Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee Meeting - August 19, 2026
Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee Meeting - August 19, 2026
The Housing and Land Use Committee reconvened on August 19, 2026, at 9:08 a.m. to continue consideration of Resolution 26-129 and Resolution 26-130, which propose referring bills to the Maui Planning Commission to amend community plans and rezone certain apartment district properties within the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area (SLR-XA) to hotel districts (H-3 and H-4) to allow continued transient vacation rental (TVR) use. The meeting included extensive public testimony and clarifying questions from council members. No votes were taken; the committee recessed and will reconvene on August 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jenny Hendricks (condo owner at Waiʻalae Beach Hale, Kihei) supported including her property in Resolution 26-129, stating it lies within the 3.2-foot sea level rise exposure area and is eligible under Ordinance 6008.
- Bob DeSoto (board member at Line of Roads, Lahaina) supported rezoning, citing high maintenance costs and the unsuitability of his oceanfront property for long-term housing. He noted that only 7 of 42 units are owner-occupied.
- Travis Leggett (individual) opposed the resolutions, raising concerns about wastewater discharge, infrastructure failures, and public health risks associated with short-term rentals in the SLR-XA.
- Paʻa Lāʻakea Kīʻakona (Laʻakea Strong) opposed both resolutions, arguing that the rezoning would exacerbate the housing crisis and that many properties were historically owner-occupied. He supported upzoning only for properties operating as de facto hotels (e.g., El Dorado).
- Caitlin Miller (Maui Vacation Rental Association) supported the resolutions, presenting sales data showing that only 13% of Minatoya-list property purchases (21 of 162) since December 2025 were owner-occupied by Maui residents. She argued that the economic losses from phasing out TVRs outweigh housing gains and that the county should leverage tax revenue for affordable housing.
- Corrine Baker (owner at Nohonani, West Maui) requested inclusion in Resolution 26-129, stating her property is 100% within the SLR-XA and adjacent to included properties.
- Nara Boone (Maui Housing Hui, Wisdom Circles Oceania) opposed the resolutions, arguing that Bill 9 is working and that adding more properties undermines community voice. She advocated for rent stabilization and using existing units for housing.
- Johan Lal (individual, GIS analyst) provided a geographic analysis, noting that only half of the eight original properties listed are entirely within the SLR-XA, and that 11 other Minatoya properties are fully within the zone but not included. He urged consistent criteria.
- Kevin Smith and Kim Smith (board member and owner at Waiʻalae Beach Hale, Kihei) supported including their property, arguing it was never built for long-term housing and that oceanfront location makes it unaffordable for locals.
- Ari Minasyan (owner at Halekai Okihe, Kihei) requested inclusion, stating 25-30% of his parcel is within the SLR-XA and that neighboring properties are included.
- Autumn Ness (West Maui resident) opposed the resolutions, particularly for Kihei Bay Surf, Kihei Bay Vista, and 10 Walaka Street, arguing these properties are not on the shoreline and should remain in the housing stock. She noted price declines in Minatoya units and that market values are inflated by income potential.
- Other testifiers (both in person and via Teams) expressed opposition to the resolutions, with some highlighting cultural and community impacts, and others supporting specific amendments.
Key Outcomes
- The committee did not take a vote on either resolution.
- The meeting was recessed at 12:07 p.m. to be reconvened on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. via the same Teams link and in-person at the Council Chambers, Kalana O Maui Building, 8th Floor, 200 South High Street, Wailuku.
- Written testimony remains accepted via eComment or email.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Well, the housing and lands committee meeting of August fifth, twenty twenty-six please reconvene. It is nine oh eight AM on August. Thank you. Minors do not need to be identified. No, don't yeah, not on your computer anyway. Just this. Yeah. I'm gonna get this. That's okay. Good morning, Chair. And uh just want to make an announcement that our key office has lost power. The whole area, traffic lights and stuff, so nobody's there this morning. But I'm here and ready to work. Thank you very much. As you know, if you're going to go on, that's what you would say. Half a day today is like a dream, but anyway, we can. Thank you. Now I see her face. Good morning. Aloha Kaka Kayaka. Sorry. Um I'm at the Molokai District Office. Um I said it's a definitely there's no testifiers. Oh, yeah. Sounds good. Thank you. And member Sanancy is also excused today, sending extra love to him in his office. His family. And lastly, but not leastly, Councilmember Yukile Sugimura. Good morning, everybody. Happy Day, cool day. We're ready to work. Thank you. From administration, we have with us a deputy planning director, Anna Lillis. We have the director of finance, Marcy Martin, who may be with us for majority of our meeting today. County Rural Property Tax Administrator, Kari Stockwell, the Deputy Director of Public Works, Paul Barney, and Deputy Corporation Council Nahulununokawa. We also have HOU committee staff. Good morning, everyone. Please see the last page of the agenda for information on meeting connectivity. We have before us the same agenda we had the last time. So, members, the items on our agenda today are resolutions 26-129 and 26130, which would refer to the Maui Planning Commission proposed bills to amend the Kihe Makenna community plan and West Maui community plan and change your zoning for certain apartment district properties to H3 and H4 hotel districts to allow for continued TVR uses. We're taking up both items together. We recess our last meeting during oral testament oral testimony period. So we'll continue with oral testimony now. Testifiers wanting to provide testimony should sign up in the lobby. Join on the online meeting via Teams link or call into the phone number noted on today's agenda. Written testimony is encouraged and can be submitted via the e-comment link at Maui County.us box slash agendas as well. For individuals wishing to testify via Teams, please raise your hand by clicking on the raise your hand button. If calling in, please follow the prompts via phone star five to raise and lower your hand and star six to mute and unmute.
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