In this episode of Rabbit Holes, we take a deep look at the Wailea 670 (Honuaʻula) development and the long-standing fight over its impact on Maui. What started as a plan to provide mixed-use residential housing has morphed into yet another luxury-driven project, with broken promises along the way.
We explore:
- The history of Wailea 670, from its original approval in 2008 to its latest legal and environmental challenges.
- The shrinking affordable housing commitments—how 700 promised units became just 288, and what that means for local families.
- Environmental and cultural concerns, including threats to one of Maui’s last dryland forests and over 200 cultural sites, including iwi kūpuna (ancestral burials).
- The political landscape, the legal loopholes developers use, and how similar projects across Hawaiʻi follow the same pattern.
- A conversation with Stacey Alapai, breaking down what’s at stake and how people can take action.
The Maui Planning Commission is holding a special public hearing on March 11, 2025 to determine the future of Wailea 670. Your voice matters.
📍 In-Person Testimony: 🔹 Location: The Malcom Center, 1305 North Holopono St., Kīhei, HI 96753 🔹 Time: 9:00 AM HST (until pau)
💻 Virtual Testimony: 🔹 Submit online testimony: https://bit.ly/311-WAILEA670
📧 Email Written Testimony: 🔹 Email: planning@mauicounty.gov
📜 County Agenda & Meeting Details: 🔹 Official Maui County Agenda for the Public Hearing
Sources & Further ReadingFor listeners who want to explore more about Wailea 670’s history, the legal battle, and environmental concerns, here are key resources we used in this episode:
🔹 History & Background📜 Wailea 670 (Honuaʻula) Development History – Maui Tomorrow 📜 Maui News: Honuaʻula Back Before County Council (Jan 2024) 📜 Civil Beat: Maui Council Questions Affordable Housing Reductions (Nov 2023)
🌱 Environmental Concerns🌿 Sierra Club Maui: Honuaʻula Project Update (2024) 🌿 Center for Biological Diversity: Hawaiian Dryland Forest Conservation 🌿 Honolulu Magazine: Wildlife & Water Concerns Stall Maui Developments
🏛️ Cultural & Historical Significance📜 Maui News: Honuaʻula Project Clears Planning Commission (2022) 📜 Office of Hawaiian Affairs: Protecting Iwi Kūpuna on Maui 📜 Ka Wai Ola: Protecting Hawaiian Burial Sites
⚖️ Legal & Political Landscape⚖️ Maui County Official Archive – Wailea 670 Approvals ⚖️ Maui News: Legal Challenges to Honuaʻula Continue (Feb 2024) ⚖️ Maui Now: Council Reviews New Conditions for Honuaʻula Project (Jan 2024)
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