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)
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
This is ridiculous. South Maui infrastructure is already over taxed. Have you all forgotten what happened in Lahaina? Utterly ridiculous that you would even consider this proposal until there were adequate roads in and out of South Maui in the case of an emergency.
My name is Edward Codelia, a full-time resident and real estate agent on Maui. I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to the Kīhei-Mākena Project District 9, commonly known as Wailea 670, and the proposed amendments outlined in Bills 171 and 172. This project continues to threaten the values of our island community, the environmental integrity of our island, and the overall well-being of Maui’s residents.
As of 2024, the median home price on Maui exceeds $1.2 million, making homeownership unattainable for most local families. The promises of attainable housing in the wake of the August 2023 Wildfires are undercut by this project, which prioritizes luxury development for off-island interests over the immediate housing needs of our local population. This starkly contrasts with the County’s efforts to provide affordable housing and address the needs of those most affected by the fires.
The Wailea 670 development is proposed for an area of profound cultural and environmental significance. The site includes critical habitats for native species and numerous archaeological sites. A 2022 survey by local cultural practitioners identified over 30 previously undocumented cultural sites within the project area. Disturbing this land would not only threaten native species and delicate ecosystems, but also disrespect Hawaii’s cultural heritage. The project disregards the values of stewardship and respect for the environment and history that are integral to our community.
The timing of this project is particularly troubling. Maui is still reeling from the devastating 2023 Wildfires, which destroyed over 2,000 homes and displaced thousands of residents. The immediate focus should be on rebuilding and providing housing for those who have lost everything. Pursuing a luxury development that caters primarily to off-island interests while the local community struggles to recover is unconscionable.
Moreover, the Wailea 670 project’s history has been marred by a lack of transparency and genuine community engagement. A 2023 survey by the Maui Tomorrow Foundation revealed that 78% of South Maui residents felt their concerns about the project had been disregarded. This indicates a failure by the developers to engage meaningfully with the local community and act in its best interests.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully urge this Council to take the following actions:
1. Reject Bills 171 and 172 in their entirety.
2. Revoke the existing permits for the Wailea 670 project.
3. Implement a moratorium on large-scale luxury developments until Maui’s immediate housing and recovery needs are addressed.
4. Commission an updated, independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that accounts for the urgent realities of climate change and properly considers the cultural and environmental significance of the project site.
5. Prioritize community-driven development initiatives that truly reflect and serve the needs of Maui’s residents.
I further encourage the Committee to advocate for the County Council to implement a moratorium on large-scale luxury developments, such as Wailea 670, through the following steps:
• Draft and introduce a bill to the Maui County Council that specifically addresses the need for a moratorium on luxury developments. The bill should define “large-scale luxury developments” and outline the temporary suspension of permits, approvals, and related activities. (SEE ATTACHED)
• Frame the moratorium as a necessary measure to prioritize Maui’s immediate housing and recovery needs. Resources such as financial, legal, zoning, and public services should be focused on rebuilding and providing affordable housing rather than catering to luxury developments that do not meet the needs of the local community.
• Address legal and zoning frameworks to temporarily halt or amend zoning approvals and permits for luxury developments. This could involve a temporary zoning moratorium or restrictions on the issuance of permits for high-end developments until recovery and housing strategies are further advanced. A legal review of the county's zoning laws may be necessary to ensure the moratorium aligns with Maui’s long-term planning goals.
• Work with the Planning Department: The county’s planning department plays a critical role in zoning, permitting, and development approvals. The Planning Director could help advise on the logistics and legal aspects of enacting the moratorium, including developing guidelines on which projects are affected by the moratorium and which may be exempt (e.g., ongoing projects or affordable housing initiatives).
• Monitor and adjust: Once enacted, the moratorium should be regularly reviewed to evaluate its impact and effectiveness. The County Council can revisit the issue periodically to determine whether the moratorium should be extended or modified based on progress in recovery and housing needs.
In conclusion, the Wailea 670 project and its proposed amendments represent a step backward for Maui. This project prioritizes profit over people, development over sustainability, and short-term financial gains over long-term community well-being. If we are to preserve what makes Maui unique—our culture, our environment, and our sense of community—this project must not move forward.
I urge the Committee to consider the long-term impacts on our island and its people and to take a firm stance against this project and its amendments.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
I am a Kihei Maui Full Time resident of five years, and I am in strong opposition of this amendment. With an already staggering amount of luxury condos/housing that sit empty majority of the time, along with a huge lack of affordable housing already and not to mention the great loss and impacts our Maui community has experienced within this year, amending this to build LESS affordable housing is wildly unethical and quite frankly extremely disrespectful!
This is a simple ethics-bound decision for our County Council members. We cannot take pity on a developer trying to make the numbers work for their investors at the expense of hundreds, if not thousands of Maui County residents including those from Lahaina fires seeking affordable housing. I am one of those unable to meet my monthly rent due to medical problems making it impossible for me to continue my job. Please do the right thing.
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
I am writing to oppose Bill 171, which would remove the requirement for Honuaʻula Partners (Wailea670) to build 700 affordable homes in their project district. This change would weaken the promises made in 2008 and set a bad example for future developments on Maui.
The developers may try to distract you by pointing to unrelated things like changing the golf course language, supporting a new police station, or offering $5 million to a non-profit. But these efforts don’t change the fact that they are trying to avoid their responsibility to build affordable homes.
The $5 million donation is not as generous as it seems—it’s part of a land conservation agreement they’re required to follow due to a lawsuit. And offering to build 50 more affordable homes with taxpayer money for traffic improvements shows they’re shifting their responsibility onto the public.
When the developers say the number of affordable homes should be lowered to 230-288, they are ignoring the fact that the 2008 agreement called for 700 affordable homes. The changes to the Workforce Housing Ordinance do not change their original commitment. Removing the requirement for 450 affordable units would allow the developers to replace affordable homes with high-priced market-rate homes, increasing their profits while Maui families continue to struggle for affordable housing.
Please vote against Bill 171 and ensure the developers are held to their original promise. This is about protecting affordable housing for our community and making sure future developers keep their commitments.
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.
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
I am writing to oppose Bill 171, which would remove the requirement for Honuaʻula Partners (Wailea670) to build 700 affordable homes in their project district. This change would BREAK the promises made in 2008 and set a terrible precedence for future developments on Maui. If you pass this bill, developers will know they can say whatever they need to say to get approval and then manipulate the Council to do what they want when it comes time to build.
The developers may try to distract you by pointing to unrelated things like changing the golf course language, supporting a new police station, or offering $5 million to a non-profit. But these efforts don’t change the fact that they are trying to avoid their responsibility to build affordable homes.
The $5 million donation is not as generous as it seems—it’s part of a land conservation agreement they’re required to follow due to a lawsuit. And offering to build 50 more affordable homes with taxpayer money for traffic improvements shows they’re shifting their responsibility onto the public.
When the developers say the number of affordable homes should be lowered to 230-288, they are ignoring the fact that the 2008 agreement called for 700 affordable homes. The changes to the Workforce Housing Ordinance do not change their original commitment. Without that element of the agreement, this project likely wouldn’t exist; it is changing a foundational component of why the People (in the form of the 2008 County Council) approved it in the first place.
Removing the requirement for 450 affordable units would allow the developers to replace affordable homes with high-priced market-rate homes, increasing their profits while Maui families continue to struggle and be forced to leave the island for affordable housing elsewhere. Allowing this bill to pass is morally reprehensible in the context of today’s housing crisis.
Please vote AGAINST Bill 171 and ensure the developers are held to their original promise. This is about protecting affordable housing for our community and making sure future developers keep their commitments. With all due respect, this is also about keeping your campaign promises regarding affordable housing.
Suggesting this amendment amidst a housing crisis on Maui after the Lahaina fires is unethical. The people of Maui could use affordable housing now more than ever. Please do not allow this amendment. Hold the developers accountable for the promise they made to house local families.
It is a disgrace and an insult to all of the residents here on Maui, that the developers are trying to pass an amendment that would eliminate 450 affordable housing. This housing was promised it good faith to get the Council to approve their project.
Modifications to Bill 171 would remove the language that says “Four hundred fifty affordable units shall be within the project district,” and would let them get away with building only 288 affordable units, instead of the promised 700 affordable units that persuaded the Maui County Council to narrowly approve the project in 2008. Every affordable home that is being lost will be replaced by a market priced home that will likely sell for $3 million - in other words, luxury homes that Maui’s people cannot afford.
Now the developers are showing a total disregard for the plight of so many that lost so much in the Lahaina Fires. The HLU committee, need to let these developers know that their action and this amendment is outrageous.
In the face of so much need for affordable housing, these developers are only concerned about making money. They disregard the fact that we need affordable housing, they disregard the South Maui Community Plan, the current plan that is still in effect until the new plan gets ratified; the old plan that specifically states no further development without the needed infrastructure.
The committee needs to make a strong statement, that their amendment is out of order. Instead of reducing affordable units the developers should be asking to build these units first and then the infrastructure before any luxury homes are built. Please do the right thing, do not allow the developers to make a profit over the hopes and needs of our longtime Maui residents.
Now it is your turn to stand up to these developers and say NO!
Thank you for your time,
With much Aloha,
Dr Mary Trotto
VP on the Advisory Board of Hale Kau Kau and member of the KCA
10 Upena Lane Kihei HI 96753
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.
The broken promises proposed by these amendments is bad for all of us, especially when we need affordable housing more than ever,
David Kahn & Yanisa Nangsungnoen
237 Auoli Dr
Makawao, HI 96768
Our highway is under disrepair at the moment, funds are tight in the County and it is time for promises made in 2008 by this developer to act accordingly to those promises. The highway is overcrowded at many times of the day. The two way road was squeezed into being widened in the area from Kilohana to Wailea Iki and it is now insufficient to carry the amount of traffice that now occurs especially when our visitors are here in full force. Have you seen or been on this road lately with all of the potholes? It isn't even being maintained properly for all of those trucks going down to the Makena development.
They promised money to the County and now they want to use it to "disguise" their generosity with using that money to help them develop their own project and that $5 Million was in 2008 dollars.
What is their projected lowest cost of home in this project that they are calling, "affordable". Will it be tiny cramped apartments in a high-rise?What will an evacuation from the South to the North be like now in an evacuation and then add ALL of the development that is already on the books and ask how safe are we?
Mahalo,
M. T. Sherrow
Maui Meadows homeowner
My mailbox was flooded with mailers over the past few months promising me that you will fight for affordable housing. Now is your opportunity to do exactly that and reject this deduction in affordable homes and hold developers accountable for their promises. Fight for 450 and do not accept the crumbs developers are demanding we accept to move forward. I can't see the benefit of these changes for our people.
Please OPPOSE these amendments and fight for more affordable housing not less. The original count for affordable homes when this project was approved was for 700 affordable homes, they have already negotiated us down to 450 and now want to remove that number and lower it to 288 (maybe.. who is to say they won't lower that again). They said they would widen Pi'ilani Highway but now they want to pass the buck to the DOT and put that responsibility back onto the taxpayers. You are all better negotiators than this and can do the right thing to hold them to these promises made to get the deal in the first place.
This argument that developers won't make money is just plain false. The land alone is worth much more than what they bought it for and if they can't figure out how to develop homes that our community needs and turn a profit, then that is their problem. To be frank, it is not Maui's kuleana to ensure private investment firms turn a high profit on their investments. It IS your kuleana to ensure our people have access to housing and that our limited resources are used to benefit our community as a whole - not luxury developers and part-time residents looking for their next vacation home.
Who are the people asking for these luxury homes to be built? There is overwhelming demand for affordable housing, and less so for multi-million dollar homes. I can guarantee it's not long-time residents who want to buy these market-rate homes in Wailea. Who can even afford one of these "market-rate" homes? Probably not the hotel workers or people struggling to pay our utility bills or afford food for our families.
Fight for Maui's residents and the people who voted for you, not a mainland company's profit margins.
It is time these greedy developers are held to their promises by the leaders of Maui who seem to back down quite easily every time changes are requested. It's an affront to the true residents of Maui. Where is the integrity?
Shame that developers are able to still be slithering their way into our island. So sad to see the multi-million dollar ugly uninhabited condos going up in all our precious spaces! Councilpersons - please stop these 2 bills (how did they get this far?) Developers should be made to provide the affordable housing they promised to supply in 1988 & come forward now with the promised funds for an open space community park. I beg all of you to veto these latest attempts to circumvent the needs of this beautiful island in favor of corporate profits. Mahalo
Suellen Barton
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
This is ridiculous. South Maui infrastructure is already over taxed. Have you all forgotten what happened in Lahaina? Utterly ridiculous that you would even consider this proposal until there were adequate roads in and out of South Maui in the case of an emergency.
Why is this even a discussion?
Theodore Dicks
My name is Edward Codelia, a full-time resident and real estate agent on Maui. I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to the Kīhei-Mākena Project District 9, commonly known as Wailea 670, and the proposed amendments outlined in Bills 171 and 172. This project continues to threaten the values of our island community, the environmental integrity of our island, and the overall well-being of Maui’s residents.
As of 2024, the median home price on Maui exceeds $1.2 million, making homeownership unattainable for most local families. The promises of attainable housing in the wake of the August 2023 Wildfires are undercut by this project, which prioritizes luxury development for off-island interests over the immediate housing needs of our local population. This starkly contrasts with the County’s efforts to provide affordable housing and address the needs of those most affected by the fires.
The Wailea 670 development is proposed for an area of profound cultural and environmental significance. The site includes critical habitats for native species and numerous archaeological sites. A 2022 survey by local cultural practitioners identified over 30 previously undocumented cultural sites within the project area. Disturbing this land would not only threaten native species and delicate ecosystems, but also disrespect Hawaii’s cultural heritage. The project disregards the values of stewardship and respect for the environment and history that are integral to our community.
The timing of this project is particularly troubling. Maui is still reeling from the devastating 2023 Wildfires, which destroyed over 2,000 homes and displaced thousands of residents. The immediate focus should be on rebuilding and providing housing for those who have lost everything. Pursuing a luxury development that caters primarily to off-island interests while the local community struggles to recover is unconscionable.
Moreover, the Wailea 670 project’s history has been marred by a lack of transparency and genuine community engagement. A 2023 survey by the Maui Tomorrow Foundation revealed that 78% of South Maui residents felt their concerns about the project had been disregarded. This indicates a failure by the developers to engage meaningfully with the local community and act in its best interests.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully urge this Council to take the following actions:
1. Reject Bills 171 and 172 in their entirety.
2. Revoke the existing permits for the Wailea 670 project.
3. Implement a moratorium on large-scale luxury developments until Maui’s immediate housing and recovery needs are addressed.
4. Commission an updated, independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that accounts for the urgent realities of climate change and properly considers the cultural and environmental significance of the project site.
5. Prioritize community-driven development initiatives that truly reflect and serve the needs of Maui’s residents.
I further encourage the Committee to advocate for the County Council to implement a moratorium on large-scale luxury developments, such as Wailea 670, through the following steps:
• Draft and introduce a bill to the Maui County Council that specifically addresses the need for a moratorium on luxury developments. The bill should define “large-scale luxury developments” and outline the temporary suspension of permits, approvals, and related activities. (SEE ATTACHED)
• Frame the moratorium as a necessary measure to prioritize Maui’s immediate housing and recovery needs. Resources such as financial, legal, zoning, and public services should be focused on rebuilding and providing affordable housing rather than catering to luxury developments that do not meet the needs of the local community.
• Address legal and zoning frameworks to temporarily halt or amend zoning approvals and permits for luxury developments. This could involve a temporary zoning moratorium or restrictions on the issuance of permits for high-end developments until recovery and housing strategies are further advanced. A legal review of the county's zoning laws may be necessary to ensure the moratorium aligns with Maui’s long-term planning goals.
• Work with the Planning Department: The county’s planning department plays a critical role in zoning, permitting, and development approvals. The Planning Director could help advise on the logistics and legal aspects of enacting the moratorium, including developing guidelines on which projects are affected by the moratorium and which may be exempt (e.g., ongoing projects or affordable housing initiatives).
• Monitor and adjust: Once enacted, the moratorium should be regularly reviewed to evaluate its impact and effectiveness. The County Council can revisit the issue periodically to determine whether the moratorium should be extended or modified based on progress in recovery and housing needs.
In conclusion, the Wailea 670 project and its proposed amendments represent a step backward for Maui. This project prioritizes profit over people, development over sustainability, and short-term financial gains over long-term community well-being. If we are to preserve what makes Maui unique—our culture, our environment, and our sense of community—this project must not move forward.
I urge the Committee to consider the long-term impacts on our island and its people and to take a firm stance against this project and its amendments.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Edward Codelia
I am a Kihei Maui Full Time resident of five years, and I am in strong opposition of this amendment. With an already staggering amount of luxury condos/housing that sit empty majority of the time, along with a huge lack of affordable housing already and not to mention the great loss and impacts our Maui community has experienced within this year, amending this to build LESS affordable housing is wildly unethical and quite frankly extremely disrespectful!
This is a simple ethics-bound decision for our County Council members. We cannot take pity on a developer trying to make the numbers work for their investors at the expense of hundreds, if not thousands of Maui County residents including those from Lahaina fires seeking affordable housing. I am one of those unable to meet my monthly rent due to medical problems making it impossible for me to continue my job. Please do the right thing.
Oppose Bill 171
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
I am writing to oppose Bill 171, which would remove the requirement for Honuaʻula Partners (Wailea670) to build 700 affordable homes in their project district. This change would weaken the promises made in 2008 and set a bad example for future developments on Maui.
The developers may try to distract you by pointing to unrelated things like changing the golf course language, supporting a new police station, or offering $5 million to a non-profit. But these efforts don’t change the fact that they are trying to avoid their responsibility to build affordable homes.
The $5 million donation is not as generous as it seems—it’s part of a land conservation agreement they’re required to follow due to a lawsuit. And offering to build 50 more affordable homes with taxpayer money for traffic improvements shows they’re shifting their responsibility onto the public.
When the developers say the number of affordable homes should be lowered to 230-288, they are ignoring the fact that the 2008 agreement called for 700 affordable homes. The changes to the Workforce Housing Ordinance do not change their original commitment. Removing the requirement for 450 affordable units would allow the developers to replace affordable homes with high-priced market-rate homes, increasing their profits while Maui families continue to struggle for affordable housing.
Please vote against Bill 171 and ensure the developers are held to their original promise. This is about protecting affordable housing for our community and making sure future developers keep their commitments.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Aloha HLU Committee,
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.
George Burnette
Wailuku
Aloha Chair and Members of the Maui County Council,
I am writing to oppose Bill 171, which would remove the requirement for Honuaʻula Partners (Wailea670) to build 700 affordable homes in their project district. This change would BREAK the promises made in 2008 and set a terrible precedence for future developments on Maui. If you pass this bill, developers will know they can say whatever they need to say to get approval and then manipulate the Council to do what they want when it comes time to build.
The developers may try to distract you by pointing to unrelated things like changing the golf course language, supporting a new police station, or offering $5 million to a non-profit. But these efforts don’t change the fact that they are trying to avoid their responsibility to build affordable homes.
The $5 million donation is not as generous as it seems—it’s part of a land conservation agreement they’re required to follow due to a lawsuit. And offering to build 50 more affordable homes with taxpayer money for traffic improvements shows they’re shifting their responsibility onto the public.
When the developers say the number of affordable homes should be lowered to 230-288, they are ignoring the fact that the 2008 agreement called for 700 affordable homes. The changes to the Workforce Housing Ordinance do not change their original commitment. Without that element of the agreement, this project likely wouldn’t exist; it is changing a foundational component of why the People (in the form of the 2008 County Council) approved it in the first place.
Removing the requirement for 450 affordable units would allow the developers to replace affordable homes with high-priced market-rate homes, increasing their profits while Maui families continue to struggle and be forced to leave the island for affordable housing elsewhere. Allowing this bill to pass is morally reprehensible in the context of today’s housing crisis.
Please vote AGAINST Bill 171 and ensure the developers are held to their original promise. This is about protecting affordable housing for our community and making sure future developers keep their commitments. With all due respect, this is also about keeping your campaign promises regarding affordable housing.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Jennifer Cox
Haiku, HI 96708
I don't see how you can approve this, especially because Kihei/Wailea residents were told there is a water shortage.
Aloha,
Suggesting this amendment amidst a housing crisis on Maui after the Lahaina fires is unethical. The people of Maui could use affordable housing now more than ever. Please do not allow this amendment. Hold the developers accountable for the promise they made to house local families.
Mahalo,
Meghane Hernandez
It is a disgrace and an insult to all of the residents here on Maui, that the developers are trying to pass an amendment that would eliminate 450 affordable housing. This housing was promised it good faith to get the Council to approve their project.
Modifications to Bill 171 would remove the language that says “Four hundred fifty affordable units shall be within the project district,” and would let them get away with building only 288 affordable units, instead of the promised 700 affordable units that persuaded the Maui County Council to narrowly approve the project in 2008. Every affordable home that is being lost will be replaced by a market priced home that will likely sell for $3 million - in other words, luxury homes that Maui’s people cannot afford.
Now the developers are showing a total disregard for the plight of so many that lost so much in the Lahaina Fires. The HLU committee, need to let these developers know that their action and this amendment is outrageous.
In the face of so much need for affordable housing, these developers are only concerned about making money. They disregard the fact that we need affordable housing, they disregard the South Maui Community Plan, the current plan that is still in effect until the new plan gets ratified; the old plan that specifically states no further development without the needed infrastructure.
The committee needs to make a strong statement, that their amendment is out of order. Instead of reducing affordable units the developers should be asking to build these units first and then the infrastructure before any luxury homes are built. Please do the right thing, do not allow the developers to make a profit over the hopes and needs of our longtime Maui residents.
Now it is your turn to stand up to these developers and say NO!
Thank you for your time,
With much Aloha,
Dr Mary Trotto
VP on the Advisory Board of Hale Kau Kau and member of the KCA
10 Upena Lane Kihei HI 96753
More affordable housing, not less!
Aloha HLU Committee,
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.
The broken promises proposed by these amendments is bad for all of us, especially when we need affordable housing more than ever,
David Kahn & Yanisa Nangsungnoen
237 Auoli Dr
Makawao, HI 96768
Our highway is under disrepair at the moment, funds are tight in the County and it is time for promises made in 2008 by this developer to act accordingly to those promises. The highway is overcrowded at many times of the day. The two way road was squeezed into being widened in the area from Kilohana to Wailea Iki and it is now insufficient to carry the amount of traffice that now occurs especially when our visitors are here in full force. Have you seen or been on this road lately with all of the potholes? It isn't even being maintained properly for all of those trucks going down to the Makena development.
They promised money to the County and now they want to use it to "disguise" their generosity with using that money to help them develop their own project and that $5 Million was in 2008 dollars.
What is their projected lowest cost of home in this project that they are calling, "affordable". Will it be tiny cramped apartments in a high-rise?What will an evacuation from the South to the North be like now in an evacuation and then add ALL of the development that is already on the books and ask how safe are we?
Mahalo,
M. T. Sherrow
Maui Meadows homeowner
My mailbox was flooded with mailers over the past few months promising me that you will fight for affordable housing. Now is your opportunity to do exactly that and reject this deduction in affordable homes and hold developers accountable for their promises. Fight for 450 and do not accept the crumbs developers are demanding we accept to move forward. I can't see the benefit of these changes for our people.
Please OPPOSE these amendments and fight for more affordable housing not less. The original count for affordable homes when this project was approved was for 700 affordable homes, they have already negotiated us down to 450 and now want to remove that number and lower it to 288 (maybe.. who is to say they won't lower that again). They said they would widen Pi'ilani Highway but now they want to pass the buck to the DOT and put that responsibility back onto the taxpayers. You are all better negotiators than this and can do the right thing to hold them to these promises made to get the deal in the first place.
This argument that developers won't make money is just plain false. The land alone is worth much more than what they bought it for and if they can't figure out how to develop homes that our community needs and turn a profit, then that is their problem. To be frank, it is not Maui's kuleana to ensure private investment firms turn a high profit on their investments. It IS your kuleana to ensure our people have access to housing and that our limited resources are used to benefit our community as a whole - not luxury developers and part-time residents looking for their next vacation home.
Who are the people asking for these luxury homes to be built? There is overwhelming demand for affordable housing, and less so for multi-million dollar homes. I can guarantee it's not long-time residents who want to buy these market-rate homes in Wailea. Who can even afford one of these "market-rate" homes? Probably not the hotel workers or people struggling to pay our utility bills or afford food for our families.
Fight for Maui's residents and the people who voted for you, not a mainland company's profit margins.
It is time these greedy developers are held to their promises by the leaders of Maui who seem to back down quite easily every time changes are requested. It's an affront to the true residents of Maui. Where is the integrity?
Shame that developers are able to still be slithering their way into our island. So sad to see the multi-million dollar ugly uninhabited condos going up in all our precious spaces! Councilpersons - please stop these 2 bills (how did they get this far?) Developers should be made to provide the affordable housing they promised to supply in 1988 & come forward now with the promised funds for an open space community park. I beg all of you to veto these latest attempts to circumvent the needs of this beautiful island in favor of corporate profits. Mahalo
Suellen Barton