What's Being Discussed
The Maui County Council's Housing and Land Use Committee is reconvening to consider two resolutions related to vacation rentals in coastal areas at risk from sea level rise.

Resolution 26-129 would send proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to rezone eight apartment-zoned properties — located in Mā'alaea, Kīhei, and Lahaina — to hotel districts. These properties sit within the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area (based on a 3.2-foot sea level rise threshold) and currently operate as transient vacation rentals. The rezoning would allow those vacation rental uses to legally continue.
Resolution 26-130 would do the same for two additional properties: 10 Walaka Street in Kīhei and the Makai Sunset Inn on Front Street in Lahaina, both currently zoned as apartment districts but used for short-term visitor accommodations.

Both resolutions would also update the Kihei-Makena Community Plan and West Maui Community Plan to reflect the new hotel land use designations.

Decisions Expected

The committee may vote to recommend adoption of either or both resolutions, with or without changes.
The committee could add or remove specific properties from the proposals, or choose to file (set aside) the resolutions without action.

Who Should Pay Attention

Property owners and residents at the eight named complexes in Mā'alaea, Kīhei, and Lahaina
Vacation rental operators in coastal, apartment-zoned areas of Maui
Residents concerned about housing availability, coastal development, or climate resilience
Anyone interested in how Maui manages land use in areas vulnerable to sea level rise