Water & Infrastructure Committee Meeting on Parking Amendments - June 15, 2026

The Water and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Tom Cook, met on June 15, 2026, at 1:34 PM to consider Bill 68 (2026), which proposes amendments to Title 10 of the Maui County Code regarding special parking regulations under the Park Maui program. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to recommend passage of the bill on first reading.

Discussion Items

• Bill 68 (2026) - Parking Code Amendments: The Department of Transportation presented three main updates: (1) establishing a resident town benefit for the Wailuku Garage and West Maui parking lots, and updating the South Maui resident recreation hour map; (2) establishing paid parking zones for West Maui; and (3) creating a permit parking zone for the 750 Luakini lot in West Maui. The bill allows the department to post the number of free parking hours at each location on signage, providing flexibility rather than locking specific hours in ordinance.
• Resident Town Benefit: For the Wailuku Garage, Hawaii residents who scan a valid Hawaii driver's license receive the first two hours free; the garage is free from 6 PM to 8 AM and free for vendors during First Friday. The 750 Luakini, 116 Prison Street, and 500 Front Street lots in West Maui are also designated as resident town benefit locations.
• South Maui Update: Kamole Beach 3 parking lot two (a dirt area with about 10 stalls) is removed from the resident recreation hour designation. Non-residents will still be required to pay $10 per day at this lot, which has signage and a QR code, though the pay station is across the street.
• West Maui Concerns: Councilmember Tamara Palton questioned the funding source for the Hawaiian Cultural Restoration Revolving Fund if 500 Front Street is restored to Mokuula. The department clarified that only that lot's revenue goes to the revolving fund; the other two lots' revenue goes to the Park Maui program. Palton requested clarification from the Department of Management and the Office of Environmental Resources on earlier budget promises.
• Rates and Fees: Councilmember Palton noted that the budget ordinance sets fees for beaches and parks, including free resident parking with a valid Hawaii driver's license scan. She questioned whether the convenience fee (25 cents per transaction) is authorized by the budget ordinance; Corporation Counsel deferred answering until consulting with the Budget Director. The department stated the convenience fee is an industry standard for software transactions.
• App Features: Councilmember Keani Rollins Fernandez expressed interest in features showing real-time parking availability, which the department noted would require future camera technology.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to testify, and a final call yielded no testifiers.

Key Outcomes

• Vote: The committee voted unanimously (9 ayes, 0 no's) to recommend passage of Bill 68 (2026) on first reading. The item will now move to full council consideration.
• Next Steps: The Department of Transportation will continue public information efforts at Parkmaui.com. Staff will transmit the question regarding the convenience fee's authorization to the Budget Director for a written response, and will coordinate with the Department of Management and Office of Environmental Resources on budget-related promises about revenue from county lots.