui will suffer for it.
The following modifications to Bill 172 requested by the developer would do the following, and these items would all benefit the developer, to the detriment of the people of Maui and especially the people of South Maui:
Condition of Zoning #2: Creates uncertainty about who would be responsible for widening Piʻilani Highway to 4 lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. The developers want the new language to say that either they OR the Hawaii Department of Transportation will do the widening. Saying that either the developer or DOT will do it could create a situation where itʻs unclear which one is responsible. Please reject this amendment.
The developer is proposing to delay the widening of Piʻilani Highway to four lanes. Please reject this amendment. We need a four-lane Piilani Hwy from Kilohana Drive to Wailea Ike Drive NOW. The developer promised to build it 16 years ago. It’s time to hold them accountable to keeping their promises. Council members approved this project in 2008 because of the public benefits. The proposed changes to allow the affordable units to be built before the highway is widened would clog up the two-lane road with more heavy construction traffic. It is becoming clear that with this developer, their promises are are made only to be broken in the future.
The developers proposed to make a $5 million donation toward the South Maui Community Park. The money was supposed to have been paid upon Phase II approval, which happened in 2022 – it is now 2 years overdue. Now the developers want to break that promise and instead give land and cash to an unknown non-profit to build a cultural/educational/community center within the project area. This “non-profit” could be any organization, and there is no assurance that it would serve the people of Maui. It’s time for this developer to make good on its promise to donate money toward a park for the people of South Maui, and the amount should be based on the current value of the $5 million commitment that was made in 2008, Adjusting for inflation that would be $7.5 million today. Please reject this amendment, ask the County Council to keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and ask them to update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Rebecca Briber
Keha Drive, Kihei
There were clear promises made by the developer to get the project approved in 2008.
Hence
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required as promised by the developer in 2008 when the project was approved, This was a major reason the project was approved narrowly in 2008..
Please reject the amendment to Zoning #2 which would remove the developer from being responsible for widening Piilani Highway to 4 lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. This was promised 16 years ago by the developer.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 where the developer wants to change the donation to a non profit.. and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation from when it was required to have been made. .
Please also make it clear where water is coming from tor the new project. We have already been asked in Kihei to cut water use by 10%
Regards & Thanks
Anil Pannikkat
3227 Mapu Place
Kihei
Aloha Maui counsel members,
Please oppose bills 171 and 172. The developer broke the trust, to make these amendments shows a disregard for a promise made. It is time to hold them accountable, not give them a break at the expense of our community.
Mahalo and please stand up for us.
Marian Feenstra
There is a time and a place for additional development. That time is after the water issues and infrastructure is GREATLY improved. No parts of Maui should be at risk of another tragedy with inadequate roads in and out for the entire population if evacuation is needed. Oppose the bill 171 and require the previously agreed upon number of affordable homes. Luxury homes have their place, but the cost of purchasing a home for the working class needs to be met or there will be no service providers (gardeners, plumbers, electricians, cleaners) to maintain those luxury homes.
Infrastructure must be the first priority of our elected officials.
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required. Your election promises for creating and encouraging affordable housing from all of you must be kept today as this development promised 700 affordable homes and keep trying to find ways to get out of that requirement and promise they should have to provide 700 affordable homes. Please hold them accountable and please please don't let the people of Maui down and keep your promise about affordable housing.
I quote from Tasha Kama's re election promise; For housing supporting affordable, attainable and mixed use housing using creative methods and fostering working relationships. As chair of this committee it is critical that you support affordable housing to the max this is your job this is what you were elected to do! Mahalo
The developer has said they would widen the Pi'ilani highway to 4 lanes, this is not any one else's responsibility and this needs to happen right away because the highway is in bottleneck condition during rush hour all the time now, this development cannot proceed without this promise being kept!
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation. The history of this development is one of the broken promises and I'm requesting you have the political will to make them accountable for the promises before any development happens as this is the job and this is what you are all elected to do. This will benefit all of Maui and our main tourism industry as well If it's not acceptable for developers to make settlements and then not follow through with them. Mahalo please support the people of Maui as you promised you would!
I am in favor of rejecting Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
I also want to see that the "promise" the developer made about providing the four lane highway comes to fruition BEFORE any approvals of any development are made.
Additional comments, What about water??? NO MORE BUILDING until water issues are addressed.
We do not need any more Luxury Homes...the least the developer can do is provide 450 affordable units.
Not only does the four lanes need to be provided as listed in conditional of zoning #2, the entire highway is a cluster and needs to be addressed. Let's not wait until there is a major fire in Kihei and evacuation becomes a nightmare. comments, What about water??? NO MORE BUILDING until water issues are addressed.
We do not need any more Luxury Homes...the least the developer can do is provide 450 affordable units.
Not only does the four lanes need to be provided as listed in conditional of zoning #2, the entire highway is a cluster and needs to be addressed. Let's not wait until there is a major fire in Kihei and evacuation becomes a nightmare.
Carol Contreras
Full Time Maui Resident for 52 Years
I am submitting testimony to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172 regarding the Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project.
I am a Lahaina fire survivor who watched our town burn to the ground on August 8th. After all the horror our community has endured, the fact that we are even considering allowing this developer to avoid their comitments is sickening. This Wailea670/Honua'ula project has been going for a long time now. Just the very fact that we are even considering this project is an incredible disrespect. It is a slap in the face to our community and kupuna.
I strongly oppose all amendments to this project. We can simply say 'NO' to this developer. We are not controlled or held by them. Their amendments simply allow the developer to reduce affordable housing and increase multimillion dollar properties to be developed. Plain and simple. That gives them at least $1,000,000 for each house they can convert from affordable to market rate. This is UNACCEPTABLE.
If the Council approves this amendment, they will be giving the developer $162 million dollars, and taking away 162 affordable homes.It allows them to avoid their comitment to widen the Piilani Hwy. It allows them to avoid paying the county the $5,000,000 to develop parks and put it into a non profit that THEY will control. This is an old trick.
The County Council should keep the language requiring a donation toward construction of playing fields at the South Maui Community Park and ask them to update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Mahalo nui
I am submitting testimony to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172 regarding the Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project. These changes undermine commitments made to our community in 2008 and set a dangerous precedent of allowing developers to avoid accountability.
Bill 171: The proposed modification to remove the requirement for 450 affordable housing units within the project district is unacceptable. In 2008, the Council approved this project on the promise of delivering 700 affordable housing units, with 450 within the district itself. Now, the developers want to reduce that commitment to just 288 units—effectively replacing affordable homes with luxury homes priced at $3 million or more. This directly contradicts the promises made to address Maui’s critical housing crisis. Please reject this amendment and hold the developers accountable for the original commitment of at least 450 affordable homes within the district.
Bill 172: The amendments create uncertainty and delays around critical infrastructure improvements. Specifically:
1. Piʻilani Highway Widening: The original zoning conditions required the developer to widen Piʻilani Highway to four lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. The amendment proposes vague language that allows either the developer or the Department of Transportation to handle this responsibility, creating a loophole that could delay or shift costs to taxpayers. This widening is long overdue and should not be postponed further.
2. Construction Traffic: Allowing the units to be built before widening the highway would exacerbate traffic congestion on the already strained two-lane road. This is unsafe and unfair to the residents of South Maui.
South Maui Community Park: The developer’s promise to contribute $5 million toward the South Maui Community Park has not been fulfilled, despite the approval of Phase II in 2022. Instead, they propose substituting this commitment with a vague offer of land and cash for an unspecified nonprofit project. This fails to serve the public interest. The $5 million promise must be upheld and adjusted for inflation to reflect its current value of $7.5 million.
Promises made in 2008 were the foundation for approving this project. Modifications to these bills allow the developer to backtrack on affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and community benefits—leaving Maui residents to shoulder the consequences.
I respectfully ask the Committee to:
• Reject the amendments to Bills 171 and 172.
• Enforce the original commitments for affordable housing, infrastructure, and park contributions.
I live in South Kihei and I'm already terrified to think of trying to evacuate Kihei/Wailea when we have some emergency. Our two little roads out of here, Kihei Beach Rd and the Piilani are often jammed up already. There should be NO new development in South Kihei nor Wailea! It's a matter of safety and common sense. Please STOP the proposed Honua'ula Wailea 670 project altogether.
If it's too late to cancel that project, at least please reject Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required. Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
This still seems like a life endangering move. Please cancel the whole project!
I oppose the developerʻs proposed amendments. I want to make it clear that at least 450 affordable homes are required if the bill is to pass. We certainly need more affordable homes on Maui.
Why is this being considered? Please prioritize the needs of Maui locals. Housing has become increasingly challenging to find, especially something affordable. Please enforce the developers original promises. Maui NEEDS infrastructure improvements, roads and water, if we are going to keep developing. Please help prevent another catastrophe like Lāhainā. The people are depending on you.
Aloha Chair and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172. These changes would erode critical commitments made to our community in 2008 and betray the trust of Maui’s residents who depend on these promises being fulfilled.
Bill 171: The developer’s attempt to reduce the affordable housing requirement from 450 units within the project district to only 288 is alarming. In 2008, this project narrowly received approval based on the assurance of 700 affordable homes, with 450 of them to be built within the district. These affordable units were supposed to address Maui’s housing crisis. Now, the developers want to replace them with more luxury homes likely selling for $3 million or more—homes entirely out of reach for most of our residents. What happened to honoring the commitments made to Maui’s people? Please reject this amendment and insist that the developers meet their original obligation to provide 450 affordable units within the project district.
Bill 172: The proposed changes to infrastructure commitments are equally troubling. Specifically:
1. Piʻilani Highway Widening: The amendment’s vague language—allowing either the developer or the Department of Transportation to widen Piʻilani Highway—creates unnecessary uncertainty. For 16 years, this widening has been delayed, and now there is an attempt to sidestep accountability once again. Maui’s residents deserve action, not more excuses. The widening must be required and completed without further delay.
2. Construction Traffic: Allowing affordable housing construction before widening Piʻilani Highway would flood the already congested two-lane road with heavy construction traffic. This creates an unsafe and chaotic situation that puts South Maui residents at risk.
South Maui Community Park: The developer’s failure to deliver the promised $5 million for the South Maui Community Park is particularly disappointing. This commitment was made to benefit the community and should have been fulfilled upon Phase II approval in 2022. Now, the developer is proposing a vague substitution of land and cash to an unnamed nonprofit, with no guarantee it will truly serve our community. This is unacceptable. The original $5 million donation must not only be enforced but also adjusted for inflation to reflect its current value of $7.5 million.
Time and again, promises made by developers have been broken, leaving Maui residents to bear the cost. The Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project was approved based on specific benefits for our community. Changing these commitments now sends a dangerous message: that developers can say whatever it takes to get approval and then walk away from their obligations.
I urge you to reject these amendments to Bills 171 and 172. Hold the developers accountable for their promises. Honor the trust and expectations of Maui’s people, who deserve affordable housing, safe infrastructure, and real community benefits—not empty promises.
Aloha Maui County Council team etc,
Please do the right thing and enforce the original builders promises. We oppose the 2 amendments. This well set a precedence for future builders if you allow the builders to do what “they” want now and not what they promised initially. The builders/ developers changed plans that you are allowing is not what’s expected by the taxpayers of Maui county. Stop allowing the bait and switch by the builders and developers. Let’s be smarter than them. They probably had this all in the plan by getting it approved and we’ll change it later.
You, by Allowing the builders to change the rules that were permitted years ago, goes against why the people voted for you. Do the right thing Council Members etc And don’t allow anything to be done on this property until they go back to what they committed to.
Don’t destroy this island with building to accommodate the rich and famous. We don’t want the high traffic, the noise, the overuse of our resources, roads, the taking away of the beautiful scenery and open land. We don’t even have enough water to take care of the people that are already established here. You even put us on water restriction because there’s not enough water, who are you kidding! Just what we need, to make our properties dryer God forbid there is another fire.
Listen to the people (taxpayers) who live here on Maui, not the builders and developers who are only in it for the money. Stop taking our resources away from the existing People living on Maui. Improve what we already have. How about that new concept? Don’t create another debacle like you did with the Kihei roundabout that you can’t go back on. Now you wanna put an eyesore of a bridge to cross Piilani Hwy. Stop ruining Maui….
We represent one family here with this letter. But in reality, this letter represents thousands of families here wanting the same thing that we do.
Reject 171 and 172
Maui Meadows Residents
November 23, 2024
Chair Kama, Vice Chair Cook, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Ana Tuiasosopo. I am the District Representative and Trustee for Operating Engineers Local 3 (OE3). We are the largest Construction Trades Local in the United States. I and the members of Operating Engineers Local 3 support Bill 171 and 172, which would amend Chapter 19.90A and Ordinance 2554, relating to the Kīhei-Mākena project district 9 (Wailea 670).
Hello, I am writing to oppose the proposed bills 171 and 172 which would substantially change the agreement made in 2008 for affordable housing units. The proposed bills would eliminate the agreed upon number of affordable housing units. What would be the benefit to Maui County in agreeing to this. Over the years we have seen the developers petition to change things they agreed on with the County, in order to get the permits they need. This development is a very bad idea for so many reasons. Please reject these changes. Jeanne Schaaf, Wailea resident.
To council members:
Please do the job you were voted in to do, protect Maui. How can you allow unchecked development without knowing how much water is available, how much cost to taxpayers there will be for roads, schools, insurance, sidewalks, medical care, etc? What kind of future do you want for Maui? Changing what was already promised and allowing these amendments is not pono. We need affordable housing more than what was estimated before and resources are less. How can we grow sustainably? Why are you negotiating with developers??? We want you to get the correct information about water, resources and vision for the future and then craft a plan that the developers can follow.
The Pi'ilani is already too busy and now you want to add 3,000 more homes without widening it? Wow. So the developers just build, make money and then leave the locals holding the bag for so many costs, inconvenience and lower quality of life. SOP. unsustainable and a black mark on you if you allow this on your watch. What is the rush? Slow down and get a bigger perspective. And if you think that using reverse osmosis water will work, where do you think they will send the salty toxic run off?????
Anne Allison, Hawaii resident of Maui Meadows
Aloha HLU Committee,
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required.
In addition, please make it clear that Pi'ilani Highway will be widened to four lanes - by the developers only - right now, before any new housing is built.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mālama pono,
Amy Fonarow
Please build affordable housing for the community. Without community Hawai'i is not Hawai'i
Please do what is pono and oppose all these amendments to the conditions that would be terrible for South Maui. Many people worked very hard for many years to negotiate these already compromised agreements. Mahalo
Fred Spanjaard
long time Maui resident and registered voter
Hello Committee Members,
I am writing to ask the committee to reject the request by the developer of Honua’ula/Wailea 670 to remove the language in Bill 171 that says “Four hundred fifty affordable units shall be within the project district,” allowing the developer in turn to get away with building only 288 affordable units. The developer promised 700 affordable units in 2008, and this only narrowly persuaded the Maui County Council to approve the project. Every affordable home that is being lost will be replaced by a luxury home that Maui’s people cannot afford. Please reject this amendment, and please stand fast by requiring at least 450 affordable units be built. Even more importantly, if we teach developers to overpromise on their initial application and then allow them to underdeliver by downgrading their promises on affordable housing, every single developer will do this very same thing, and the people of Maui will suffer for it.
The following modifications to Bill 172 requested by the developer would do the following, and these items would all benefit the developer, to the detriment of the people of Maui and especially the people of South Maui:
Condition of Zoning #2: Creates uncertainty about who would be responsible for widening Piʻilani Highway to 4 lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. The developers want the new language to say that either they OR the Hawaii Department of Transportation will do the widening. Saying that either the developer or DOT will do it could create a situation where itʻs unclear which one is responsible. Please reject this amendment.
The developer is proposing to delay the widening of Piʻilani Highway to four lanes. Please reject this amendment. We need a four-lane Piilani Hwy from Kilohana Drive to Wailea Ike Drive NOW. The developer promised to build it 16 years ago. It’s time to hold them accountable to keeping their promises. Council members approved this project in 2008 because of the public benefits. The proposed changes to allow the affordable units to be built before the highway is widened would clog up the two-lane road with more heavy construction traffic. It is becoming clear that with this developer, their promises are are made only to be broken in the future.
The developers proposed to make a $5 million donation toward the South Maui Community Park. The money was supposed to have been paid upon Phase II approval, which happened in 2022 – it is now 2 years overdue. Now the developers want to break that promise and instead give land and cash to an unknown non-profit to build a cultural/educational/community center within the project area. This “non-profit” could be any organization, and there is no assurance that it would serve the people of Maui. It’s time for this developer to make good on its promise to donate money toward a park for the people of South Maui, and the amount should be based on the current value of the $5 million commitment that was made in 2008, Adjusting for inflation that would be $7.5 million today. Please reject this amendment, ask the County Council to keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and ask them to update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Rebecca Briber
Keha Drive, Kihei
Aloha HLU Committee,
There were clear promises made by the developer to get the project approved in 2008.
Hence
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required as promised by the developer in 2008 when the project was approved, This was a major reason the project was approved narrowly in 2008..
Please reject the amendment to Zoning #2 which would remove the developer from being responsible for widening Piilani Highway to 4 lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. This was promised 16 years ago by the developer.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 where the developer wants to change the donation to a non profit.. and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation from when it was required to have been made. .
Please also make it clear where water is coming from tor the new project. We have already been asked in Kihei to cut water use by 10%
Regards & Thanks
Anil Pannikkat
3227 Mapu Place
Kihei
Aloha Maui counsel members,
Please oppose bills 171 and 172. The developer broke the trust, to make these amendments shows a disregard for a promise made. It is time to hold them accountable, not give them a break at the expense of our community.
Mahalo and please stand up for us.
Marian Feenstra
Dear Maui Council,
There is a time and a place for additional development. That time is after the water issues and infrastructure is GREATLY improved. No parts of Maui should be at risk of another tragedy with inadequate roads in and out for the entire population if evacuation is needed. Oppose the bill 171 and require the previously agreed upon number of affordable homes. Luxury homes have their place, but the cost of purchasing a home for the working class needs to be met or there will be no service providers (gardeners, plumbers, electricians, cleaners) to maintain those luxury homes.
Infrastructure must be the first priority of our elected officials.
Sincerely,
Shelly Roland
Aloha HLU Committee,
Please reject Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required. Your election promises for creating and encouraging affordable housing from all of you must be kept today as this development promised 700 affordable homes and keep trying to find ways to get out of that requirement and promise they should have to provide 700 affordable homes. Please hold them accountable and please please don't let the people of Maui down and keep your promise about affordable housing.
I quote from Tasha Kama's re election promise; For housing supporting affordable, attainable and mixed use housing using creative methods and fostering working relationships. As chair of this committee it is critical that you support affordable housing to the max this is your job this is what you were elected to do! Mahalo
The developer has said they would widen the Pi'ilani highway to 4 lanes, this is not any one else's responsibility and this needs to happen right away because the highway is in bottleneck condition during rush hour all the time now, this development cannot proceed without this promise being kept!
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation. The history of this development is one of the broken promises and I'm requesting you have the political will to make them accountable for the promises before any development happens as this is the job and this is what you are all elected to do. This will benefit all of Maui and our main tourism industry as well If it's not acceptable for developers to make settlements and then not follow through with them. Mahalo please support the people of Maui as you promised you would!
Genesis S. Young MD Long term Maui resident
I am in favor of rejecting Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required.
Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
I also want to see that the "promise" the developer made about providing the four lane highway comes to fruition BEFORE any approvals of any development are made.
Additional comments, What about water??? NO MORE BUILDING until water issues are addressed.
We do not need any more Luxury Homes...the least the developer can do is provide 450 affordable units.
Not only does the four lanes need to be provided as listed in conditional of zoning #2, the entire highway is a cluster and needs to be addressed. Let's not wait until there is a major fire in Kihei and evacuation becomes a nightmare. comments, What about water??? NO MORE BUILDING until water issues are addressed.
We do not need any more Luxury Homes...the least the developer can do is provide 450 affordable units.
Not only does the four lanes need to be provided as listed in conditional of zoning #2, the entire highway is a cluster and needs to be addressed. Let's not wait until there is a major fire in Kihei and evacuation becomes a nightmare.
Carol Contreras
Full Time Maui Resident for 52 Years
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
I am submitting testimony to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172 regarding the Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project.
I am a Lahaina fire survivor who watched our town burn to the ground on August 8th. After all the horror our community has endured, the fact that we are even considering allowing this developer to avoid their comitments is sickening. This Wailea670/Honua'ula project has been going for a long time now. Just the very fact that we are even considering this project is an incredible disrespect. It is a slap in the face to our community and kupuna.
I strongly oppose all amendments to this project. We can simply say 'NO' to this developer. We are not controlled or held by them. Their amendments simply allow the developer to reduce affordable housing and increase multimillion dollar properties to be developed. Plain and simple. That gives them at least $1,000,000 for each house they can convert from affordable to market rate. This is UNACCEPTABLE.
If the Council approves this amendment, they will be giving the developer $162 million dollars, and taking away 162 affordable homes.It allows them to avoid their comitment to widen the Piilani Hwy. It allows them to avoid paying the county the $5,000,000 to develop parks and put it into a non profit that THEY will control. This is an old trick.
The County Council should keep the language requiring a donation toward construction of playing fields at the South Maui Community Park and ask them to update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
Mahalo nui
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
I am submitting testimony to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172 regarding the Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project. These changes undermine commitments made to our community in 2008 and set a dangerous precedent of allowing developers to avoid accountability.
Bill 171: The proposed modification to remove the requirement for 450 affordable housing units within the project district is unacceptable. In 2008, the Council approved this project on the promise of delivering 700 affordable housing units, with 450 within the district itself. Now, the developers want to reduce that commitment to just 288 units—effectively replacing affordable homes with luxury homes priced at $3 million or more. This directly contradicts the promises made to address Maui’s critical housing crisis. Please reject this amendment and hold the developers accountable for the original commitment of at least 450 affordable homes within the district.
Bill 172: The amendments create uncertainty and delays around critical infrastructure improvements. Specifically:
1. Piʻilani Highway Widening: The original zoning conditions required the developer to widen Piʻilani Highway to four lanes between Kilohana Drive and Wailea Ike Drive. The amendment proposes vague language that allows either the developer or the Department of Transportation to handle this responsibility, creating a loophole that could delay or shift costs to taxpayers. This widening is long overdue and should not be postponed further.
2. Construction Traffic: Allowing the units to be built before widening the highway would exacerbate traffic congestion on the already strained two-lane road. This is unsafe and unfair to the residents of South Maui.
South Maui Community Park: The developer’s promise to contribute $5 million toward the South Maui Community Park has not been fulfilled, despite the approval of Phase II in 2022. Instead, they propose substituting this commitment with a vague offer of land and cash for an unspecified nonprofit project. This fails to serve the public interest. The $5 million promise must be upheld and adjusted for inflation to reflect its current value of $7.5 million.
Promises made in 2008 were the foundation for approving this project. Modifications to these bills allow the developer to backtrack on affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and community benefits—leaving Maui residents to shoulder the consequences.
I respectfully ask the Committee to:
• Reject the amendments to Bills 171 and 172.
• Enforce the original commitments for affordable housing, infrastructure, and park contributions.
Maui deserves better than broken promises.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Gabriela Odent
I live in South Kihei and I'm already terrified to think of trying to evacuate Kihei/Wailea when we have some emergency. Our two little roads out of here, Kihei Beach Rd and the Piilani are often jammed up already. There should be NO new development in South Kihei nor Wailea! It's a matter of safety and common sense. Please STOP the proposed Honua'ula Wailea 670 project altogether.
If it's too late to cancel that project, at least please reject Bill 171 amendment, and to make it clear that at least 450 affordable units shall be required. Please oppose this amendment to Bill 172 and keep the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park, and update the amount to $7.5 million to account for inflation.
This still seems like a life endangering move. Please cancel the whole project!
Sincerely,
Jo A. Ginger
Kelly T. King
72 Kalola Place
Kihei, HI 96753
ktkmaui@me.com
I oppose the developerʻs proposed amendments. I want to make it clear that at least 450 affordable homes are required if the bill is to pass. We certainly need more affordable homes on Maui.
Why is this being considered? Please prioritize the needs of Maui locals. Housing has become increasingly challenging to find, especially something affordable. Please enforce the developers original promises. Maui NEEDS infrastructure improvements, roads and water, if we are going to keep developing. Please help prevent another catastrophe like Lāhainā. The people are depending on you.
Aloha Chair and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the proposed amendments to Bills 171 and 172. These changes would erode critical commitments made to our community in 2008 and betray the trust of Maui’s residents who depend on these promises being fulfilled.
Bill 171: The developer’s attempt to reduce the affordable housing requirement from 450 units within the project district to only 288 is alarming. In 2008, this project narrowly received approval based on the assurance of 700 affordable homes, with 450 of them to be built within the district. These affordable units were supposed to address Maui’s housing crisis. Now, the developers want to replace them with more luxury homes likely selling for $3 million or more—homes entirely out of reach for most of our residents. What happened to honoring the commitments made to Maui’s people? Please reject this amendment and insist that the developers meet their original obligation to provide 450 affordable units within the project district.
Bill 172: The proposed changes to infrastructure commitments are equally troubling. Specifically:
1. Piʻilani Highway Widening: The amendment’s vague language—allowing either the developer or the Department of Transportation to widen Piʻilani Highway—creates unnecessary uncertainty. For 16 years, this widening has been delayed, and now there is an attempt to sidestep accountability once again. Maui’s residents deserve action, not more excuses. The widening must be required and completed without further delay.
2. Construction Traffic: Allowing affordable housing construction before widening Piʻilani Highway would flood the already congested two-lane road with heavy construction traffic. This creates an unsafe and chaotic situation that puts South Maui residents at risk.
South Maui Community Park: The developer’s failure to deliver the promised $5 million for the South Maui Community Park is particularly disappointing. This commitment was made to benefit the community and should have been fulfilled upon Phase II approval in 2022. Now, the developer is proposing a vague substitution of land and cash to an unnamed nonprofit, with no guarantee it will truly serve our community. This is unacceptable. The original $5 million donation must not only be enforced but also adjusted for inflation to reflect its current value of $7.5 million.
Time and again, promises made by developers have been broken, leaving Maui residents to bear the cost. The Honuaʻula/Wailea 670 project was approved based on specific benefits for our community. Changing these commitments now sends a dangerous message: that developers can say whatever it takes to get approval and then walk away from their obligations.
I urge you to reject these amendments to Bills 171 and 172. Hold the developers accountable for their promises. Honor the trust and expectations of Maui’s people, who deserve affordable housing, safe infrastructure, and real community benefits—not empty promises.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Aloha Maui County Council team etc,
Please do the right thing and enforce the original builders promises. We oppose the 2 amendments. This well set a precedence for future builders if you allow the builders to do what “they” want now and not what they promised initially. The builders/ developers changed plans that you are allowing is not what’s expected by the taxpayers of Maui county. Stop allowing the bait and switch by the builders and developers. Let’s be smarter than them. They probably had this all in the plan by getting it approved and we’ll change it later.
You, by Allowing the builders to change the rules that were permitted years ago, goes against why the people voted for you. Do the right thing Council Members etc And don’t allow anything to be done on this property until they go back to what they committed to.
Don’t destroy this island with building to accommodate the rich and famous. We don’t want the high traffic, the noise, the overuse of our resources, roads, the taking away of the beautiful scenery and open land. We don’t even have enough water to take care of the people that are already established here. You even put us on water restriction because there’s not enough water, who are you kidding! Just what we need, to make our properties dryer God forbid there is another fire.
Listen to the people (taxpayers) who live here on Maui, not the builders and developers who are only in it for the money. Stop taking our resources away from the existing People living on Maui. Improve what we already have. How about that new concept? Don’t create another debacle like you did with the Kihei roundabout that you can’t go back on. Now you wanna put an eyesore of a bridge to cross Piilani Hwy. Stop ruining Maui….
We represent one family here with this letter. But in reality, this letter represents thousands of families here wanting the same thing that we do.
Reject 171 and 172
Maui Meadows Residents
November 23, 2024