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 HLU Committee Members,
I am in strong opposition to Bill 171 and 172. I urge you to vote for the 450 affordable homes instead of the paltry 288 proposed. Please retain the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park in the amount of $ 7.5 million, adjusting for inflation. There are almost no playing fields for Kihei youth. Also, in the past, HP Partners pledged to subsize the widening of the Piilani Highway, which should be completed prior to development of affordable homes. Under no conditions should it be approved for HP to build additional workforce housing in exchange for the DOT paying for the Piilani Highway.
I viewed the 3 + hours of testifiers on Monday, November 25, almost entirely in opposition of Bill 171 and 172. One testifier, Yohan Lau said that HP Partners developer consultants wroter their own reports for the planning department and planning commission when such reports should have come from their own staff. He said this practice would be considered a scandal if such practices took place elsewhere. The planning commission approved the amendments as a whole, not taking into account each amendment and were not provided with 681-page document prepared by the developers prior to the meeting. The planning commission may have opposed it if they had more information.
Dick Mayer testified that according the the Upcoming Community plan, that exporting water from upcountry is a violation
The deed restrictions on workforce housing are inadequate. They should not be 5 – 8 -10-year period but instead be for 30 years to maintain an inventory of affordable housing.
Given these issues noted above, we need a delay in voting on bills 171 and 172. We need a public hearing.
Residents of Maui have been shortchanged by all the broken promises made by HP Partners. These changes from their prior commitments were a major blow to affordable housing. It could not have come at a worst time, after the Lahaina fire tragedy, creating the worst housing emergency in Maui history, prompting a mass exodus of residents who were forced to move to the mainland.
If this vote approving these amendments to require only 288 affordable housing are approved, it will pave the way for other luxury developments to follow suit.
During the campaign , candidates promised to make affordable housing their top priority,. Some of you have received large campaign contributions from luxury developers. I hope that you do not break your promise like HP partners have done. We do not need more luxury homes at an average cost of $ 3 million which will likely serve new residents from outside Maui.
Mahalo,
Ann Pitcaithley
Aloha Councilmembers,
I am writing in opposition to the proposed amendment to Wailea 670. Please do not approve this change. I attended the 2008 meetings, and the developers should honor that agreement. We already have daily traffic backup on Piilani highway without this development. It will be a nightmare if this project goes through before the widening of that highway. Maui now has continuous water shortages, lack of infrastructure and limited resources. Maui doesn't need more gated communities, golf courses and high-end houses for mainland people and investors. We need affordable homes for the people who live and work in this community. Building the affordable houses that Maui desperately needs will also provide jobs. It's about quality of life and doing the right thing for our community, not the investors. Please give Maui a good Christmas present and vote against this amendment.
Aloha,
Pat Borge
Regarding: BILL 171 (2024) AND BILL 172 (2024), AMENDING CHAPTER 19.90A, MAUI COUNTY CODE, AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 3554, AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED, RELATING TO KĪHEI-MĀKENA PROJECT DISTRICT 9 (WAILEA 670) (HLU-36)
Aloha Housing and Land Use Commission and Maui County Councilmembers.
My name is Nancy Halley. I'm a retired Baldwin High School science teacher who has lived and raised my family on Maui since 1986.
In 2006 I attended a meeting in Kihei regarding the Honua'ula Wailea 670 development project and heard important concerns raised from kanaka and our local community. Many cultural, resource and infrastructure issues were raised.
The issue of water availability for this development and the impact of taking this water from Wailuku and our Maui residents was one. Another issue was the need for affordable housing. Thirdly, a safe ingress/egress via Pi'ilani highway was raised to address the foreseeable bottleneck caused by a growing community in south Maui, in part by the developers, Honua’ula Partners. One lane in and one lane out is a disaster waiting to happen.
Sadly, Lahaina, last year, taught all of us the importance (if we didn't already know) of access to water and to multiple open roadways. Families and children were tragically killed. Burned to death.
Back in 2008, the County approved the Honua'ula development subject to certain conditions that the Honua’ula Partners agreed to.
I ask that our Council and the Planning Department honor that 2008 agreement and the conditions within, because it is the pono thing to do in reverence to the kanaka and kamaʻāina that elected our Council to serve the people. The conditions help to protect the cultural practices, lives and health of the people of Maui and the ecosystems in this moku. Honua'ula Partners agreed to these conditions.
I don't know everything about this development but I do know that it does not stand alone in the push for more development in the moku of Honua'ula. I attended the Makena Mauka EISPN Public Comment Period meetings in Kihei and submitted similar testimony because it's the same important issues....again. Every out of State developer wants our water, wants to sell to off island investors who don't even live here full time, and wants to push kanaka and kamaʻāina to a congested undesirable location to live.
My stated concerns are as follows:
#1 Water is life. No water, is death. Currently the Central Maui water system is in a Stage 1 water shortage. We are already having issues with lack of water and the developers of Honua'ula want to amend the condition that a private water system be built to County standards so that the system can be offered to the County in the future if needed. Of course we need the water. We need it now. We must not let developments control Maui's water resources. The island's water is for the safety and health of all people. We all witnessed what happened in Lahaina due to big Ag on Maui controlling our water.
As Council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, has stated in matters relating to Maui's water, "Water is a public trust resource, and the more we can give community control over the corporations that control a lot of the water, the better off our community as a whole will be.”
I think we can all agree with her statement. Yes?
#2. Ordinance 3553, originally agreed to by the developer, is still being challenged by the developer to change the required 450 affordable units to be within the project district to only 288 affordable units in the project district. I understand (but do not support) the rule change about 50% of the housing needs to be affordable and now it's only 25% and that is why Honua'ula Partners is asking for the number 288 within the project area.
However I find this incredulous, especially during this time when Maui is deep in a housing crisis, that a court case about this matter is ongoing. I found it interesting at the November 25, 2024 meeting regarding Wailea 670, that Mr. Chase often used the term, "outdated", when referring to the original agreement back in 2008. Yet, the development company he represents do not seem to realize that the developments requested amendments to the original agreement are outdated. The disaster in Lahaina has showcased this and our housing crisis has amplified over the past few years. I argue that the developer's requested amendments are outdated.
It's pretty simple from a community standpoint. Maui's people need affordable homes and the developer agreed as a condition of the approval of this project to build 450 affordable homes within the project district. We do not need to build affordable homes for our workforce at the corner of Dairy Road and Veterans Highway, if you know what I mean. We need affordable neighborhoods. Kihei, Wailea and Makena areas employ many kanaka and kamaʻāina, who deserve to be close to their workplace and to the ocean and parks they have grown up in. Mental health, lifestyle, affordability are key to a healthy, strong, happy and vibrant community. I think we can all agree that homelessness and mental health issues are increasing considerably throughout the County. How will the development of Wailea 670 or how they like to call themselves now to try and pretend they are Hawaiian, Honua'ula Partners LLC, going to improve this problem. I believe any development throughout the County should improve living conditions for its residents, not increase their marginalization.
The developer needs to keep their word and our County Council and Planning Department need to honor the original agreement and recognize it as even more relevant today, than in 2008.
The problem of affordable housing was raised in the Makena Mauka meetings too. Both developments are catering to mostly off island investors, that won't even be living here fulltime.
I was stand up paddling off Elua beach and paddling south this past Saturday and as always, felt sad and frustrated as I paddled past developments of multimillion dollar homes with blinds pulled down, vacant, sitting on prime land that was once inhabited by kanaka families. It's heartbreaking to see that kanaka and kamaʻāina are being pushed out of the islands due to limited housing causing sky high sale prices and rents and lowering quality of life for many. I drive through some of the neighborhoods on this island, for one example, the streets off of Namauu Place in Kihei and they are so congested with cars and junk houses, no sidewalks, only one way in and one way out. It's hot, dry, hardly any trees for shade. It's shameful. Yet, this is where our islands workers live. Homeowners here are renting out every space to multiple tenants at outrageous rents. Then I enter the Wailea area. It's lush, green, has sidewalks and beautiful homes mostly owned by off island second home investors and of course our 5 star hotels. Many of the homes are vacant most of the year. Much of our water goes to these properties. It's shameful. It's criminal that our representatives at the County level are allowing this to happen. You were voted in to represent the people of Maui. Many of you campaigned for affordable homes as your platform to win voter support. We need you to stand up for us. If not now, when? If not you - our elected officials and committees, then who? Honor the original agreement for the sake of us, the vested residents of Maui.
Just last night I watched a current YouTube video of drone footage over South Maui/Wailea/Makena area. I thought it looked congested from offshore. Take a look at how it looks from the air and this is before multiple more proposed developments are built.
https://youtu.be/Zg21gkmcMNY?feature=shared. (Approximately 10 minutes)
#3 The developer agreed as part of the approval process for this development to widen Piilani highway to 4 lanes from Kilohana Drive to Wailea Ike Drive. This is such a bottleneck area. We all know this.
I've often wondered driving through there; during an emergency, a tsunami or a fire, how will people get out of the area? We saw this play out in Lahaina. Many did not make it. I had a friend who lost his home in the fire. He tried to evacuate in his truck, but could not get out of town. He ditched his truck, ran back to his home on Front street and grabbed his bicycle. That was his only way out. He's lucky to be alive.
In my mind, the developer should feel honored to expand this part of the highway as originally agreed. It will be a lifesaver. I understand the developer has said, "yes," to widening the highway and that this was to have started 2 years ago, but the development company has not started this and is now asking that the State help pay the costs.
One other point that Mr. Chase made at the November 25, 2024 meeting was that the developer has agreed not to build a golf course. I say, of course they would say that, because the Makena Mauka project is building a golf course, so Wailea 670 has no need for one. I'm sure the residents of Wailea 670 will have access to the Makena Mauka golf course.
In summary, I ask that you insist on 450 of the homes being affordable and in the project area, that Honua'ula Partners build a water system as originally agreed following County requirements and that the County has priority access to this water (I'm not sure where this additional water is coming from in the first place. We are already experiencing water shortages), and that the developer build a 4 lane highway between Kilohana Street and Wailea Ike Street before any homes are built.
Aloha HLU Committee Members and Council Members,
I am writing to express my concerns and opposition to the proposed amendments for the Wailea 670 development, particularly the ongoing requirement for the Piilani Highway widening to be tied to this private development project. Given the context of recent developments on Maui and in Wailea and Makena, I believe that the highway widening should be separated from this project and treated as an independent, urgent infrastructure need for our community.
Highway Widening as a Critical Infrastructure Issue
The Piilani Highway is not only a critical access road for local residents and guests, but it is also the primary evacuation route for the Wailea and Makena areas, especially given the increased risk of natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and tsunamis. The expansion of residential and commercial developments, including hotels and condos, has increased the population and infrastructure strain in the area. The highway is already operating at capacity, and its ability to serve as a safe and effective evacuation route is compromised. Maui County must prioritize its widening as a public infrastructure improvement, detached from private development obligations.
Federal and State Funding Available for Infrastructure Improvement
After the wildfires Governor Green secured 100% reimbursement from the federal government to support infrastructure repair and improvement, specifically in the wake of natural disasters. This funding presents a unique opportunity for the state and county to utilize these resources to address the widening of Piilani Highway, independent of Wailea 670. The need for road improvements is a matter of public safety, and the federal funds designated for infrastructure enhancements can and should be applied to the highway widening. With the state already receiving these funds, it would be far more prudent to seek a dedicated allocation for the highway’s expansion through the state and federal channels.
Removing the Highway Widening from Wailea 670 Development
By removing the highway widening requirement from the Wailea 670 development, we allow the state and county to properly address the growing infrastructure demands of the Wailea and Makena areas. This would prevent the developer from taking on the cost burden of the highway expansion, allowing them to focus on their sub-division while ensuring that the widening occurs through the appropriate public channels. With the increased room capacity and population density in Wailea and Makena, it is essential that the highway's capacity be expanded to meet both current and future demand. Delaying this project further by tying it to private development is irresponsible and will continue to leave our community vulnerable to evacuation risks.
Special Assessment for Funding the Highway Widening
To ensure that the necessary start-up funds are secured for this crucial infrastructure improvement, I propose the establishment of a special assessment district (SAD) for the properties in the Wailea and Makena area. A special assessment could be levied on those directly benefiting from the road widening. This funding mechanism would allow Maui County to accelerate the process, ensuring that the widening project proceeds without relying on general taxpayer funds.
By directly involving the community that stands to benefit, we can ensure that the project is properly funded and executed without further delays. This model is used in other communities to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, and it could provide a sustainable solution for Wailea and Makena.
Public Safety and Long-Term Planning
Wailea 670 is a development proposal that has been in the pipeline for years, and with the increased population in Wailea and Makena, it is critical to ensure that the area’s infrastructure keeps pace with growth. However, to tie the highway widening to the success of this private development creates unnecessary risks and delays. The safety of our residents, and guests and the ability to evacuate the area quickly in the event of a disaster should take precedence over private development goals.
A Call for Public Infrastructure Focus
I urge this committee to remove the Piilani Highway widening from the Wailea 670 development agreement and recommend that the Maui County Council and Planning Department treat the widening as an independent infrastructure project. This project should be funded through state and federal resources, as appropriate. Additionally, I propose establishing a special assessment district in Wailea and Makena to contribute to the funding for this vital infrastructure improvement.
Maui County can no longer afford to delay these necessary upgrades. The widening of Piilani Highway is critical to ensuring the safety of our residents and guests, especially given the increased population and growing risks associated with natural disasters. The State and County Governments must prioritize public safety, the resilience of our infrastructure, and the community’s ability to manage current and future growth and emergencies. The decisions made today will directly impact the safety and stability of our island going forward.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Edward Codelia
Aloha HLU Committee Members,
I am in strong opposition to Bill 171 and 172. I urge you to vote for the 450 affordable homes instead of the paltry 288 proposed. Please retain the language requiring a donation toward the South Maui Community Park in the amount of $ 7.5 million, adjusting for inflation. There are almost no playing fields for Kihei youth. Also, in the past, HP Partners pledged to subsize the widening of the Piilani Highway, which should be completed prior to development of affordable homes. Under no conditions should it be approved for HP to build additional workforce housing in exchange for the DOT paying for the Piilani Highway.
I viewed the 3 + hours of testifiers on Monday, November 25, almost entirely in opposition of Bill 171 and 172. One testifier, Yohan Lau said that HP Partners developer consultants wroter their own reports for the planning department and planning commission when such reports should have come from their own staff. He said this practice would be considered a scandal if such practices took place elsewhere. The planning commission approved the amendments as a whole, not taking into account each amendment and were not provided with 681-page document prepared by the developers prior to the meeting. The planning commission may have opposed it if they had more information.
Dick Mayer testified that according the the Upcoming Community plan, that exporting water from upcountry is a violation
The deed restrictions on workforce housing are inadequate. They should not be 5 – 8 -10-year period but instead be for 30 years to maintain an inventory of affordable housing.
Given these issues noted above, we need a delay in voting on bills 171 and 172. We need a public hearing.
Residents of Maui have been shortchanged by all the broken promises made by HP Partners. These changes from their prior commitments were a major blow to affordable housing. It could not have come at a worst time, after the Lahaina fire tragedy, creating the worst housing emergency in Maui history, prompting a mass exodus of residents who were forced to move to the mainland.
If this vote approving these amendments to require only 288 affordable housing are approved, it will pave the way for other luxury developments to follow suit.
During the campaign , candidates promised to make affordable housing their top priority,. Some of you have received large campaign contributions from luxury developers. I hope that you do not break your promise like HP partners have done. We do not need more luxury homes at an average cost of $ 3 million which will likely serve new residents from outside Maui.
Mahalo,
Ann Pitcaithley
Aloha Councilmembers,
I am writing in opposition to the proposed amendment to Wailea 670. Please do not approve this change. I attended the 2008 meetings, and the developers should honor that agreement. We already have daily traffic backup on Piilani highway without this development. It will be a nightmare if this project goes through before the widening of that highway. Maui now has continuous water shortages, lack of infrastructure and limited resources. Maui doesn't need more gated communities, golf courses and high-end houses for mainland people and investors. We need affordable homes for the people who live and work in this community. Building the affordable houses that Maui desperately needs will also provide jobs. It's about quality of life and doing the right thing for our community, not the investors. Please give Maui a good Christmas present and vote against this amendment.
Aloha,
Pat Borge
Submitted by Nancy Halley
nancyhalley79@gmail.com
Regarding: BILL 171 (2024) AND BILL 172 (2024), AMENDING CHAPTER 19.90A, MAUI COUNTY CODE, AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 3554, AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED, RELATING TO KĪHEI-MĀKENA PROJECT DISTRICT 9 (WAILEA 670) (HLU-36)
Aloha Housing and Land Use Commission and Maui County Councilmembers.
My name is Nancy Halley. I'm a retired Baldwin High School science teacher who has lived and raised my family on Maui since 1986.
In 2006 I attended a meeting in Kihei regarding the Honua'ula Wailea 670 development project and heard important concerns raised from kanaka and our local community. Many cultural, resource and infrastructure issues were raised.
The issue of water availability for this development and the impact of taking this water from Wailuku and our Maui residents was one. Another issue was the need for affordable housing. Thirdly, a safe ingress/egress via Pi'ilani highway was raised to address the foreseeable bottleneck caused by a growing community in south Maui, in part by the developers, Honua’ula Partners. One lane in and one lane out is a disaster waiting to happen.
Sadly, Lahaina, last year, taught all of us the importance (if we didn't already know) of access to water and to multiple open roadways. Families and children were tragically killed. Burned to death.
Back in 2008, the County approved the Honua'ula development subject to certain conditions that the Honua’ula Partners agreed to.
I ask that our Council and the Planning Department honor that 2008 agreement and the conditions within, because it is the pono thing to do in reverence to the kanaka and kamaʻāina that elected our Council to serve the people. The conditions help to protect the cultural practices, lives and health of the people of Maui and the ecosystems in this moku. Honua'ula Partners agreed to these conditions.
I don't know everything about this development but I do know that it does not stand alone in the push for more development in the moku of Honua'ula. I attended the Makena Mauka EISPN Public Comment Period meetings in Kihei and submitted similar testimony because it's the same important issues....again. Every out of State developer wants our water, wants to sell to off island investors who don't even live here full time, and wants to push kanaka and kamaʻāina to a congested undesirable location to live.
My stated concerns are as follows:
#1 Water is life. No water, is death. Currently the Central Maui water system is in a Stage 1 water shortage. We are already having issues with lack of water and the developers of Honua'ula want to amend the condition that a private water system be built to County standards so that the system can be offered to the County in the future if needed. Of course we need the water. We need it now. We must not let developments control Maui's water resources. The island's water is for the safety and health of all people. We all witnessed what happened in Lahaina due to big Ag on Maui controlling our water.
As Council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, has stated in matters relating to Maui's water, "Water is a public trust resource, and the more we can give community control over the corporations that control a lot of the water, the better off our community as a whole will be.”
I think we can all agree with her statement. Yes?
#2. Ordinance 3553, originally agreed to by the developer, is still being challenged by the developer to change the required 450 affordable units to be within the project district to only 288 affordable units in the project district. I understand (but do not support) the rule change about 50% of the housing needs to be affordable and now it's only 25% and that is why Honua'ula Partners is asking for the number 288 within the project area.
However I find this incredulous, especially during this time when Maui is deep in a housing crisis, that a court case about this matter is ongoing. I found it interesting at the November 25, 2024 meeting regarding Wailea 670, that Mr. Chase often used the term, "outdated", when referring to the original agreement back in 2008. Yet, the development company he represents do not seem to realize that the developments requested amendments to the original agreement are outdated. The disaster in Lahaina has showcased this and our housing crisis has amplified over the past few years. I argue that the developer's requested amendments are outdated.
It's pretty simple from a community standpoint. Maui's people need affordable homes and the developer agreed as a condition of the approval of this project to build 450 affordable homes within the project district. We do not need to build affordable homes for our workforce at the corner of Dairy Road and Veterans Highway, if you know what I mean. We need affordable neighborhoods. Kihei, Wailea and Makena areas employ many kanaka and kamaʻāina, who deserve to be close to their workplace and to the ocean and parks they have grown up in. Mental health, lifestyle, affordability are key to a healthy, strong, happy and vibrant community. I think we can all agree that homelessness and mental health issues are increasing considerably throughout the County. How will the development of Wailea 670 or how they like to call themselves now to try and pretend they are Hawaiian, Honua'ula Partners LLC, going to improve this problem. I believe any development throughout the County should improve living conditions for its residents, not increase their marginalization.
The developer needs to keep their word and our County Council and Planning Department need to honor the original agreement and recognize it as even more relevant today, than in 2008.
The problem of affordable housing was raised in the Makena Mauka meetings too. Both developments are catering to mostly off island investors, that won't even be living here fulltime.
I was stand up paddling off Elua beach and paddling south this past Saturday and as always, felt sad and frustrated as I paddled past developments of multimillion dollar homes with blinds pulled down, vacant, sitting on prime land that was once inhabited by kanaka families. It's heartbreaking to see that kanaka and kamaʻāina are being pushed out of the islands due to limited housing causing sky high sale prices and rents and lowering quality of life for many. I drive through some of the neighborhoods on this island, for one example, the streets off of Namauu Place in Kihei and they are so congested with cars and junk houses, no sidewalks, only one way in and one way out. It's hot, dry, hardly any trees for shade. It's shameful. Yet, this is where our islands workers live. Homeowners here are renting out every space to multiple tenants at outrageous rents. Then I enter the Wailea area. It's lush, green, has sidewalks and beautiful homes mostly owned by off island second home investors and of course our 5 star hotels. Many of the homes are vacant most of the year. Much of our water goes to these properties. It's shameful. It's criminal that our representatives at the County level are allowing this to happen. You were voted in to represent the people of Maui. Many of you campaigned for affordable homes as your platform to win voter support. We need you to stand up for us. If not now, when? If not you - our elected officials and committees, then who? Honor the original agreement for the sake of us, the vested residents of Maui.
Just last night I watched a current YouTube video of drone footage over South Maui/Wailea/Makena area. I thought it looked congested from offshore. Take a look at how it looks from the air and this is before multiple more proposed developments are built.
https://youtu.be/Zg21gkmcMNY?feature=shared. (Approximately 10 minutes)
#3 The developer agreed as part of the approval process for this development to widen Piilani highway to 4 lanes from Kilohana Drive to Wailea Ike Drive. This is such a bottleneck area. We all know this.
I've often wondered driving through there; during an emergency, a tsunami or a fire, how will people get out of the area? We saw this play out in Lahaina. Many did not make it. I had a friend who lost his home in the fire. He tried to evacuate in his truck, but could not get out of town. He ditched his truck, ran back to his home on Front street and grabbed his bicycle. That was his only way out. He's lucky to be alive.
In my mind, the developer should feel honored to expand this part of the highway as originally agreed. It will be a lifesaver. I understand the developer has said, "yes," to widening the highway and that this was to have started 2 years ago, but the development company has not started this and is now asking that the State help pay the costs.
One other point that Mr. Chase made at the November 25, 2024 meeting was that the developer has agreed not to build a golf course. I say, of course they would say that, because the Makena Mauka project is building a golf course, so Wailea 670 has no need for one. I'm sure the residents of Wailea 670 will have access to the Makena Mauka golf course.
In summary, I ask that you insist on 450 of the homes being affordable and in the project area, that Honua'ula Partners build a water system as originally agreed following County requirements and that the County has priority access to this water (I'm not sure where this additional water is coming from in the first place. We are already experiencing water shortages), and that the developer build a 4 lane highway between Kilohana Street and Wailea Ike Street before any homes are built.
Aloha HLU Committee Members and Council Members,
I am writing to express my concerns and opposition to the proposed amendments for the Wailea 670 development, particularly the ongoing requirement for the Piilani Highway widening to be tied to this private development project. Given the context of recent developments on Maui and in Wailea and Makena, I believe that the highway widening should be separated from this project and treated as an independent, urgent infrastructure need for our community.
Highway Widening as a Critical Infrastructure Issue
The Piilani Highway is not only a critical access road for local residents and guests, but it is also the primary evacuation route for the Wailea and Makena areas, especially given the increased risk of natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and tsunamis. The expansion of residential and commercial developments, including hotels and condos, has increased the population and infrastructure strain in the area. The highway is already operating at capacity, and its ability to serve as a safe and effective evacuation route is compromised. Maui County must prioritize its widening as a public infrastructure improvement, detached from private development obligations.
Federal and State Funding Available for Infrastructure Improvement
After the wildfires Governor Green secured 100% reimbursement from the federal government to support infrastructure repair and improvement, specifically in the wake of natural disasters. This funding presents a unique opportunity for the state and county to utilize these resources to address the widening of Piilani Highway, independent of Wailea 670. The need for road improvements is a matter of public safety, and the federal funds designated for infrastructure enhancements can and should be applied to the highway widening. With the state already receiving these funds, it would be far more prudent to seek a dedicated allocation for the highway’s expansion through the state and federal channels.
Removing the Highway Widening from Wailea 670 Development
By removing the highway widening requirement from the Wailea 670 development, we allow the state and county to properly address the growing infrastructure demands of the Wailea and Makena areas. This would prevent the developer from taking on the cost burden of the highway expansion, allowing them to focus on their sub-division while ensuring that the widening occurs through the appropriate public channels. With the increased room capacity and population density in Wailea and Makena, it is essential that the highway's capacity be expanded to meet both current and future demand. Delaying this project further by tying it to private development is irresponsible and will continue to leave our community vulnerable to evacuation risks.
Special Assessment for Funding the Highway Widening
To ensure that the necessary start-up funds are secured for this crucial infrastructure improvement, I propose the establishment of a special assessment district (SAD) for the properties in the Wailea and Makena area. A special assessment could be levied on those directly benefiting from the road widening. This funding mechanism would allow Maui County to accelerate the process, ensuring that the widening project proceeds without relying on general taxpayer funds.
By directly involving the community that stands to benefit, we can ensure that the project is properly funded and executed without further delays. This model is used in other communities to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, and it could provide a sustainable solution for Wailea and Makena.
Public Safety and Long-Term Planning
Wailea 670 is a development proposal that has been in the pipeline for years, and with the increased population in Wailea and Makena, it is critical to ensure that the area’s infrastructure keeps pace with growth. However, to tie the highway widening to the success of this private development creates unnecessary risks and delays. The safety of our residents, and guests and the ability to evacuate the area quickly in the event of a disaster should take precedence over private development goals.
A Call for Public Infrastructure Focus
I urge this committee to remove the Piilani Highway widening from the Wailea 670 development agreement and recommend that the Maui County Council and Planning Department treat the widening as an independent infrastructure project. This project should be funded through state and federal resources, as appropriate. Additionally, I propose establishing a special assessment district in Wailea and Makena to contribute to the funding for this vital infrastructure improvement.
Maui County can no longer afford to delay these necessary upgrades. The widening of Piilani Highway is critical to ensuring the safety of our residents and guests, especially given the increased population and growing risks associated with natural disasters. The State and County Governments must prioritize public safety, the resilience of our infrastructure, and the community’s ability to manage current and future growth and emergencies. The decisions made today will directly impact the safety and stability of our island going forward.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Edward Codelia