Maui County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Maui County committees weigh fire station rezoning, vacation rental rules, recovery funds

Maui County council committees met over the past two weeks to consider land-use changes, disaster recovery funding, and legal settlements, but no final votes have been published. All items were on agendas only, with minutes not yet released.

Housing and land use

The Housing and Land Use Committee met Aug. 10 to consider three bills (89, 90, and 91 of 2026) that would reclassify a 6.097-acre parcel in Hāmākualoa, identified by Tax Map Key 2-7-007:008, from agricultural to rural and public/quasi-public designations to accommodate the Haʻikū Fire Station. The bills would amend the Paʻia-Haʻikū Community Plan and change zoning to P-1 Public/Quasi-Public District. The committee received a Planning Director's report and departmental recommendations dated May 21, 2026.

On Aug. 19, the same committee considered two resolutions that would refer proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to rezone apartment-district properties to hotel districts, allowing continued transient vacation rental uses. Resolution 26-129 covers eight properties in the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area: Island Sands, Maalaea Kai, Kihei Bay Surf, Kihei Bay Vista, Lokelani, Hale Ono Loa, Pikake, and Hale Kai I. Resolution 26-130 covers 10 Walaka Street in Kīhei and Makai Sunset Inn (1411 and 1415 Front St., Lahaina). Both would amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans. The committee may add or remove properties from the list.

Health and disaster recovery

The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee heard an update Aug. 17 on the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES), including a presentation on the report "The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires." No legislative action was taken.

The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee met Aug. 18 to discuss Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds related to the August 2023 wildfires, including spending, drawdowns, reimbursements, and quarterly reports. The committee also reviewed countywide grant administration policies and procedures. No legislative action was taken.

The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee on Aug. 19 received a presentation on long-term recovery operations, including the Long-Term Recovery Plan, the transition of the Disaster Case Management Program from state to county control, and proposed acquisitions of Launiupoko Irrigation Co.'s water infrastructure and a portion of Kamehameha School's lands in Kuʻia. No legislative action was taken.

Legal and ethics

The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee met Aug. 18 to consider three resolutions on special counsel compensation and a settlement. Resolution 26-131 would increase compensation for ES&A, Inc. by $250,000 to $450,000 in the case Chelsie Evans v. Scott Martin (Civil 2CCV-24-0000034). Resolution 26-132 would increase compensation for Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, LLP by $75,000 to $1,000,000 in Christopher Salem v. County of Maui (Civil 2CCV-21-0000048). Resolution 26-133 would approve a settlement of Hawaii Labor Relations Board cases 26-CE-11-997 and 26-CU-11-417 involving the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463. Executive meetings were anticipated for legal consultation.

Other items

The Kōmike Aloha ʻĀina committee held a site inspection Aug. 20 at Keawanui Fishpond and Cultural Learning Center on Molokai to review erosion mitigation and watershed health projects by ʻĀina Momona. No legislative action was taken. The same committee also held a discussion-only meeting on the transition of Kalawao County into Maui County, including Act 171 (2026) and Resolution 21-190, with presentations from the National Park Service, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and state departments.

Coming up

The Housing and Land Use Committee meets today, Aug. 24, to consider the three fire station rezoning bills (89, 90, and 91 of 2026). On Aug. 27, the committee will reconvene to consider Resolutions 26-129 and 26-130 on vacation rental rezoning, with public testimony accepted in person at Wailuku or via Teams.

Maui County committees weigh water system purchase, vacation rental zoning, and fire station land use

This week, Maui County council committees met to consider several significant items, including a proposed $6 million purchase of water system assets, zoning changes for vacation rentals, and a land use change for a new fire station. No final decisions were made; all items remain pending committee recommendations. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the meetings.

Water system acquisition

The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee on Aug. 4 discussed Resolution 26-116, which would authorize the acquisition of water system assets from Launiupoko Water Co., Inc. and Olowalu Water Company, Inc. for up to $6,000,000. The committee also took up Bill 101 (2026), a proposed ordinance to increase taxicab baggage and equipment charges, including a $10 fee for oversized items, and reviewed a report on taxicab fare rates.

Vacation rental zoning

The Housing and Land Use Committee on Aug. 5 considered two resolutions that would refer proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission. Resolution 26-129 would amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans and change zoning for eight apartment district properties—Island Sands, Maalaea Kai, Kihei Bay Surf, Kihei Bay Vista, Lokelani, Hale Ono Loa, Pikake, and Hale Kai I—to allow continued transient vacation rental use. Resolution 26-130 would do the same for 10 Walaka Street in Kihei and the Makai Sunset Inn in Lahaina. All properties are in the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area, defined by a 3.2-foot sea level rise threshold. The committee may add or remove properties before forwarding the bills.

Fire station land use

On Aug. 10, the Housing and Land Use Committee reviewed Bills 89, 90, and 91 (2026), which together would reclassify a 6.097-acre parcel in Hāmākualoa (Tax Map Key 2-7-007:008) from agricultural to rural and public/quasi-public uses to accommodate the Haʻikū Fire Station. The bills would amend the Paʻia-Haʻikū Community Plan and change zoning to P-1 Public/Quasi-Public District. The committee received correspondence from the Planning Director dated May 21, 2026, including departmental reports and recommendations.

Legal settlements and special counsel

The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee on Aug. 4 discussed three settlement resolutions: Resolution 26-128 (streetlights and native seabirds), Resolution 26-81 (Charlotte Martin, 2023 Kepaniwai Park incident), and Resolution 26-122 (Bao Ngoc Tran, 2022 bicycle incident on Wailea Alanui Drive). No votes were taken.

Food security plan

The Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee on Aug. 6 considered Bill 98 (2026), which would codify the Food and Nutrition Security Plan into the Maui County Code. The committee heard testimony from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of ʻŌiwi Resources and may recommend passage on first reading.

Recovery updates

The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee on Aug. 5 received a presentation on Maui’s long-term recovery operations, including the Long-Term Recovery Plan, workforce development, and the transition of the Disaster Case Management Program to County control. The committee also discussed a proposed acquisition of Launiupoko Irrigation Co.’s water infrastructure assets and Kamehameha School lands in Kuʻia. No legislative action was taken.

Coming up

• **Aug. 17** – Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee: update on Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES), discussion only.
• **Aug. 18** – Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee: status of CDBG-DR funds for the August 2023 wildfires; county grant administration.
• **Aug. 18** – Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee: resolutions to increase special counsel compensation (Resolution 26-131: $250,000 increase to $450,000; Resolution 26-132: $75,000 increase to $1,000,000) and a settlement involving the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association.
• **Aug. 19** – Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee: long-term recovery update and water acquisition discussion.
• **Aug. 19** – Housing and Land Use Committee: further consideration of vacation rental zoning resolutions 26-129 and 26-130.
• **Aug. 20** – Kōmike Aloha ʻĀina: site inspection at Keawanui Fishpond on Molokai; discussion on Kalawao County transition to Maui County.
• **Aug. 24** – Housing and Land Use Committee: Bills 89, 90, and 91 for the Haʻikū Fire Station parcel.

Maui County committees weigh $6M water asset deal, ethics reforms, and fire station land use in busy week

Maui County Council committees tackled a packed agenda the week of July 27, with items ranging from a proposed $6 million water system acquisition to new ethics, nepotism, and lobbyist regulations. All meetings were agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published — so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet available.

$6 Million Water System Asset Acquisition Discussed

The Water and Infrastructure Committee met July 27 to discuss Resolution 26-116, which concerns acquiring water system assets from Launiupoko Water Co., Inc. and Olowalu Water Company, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000. No legislative action was scheduled at that meeting.

The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee is set to take up the same resolution on August 4, alongside a discussion of taxicab fare rates and Bill 101 (2026), which would increase taxicab baggage and equipment charges and authorize a $10 charge for oversized items.

Separately, the Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee discussed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding dated May 18, 2026, regarding the potential acquisition of real property and water infrastructure assets from Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. in West Maui and Upcountry. No legislative action was taken.

Ethics, Nepotism, and Lobbyist Bills on the Table

The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee met July 28 to consider three bills:

• **Bill 55 (2025)**: Would allow the Board of Ethics to pursue violations for up to six years after employment ends.
• **Bill 99 (2026)**: Would establish prohibitions concerning nepotism in hiring and supervision.
• **Bill 100 (2026)**: Would establish lobbyist registration, training, and reporting requirements.

Outcomes are not yet known. The same committee meets again August 4 to consider three legal settlement authorizations: Resolution 26-128 regarding streetlights and native seabird survival, Resolution 26-81 for Charlotte Martin related to a 2023 incident at Kepaniwai Park, and Resolution 26-122 for Bao Ngoc Tran regarding a 2022 bicycle incident on Wailea Alanui Drive.

Ha'ikū Fire Station Land Use Changes

The Housing and Land Use Committee met July 29 to consider three bills affecting a 6.097-acre portion of Tax Map Key (2) 2-7-007:008 in Hāmākualoa:

• **Bill 89 (2026)**: Amend state land use district from Agricultural to Rural.
• **Bill 90 (2026)**: Change the Pa'ia-Ha'ikū Community Plan designation from Agriculture to Public/Quasi-Public.
• **Bill 91 (2026)**: Change zoning from Agricultural District to P-1 Public/Quasi-Public District.

The committee is scheduled to revisit these bills on August 10, with correspondence from the Planning Director dated May 21, 2026, including departmental reports and recommendations.

Kauhale Community and Storm Damage Updates

The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee received two informational updates July 27. HomeAid Hawaii CEO Kimo Carvalho presented on Kīpūola Kauhale, Maui's first kauhale community under the State of Hawai'i's Kauhale Initiative. The Department of Parks and Recreation provided an update on the impact of spring 2026 Kona low storms on Maui County parks and facilities. No legislative action was taken on either item.

County Property Disclosure Bill and Tax System Update

The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee considered Bill 81 (2025) on July 28, which would require the administration to disclose use restrictions on county-owned property before requesting development-related appropriations. The bill also repeals an outdated definition of "county agency" and updates code references. The committee also discussed the Transient Accommodations Tax billing, collection, and new system implementation, with no vote scheduled on that item.

County HR Strategic Planning

The Kōmike Aloha 'Āina met July 30 to discuss the Align HR project, a review and strategic planning effort for the county's human resources framework. A presentation from Managing Director Josiah Nishita and representatives of Guidehouse, Inc. was possible. No legislative action was taken.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 3** — Water and Infrastructure Committee considers Bill 1 (2026), which would allow subdividers to submit construction plans for review before verifying long-term water supply.
• **Aug. 4** — Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee takes up the $6 million water asset acquisition (Resolution 26-116) and taxicab charge increases (Bill 101).
• **Aug. 5** — Disaster Recovery committee hears updates on Maui's Long-Term Recovery Plan and discusses acquiring Launiupoko Irrigation Co. water assets and Kamehameha School lands in Ku'ia.
• **Aug. 5** — Housing and Land Use Committee reviews zoning changes for eight Kihei and Lahaina properties (Resolution 26-129) and two additional properties including 10 Walaka Street and Makai Sunset Inn (Resolution 26-130) to allow transient vacation rentals in the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area.
• **Aug. 6** — Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee reviews Bill 98 (2026), which would codify the Food and Nutrition Security Plan into the Maui County Code.
• **Aug. 10** — Housing and Land Use Committee decides on Bills 89, 90, and 91 for the Ha'ikū Fire Station site.