Building Central Mauis Future

Hoʻonani Village Project Advances on First Reading

One of the largest master-planned residential communities proposed for Central Maui in the last ten years has taken a major step forward. The Maui County Council passed two foundational land-use measures on first reading, signaling strong legislative momentum for the proposed Hoʻonani Village mixed-use development.

Spanning approximately 166 acres of vacant former sugarcane fields near the old Puʻunēnē sugar mill, the ambitious project aims to bring thousands of new workforce housing units to the island.

The council's action advances Bills 163 and 164, which together seek to expand the Maui Island Plan’s urban growth boundary and transition the property’s designation within the Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan from agriculture to business-multifamily.

A Look inside the Project: 1,608 New Workforce Homes

Spearheaded by Hoʻonani Development, the master plan focuses heavily on building a massive inventory of localized workforce housing alongside everyday neighborhood amenities.

Key Components of the Hoʻonani Village Design:

• The Units: The developer plans to construct 1,608 multifamily residential units.
• Affordable Housing Focus: Approximately 800 units are planned to meet affordable housing criteria, helping ease the island's persistent real estate crunch.
• Mixed-Use Layout: Beyond residential structures, the 166-acre property is slated to integrate commercial retail, offices, light industrial spaces, and open park space, creating a cohesive, live-work neighborhood.

Council Member Tamara Paltin, who chairs the Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee, emphasized the urgency of pushing the project's land-use entitlements forward. “This project is a significant step in addressing the longstanding issue of affordable housing for our residents in Maui County,” Paltin noted. “We are pushing for these entitlements so that we can expedite the timeline and get our people dignified housing.”

Navigating Community and Infrastructure Concerns

Despite clearing its first reading with a committee recommendation of 5-1, the massive scale of Hoʻonani Village means it is drawing close scrutiny from local departments and community voices.

During the review process, several critical points of discussion emerged:

• Infrastructure Capacity: The Departments of Water Supply, Environmental Management, and Planning all urged caution. Environmental Management officials noted the project currently sits outside the county’s sewer service area, meaning the developer will either need to build a private wastewater treatment facility or wait for county expansion projects slated for around 2030. Similarly, water officials noted the current municipal water system is operating near maximum reliable capacity, prompting the developer to pursue private well alternatives.
• Airport Proximity: Longtime Kula resident and advocate Dick Mayer testified against advancing the project too quickly, citing concerns over chronic jet noise given the site's proximity to the landing flight paths for Kahului Airport.

Historic Policy Milestones

The advancement of these bills marks a rare legislative shift for Maui's zoning maps. If fully passed, Bill 163 will represent the first official amendment made to the Maui Island Plan’s urban growth boundaries since its enactment 14 years ago. Additionally, it stands as only the second amendment to the Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan approved in recent council history.

Because of the historic nature of changing the urban growth boundaries, the full council will hold a formal public hearing before taking final action on the measures.

Your Maui Real Estate Partners

As Central Maui plans for long-term growth, tracking master-planned communities like Hoʻonani Village gives buyers and sellers an edge in understanding where infrastructure, inventory, and neighborhood dynamics are headed.

If you are planning on buying or selling your home this year, don't hesitate to contact us. The Smith Team is here to guide you through Maui’s evolving market with local expertise, up-to-date zoning insights, and dedicated care.

Source: https://mauinow.com/2026/06/22/ho%ca%bbonani-villa...

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