[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6672293,"mediaKeyId","2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba","parentId",2127895,"title","Votes at a glance: Maui County Council, Jan. 17, 2025","audioSeconds",629,"startMs",4323000,"endMs",4952000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=4323&end=4952","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_4323000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6672293/Maui-County/Hawaii/Votes-at-a-glance-Maui-County-Council-Jan-17-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672293-22c22014e796d6e0d65f9d623eefc5c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=PmQbZ9H43D7nAAkZfSo-FQQlmLAee8-apxbD9auZRNPaBAc32omw5PSJvXuTxumPZoB3QCavEn7tWst70sd-lOcj1UNxabyfGE2T8A1M7nS7dH0hugFZhROHSq9-noC7PY8DusX1KDJPg22fSE~cS3NKYA-sabrZvTufpeaMYLOxXGA-K2KYVyvDu71A2XEOPzOU3zLPzK3SgIdpRPaEnEbn4-ILegwEWs1WYiwg4icBCz3OqJJWYuUxkwUr3esdNKKZUOjMUucoZeY8E-rQ-QJAJJRPgZoCbpMngRhNCHmYS~JEtL4qdAt66-AQd06Ze6UEc4S0ckP7mXVavrCR3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-01-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Maui County Council took the following actions and recorded these outcomes during its Jan. 17, 2025 meeting. This list captures motions made on the record and the vote tallies as announced in the meeting minutes.

Key adopted measures

- Resolution 25-12 (additional compensation for special counsel Catan Muchen LLP): adopted (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Resolution 25-15 (exceptions to section 3.35.070 for Kilohana Makai): adopted (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Resolution 25-16 (exceptions/modifications for Aikanaha Residences phases 1 & 2): adopted (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Resolution 25-17 (additional compensation for special counsel ESNA Inc. for legal matter listed): adopted (8 ayes, 0 nos, 1 excused).
- Resolution 25-18 (authorize managed-retreat funds for Montokuji Mission): adopted (recorded as approved during meeting; implementing ordinance Bill 188 FD1 passed on second reading – recorded yeas announced by chair, see agenda item for recorded tally).
- Resolution 25-20 (conveyance amendment to grant contiguous parcel to Lahaina Community Land Trust): adopted (announced tally: 8 ayes, 0 nos; 1 excused).
- Resolution 25-22 (applauding health-care workers on contract ratification): adopted (announced tally: 8 ayes, 0 nos; 1 excused).

Selected ordinances passed on second and final reading

- Bill 2 (intergovernmental agreement for Spring House debris removal/artifact custody): passed first reading Jan.17 (8 ayes, 0 nos, 1 excused); second reading pending.
- Bill 3 (Lanai Community Plan ratification FD1 substitution): substituted and passed first reading to allow a required public hearing on Lāna‘i prior to second reading (8 ayes, 0 nos, 1 excused).
- Bill 117 CD1 (University of Hawaii Hawaiian language/studies workshops for county employees): passed on second and final reading (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Bill 127 CD1 (bilingual government implementation per charter section 13-17): passed on second and final reading (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Bill 146 CD1 (water-demand methodology: gallons-per-day vs fixture count): passed on second and final reading (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Bill 170 CD1, Bill 187 CD1, Bill 189 CD1 and Bill 1 (various budget and grant adjustments described on the agenda): passed on second and final reading (recorded as adopted during meeting; individual tallies announced on the record).
- Bill 180 CD1 (private water catchment systems up to 30,000 gallons): passed on second and final reading (9 ayes, 0 nos).
- Bill 188 FD1 (managed-retreat appropriation for Montokuji Mission): passed on second and final reading (recorded as adopted; see agenda item for vote announcement).

Notes on procedure and follow-up

- Several budget and administrative resolutions were referred to committees; the council recorded referrals and committee assignments during the meeting.
- Council members asked administrations to return with follow-up reports where measures require implementation (for example, Department of Water Supply quarterly reports after Bill 146 and follow-up remediation planning for Montokuji after Bill 188).

For full motion wording, council meeting minutes and staff transmittals, see the official Jan. 17 meeting packet and the Department of the County Clerk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Council of the County of Maui on 2025-01-17 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting - Jan 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal actions taken by the Maui County Council during its Jan. 17 meeting, including passage of multiple ordinances, resolutions and authorizations; counts reflect recorded tallies announced during the meeting.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672299,"Council approves managed-retreat funds for Montokuji Mission to address shoreline erosion and exposed fuel tank hazard",2423,4023000,6446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=4023&end=6446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_4023000.jpg","/articles/6672299/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-approves-managed-retreat-funds-for-Montokuji-Mission-to-address-shoreline-erosion-and-exposed-fuel-tank-hazard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672299-d455750a449a83ab94dc77cdb04cb811/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=gcu8N7~5lu57twVFcCTBMGqmBPJMif~AUSMqpNnlkj9TWa~Dg5CIKfm~BC0cBV6B6iIDJuytyINkEZMQWRzoZ6TtRxQtvqIjvBCEiucY2aobTwnJig9-FHk-1-o3OmEuNnI6h3w1FHD~oHP~c4mRcLB02IzM7h69w1u72etXNSCCKZDhTAh1KxzvTuacCpbMqDxdNLvLxgTTJVKHvr3pCXfX1Ir2x1rJWyAZTaZtE7LQQgD2FuZZp5biGzPd9~Al-2ePKnASjyr1-Y-AZFq1ZzWiIMhk2QvX1ovV5sqOLKFnkIPZuFOuS0ZYPmZ23zlSNdyT2GxZa8arl4jwPnSVPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council approved a grant from the county’s managed-retreat revolving fund to help Montokuji Mission of Paia investigate an exposed fuel line and shore erosion at the temple property near Mantokuji Bay.

Why it matters: Testimony described decades of shoreline degradation — including historic sand mining in the 1930s — that left the temple and cemetery vulnerable to erosion. Consultants told the council recent storm events and large swells have damaged temporary shoreline protections and displaced sandbagging, and that an old buried fuel tank and lines pose a potential ecological hazard to sensitive nearshore habitat.

Public testimony and technical briefing: Eric Moto, representing Montokuji, outlined the cultural and community importance of the temple and described recent erosion and wave impacts. Coastal engineer Mike Foley, who has consulted with Montokuji since 2018, testified the site faces “accelerated” shoreline retreat and said the exposed fuel line and buried tank should be investigated and remediated promptly to prevent ecological harm. He documented turtle mortalities and coral decline near the site and said managed-retreat funds are an appropriate tool to address urgent hazards.

Council action: Councilmembers adopted the resolution and passed implementing budget language (Bill 188 FD1) on second and final reading to authorize up to $500,000 in managed-retreat funds for remediation and associated work. Members described the situation as an example of an urgent environmental and cultural risk and voiced support for reinstating broader managed-retreat funding in future budgets.

Next steps: Staff and the mission must coordinate on site assessment, fuel-line location and remediation planning, and culturally sensitive implementation. Council members asked the administration to consider reinstating or continuing managed-retreat allocations in the county budget, citing Montokuji as an example of how the fund could be used preventively.

Sources: Testimony and council action during the Jan. 17 meeting; technical comments from coastal engineering consultant Mike Foley.","The council authorized using managed-retreat revolving funds and a grant to help Montokuji Mission investigate and remediate an exposed fuel line and shoreline erosion at Mantokuji Bay, citing ecological risk and urgency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672304,"Council approves water catchment and updated water-demand rules to help farms and households",4504,1195000,5699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=1195&end=5699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_1195000.jpg","/articles/6672304/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-approves-water-catchment-and-updated-water-demand-rules-to-help-farms-and-households","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672304-6aafed52f3e89d4c258528332bcc79fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=dUJJGMMydariDcFCjundH~mT6gfV7UDBcirKe~gCcde~8L1iu94-jfnjy9qkNHBZMvIXiPVCfTeEjQFYOf~xAD84VJJvi44c06ZIa0iB1KvfDt13-Exxqpu2mqRnR8YzIWRXRE7j~976vWigg6l-iNQzBNNf4zLZOhc2reKkFOY6EY3fi0sbqCjZi~npw7P-3RY-8K66J2EZSD581JVJnt-s8hhZUs6e-FTXECFjLrtmQ2Av9IH6uC7ng4UHH4CgGbE0DEjEnQWpSu0bWrPuhYMhIKBsyJ-iPxTqmudVIKtnvVdpsD3bRHxuXdCLqVk1M-uovL89hvx8h0-2WbARUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council on Jan. 17 passed two water-policy measures supporters say will reduce administrative barriers for households, farms and housing developers.

First, the council adopted an ordinance (Bill 146, second and final reading) requiring the Department of Water Supply to estimate domestic water demand using projected gallons-per-day rather than fixture-unit counts; the rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and directs staff to provide quarterly implementation reports. Proponents said the change aligns the county’s methodology with actual use patterns and eases constraints that have for years limited additions such as kitchens and bathrooms in rural areas.

Second, the council approved Bill 180 (second and final reading), which permits private rainwater catchment and storage tank systems of up to 30,000 gallons without a permit in agricultural, residential and rural districts. Supporters — including members of the Ag Working Group — said larger allowed tank sizes and a usage-based methodology will let upcountry residents and farmers house Ohana and irrigate crops without triggering long waits for water-meter allocations.

Public testimony: Sydney Smith and Eve Hogan of the Ag Working Group thanked council members and the water director for the changes, noting some families have waited years to add kitchens or increase meter size. Sydney Smith said the group has advocated for fixture-policy changes for a decade, and Eve Hogan urged allowing tanks up to 30,000 gallons without permits and switching to usage methodology.

Council rationale and next steps: Councilmembers and staff said the measures should increase housing and farm resilience while preserving oversight. The Department of Water Supply must submit progress reports under Bill 146 and the new rules will be implemented over the coming year. The council said it will monitor effects and requested staff return with data on water use and program outcomes.

Sources: Council discussion, department transmittals, and Ag Working Group testimony during the Jan. 17 meeting.","The council passed two measures to (1) change how the county calculates domestic water demand, switching from fixture counts to projected gallons-per-day, and (2) allow private water catchment tanks up to 30,000 gallons in several zoning districts. Ag advocates said the changes will support on-farm housing and irrigation.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672308,"Council grants exemptions to county affordable-housing conditions for two developer projects, citing financing needs",5133,2089000,7222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=2089&end=7222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_2089000.jpg","/articles/6672308/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-grants-exemptions-to-county-affordable-housing-conditions-for-two-developer-projects-citing-financing-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672308-d635f30da1a33d73133b855855029920/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=aekVwhocEv3NlIXAFA6U4~z-sXCewhRCVUc-eCqtsx4uWkX~GaR~R9i0NHRYjFKySYVUFjAXarvapPFbeuHDYqFhFEyNYCSl56w258U4I-bpxr04u2OpZuYjAy8Kq7mj3RpQ27xJY6GtZNE2yoAHSTVuIZlJ-6ipgtRLs6bYqH55cOt9SWbE0Mi36ELRMV3BDe0LBGN5XFpTERViKSZDRmYtmXRfY4zXTp8RtYmJT56-5Z0G0N7UlhII72X9GFjM4zBK7r7TeTPjAyMiVi3mYffOFy-qZtaNJ-vmQH9oUuveKyABJK~sMR0FjMLMQLdwhL4aWggzUTL~AgkpA0a0zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council on Jan. 17 approved exceptions to conditions in section 3.35.070 of the Maui County Code for two affordable-housing developments after developers and housing staff said lenders would not close financing with the conditions in place.

What the council approved: Resolutions 25-15 and 25-16 grant specified exemptions and modifications for the Kilohana Makai Project in Kihei (a for-sale project previously awarded an Affordable Housing Fund grant) and the Aikanaha Residences, phases 1 and 2 in Waikapu (a LIHTC-targeted rental project). Both resolutions were adopted on voice votes (recorded tallies reported as 9 ayes, 0 nos for each).

Why it matters: Developers asked the council to remove or modify certain county grant conditions — including mortgage-lien requirements and interest-rate terms — that lenders said would prevent them from providing construction or permanent financing. For the LIHTC-funded Aikanaha project, developers asked the county to allow the county’s loan to be subordinated to LIHTC financing and to consider a lower interest rate than the statutory 3% per annum for Affordable Housing Fund loans.

Council discussion: Members pressed staff and applicants to explain the differences between the projects and whether the council should instead revise the county code more broadly. Councilmember Gabe Johnson and others said the exemptions reflect financing realities for projects financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity and private lenders; council members and corporation counsel noted the code already allows council discretion to approve exceptions but several members said staff should bring a county-code update to committee so the council would not have to consider case-by-case waivers.

Public comment and resources: Developer representatives asked council members to act on the exemptions because fund application deadlines — including a LIHTC application deadline noted as Feb. 13 — were imminent. Councilmember Hudgins and others said staff and applicant representatives would stay available as the items come up in committee or later on the floor.

Outcome and next steps: Both resolutions passed; councilmembers asked the administration and housing department to work with developers and state LIHTC administrators (HHFDC) to resolve structural gaps in the code so future projects can be processed more predictably.

Sources: Testimony and council discussion during the Jan. 17 meeting; statements from developer representatives and housing staff.","The Maui County Council approved resolutions that exempt certain administrative conditions in county code to allow two affordable housing projects — Kilohana Makai (Kihei) and Aikanaha Residences (Waikapu) — to secure financing, with members saying the code may need broader updates.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672311,"Council amends grant to convey additional Lahaina parcel to community land trust for forever-affordable housing",4948,4352000,9300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=4352&end=9300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_4352000.jpg","/articles/6672311/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-amends-grant-to-convey-additional-Lahaina-parcel-to-community-land-trust-for-forever-affordable-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672311-34fc6a249e13370ea5bf563c5b5eaad9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=Hb2kU~54C-S9I5xjB0z1Kuy26~2WpeFDZY-fSMYeuXuUzS0w3lDIkM5~i~JaCq9jRMQJAR4CUq-3AUppTDmkpB3fYzI7qVibBLay7o-vJ08~Q1bLRD~kscYny-WWZZfr1QPKMFOUWeyO58Me3cHV-ysrobcnJYyHjO0I27HS7OAT4gS~C7T9GysJgj5ebtNKAdwUvqSAmFP6H1HojG~racttQQML24NDWHHCkbfvhE5XnvIDHObSHrE~zxbpksP0NmvcxpWEoJMdxZ8xNXKMVa5iPfJnh3fFsonzzri~Y0HtwYOB5OyhJRmbkUEvi~05Fsxey-5PAwF5tEGL1U2VSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council unanimously amended a prior grant resolution Jan. 17 to include a small adjacent county parcel in the deed to the Lahaina Community Land Trust, enabling the trust to develop a duplex intended to serve two local families in Lahaina.

Why it matters: The amendment adds a contiguous 1,500-square-foot parcel to a December 2024 deed and clarifies an easement so the county can retain utility access. Supporters say community land trusts keep homes affordable for generations by holding land in trust and separating land ownership from housing ownership.

Council action: After discussion the council approved the amendment on a recorded voice vote; the clerk noted the final tally as 8 ayes and 0 nos, with one member excused. The amendment amends Resolution 24-77 CD1 and transfers the additional parcel (tax map key as described in the resolution) to Lahaina Community Land Trust under deed restrictions tied to prior Affordable Housing Fund purchases.

Testimony and context: Autumn Ness, executive director of the Lahaina Community Land Trust, told the council the trust has secured two parcels and is under contract for two more, and that Dickinson Street (266 Dickinson) would be No. 5 in the trust’s portfolio. The trust said it has access to housing funds in this year’s budget and an internal construction fund that could allow it to proceed with building without outside financing.

Opposition and process questions: Edward Cordelia testified in opposition to the broader approach in earlier written testimony, arguing the council should not waive competitive public-auction or appraisal safeguards when disposing of county property. During council Q&A, members noted the parcel was purchased with Affordable Housing Fund dollars and is subject to deed restrictions that limit outright auctioning. Council members said the trust-based transfer is consistent with prior council action and state and county code governing disposition of county properties for public purposes.

What the council did: Councilmembers praised the trust’s work and approved the amending resolution so the trust can include the contiguous parcel in its deed. Council members said they expect the trust to move quickly toward construction and that the county will continue to pursue additional supports for Lahaina families.

Sources: Public testimony and council action during the Jan. 17 meeting; resolution materials transmitted to the council.","The council approved an amendment to a prior resolution to include an adjacent county parcel in a deed to the Lahaina Community Land Trust so the trust can develop a two-unit duplex for local families; supporters said the land-trust model helps protect residents from speculative sales.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_47":129,"_49":130,"_51":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":133,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":134,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672316,"Maui County considers agreement to salvage artifacts as private owner seeks demolition of Lahaina spring house",3367,1697000,5064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba&start=1697&end=5064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127895-2a734f023217a6a524b269435bab2aba/thumbnail_1697000.jpg","/articles/6672316/Maui-County/Hawaii/Maui-County-considers-agreement-to-salvage-artifacts-as-private-owner-seeks-demolition-of-Lahaina-spring-house","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672316-2dbc31ac3f1af61d2b32c2e50a3602af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445348&Signature=aGWOZuAm5W3HmSXVYmLlvlkxqCuRZtVush1YW1r9ymC1GJMFwZYEyC00s2hzcROE3XdvfvY~kkprroAr5RKW-M7FZGNlnMvmFY6ifSjLSAengOavV9M6xyZvR3DvuSSjk0V6MtrTnju~0zcz8SzqMceyhJ-apRKJHfLKnv8MNRsS9pobd~6NO1XTQ6HPvKQLMxsO1jA3chQOTKcEykaq8HnB2BWa4~Uvd6UKSH0RPqYQpwZh63Xu2r-IxEwvlTsUo~GNRc9kUdKD8yKfdEYRi4IDMF1l17J7kSX08yY35M~s4kAfg09vdyqLn~Pm5CPNLd38stkxpc0ML7eyNIC6Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council advanced an intergovernmental agreement on first reading Jan. 17 to allow federal debris-removal work at the privately owned Spring House property in Lahaina while giving the county a role in safeguarding historic stones and other recovered items.

The measure, passed on first reading 8-0 with one member excused, responds to an urgent timeline: Army Corps crews are scheduled to conclude their debris-removal work at the end of February, county staff said, and without an agreement any remaining standing walls or culturally sensitive materials could be cleared without a county role in their care.

Why it matters: The Spring House sits behind Front Street near Campbell Park and overlays an ancestral spring. Speakers at the council hearing urged preserving the structure and the spring; county staff said much of the surface debris already has been removed and only the vertical walls and concrete slab remain. With the property privately owned and the owner indicating they will pursue demolition, staff urged the limited, time-sensitive agreement as the county’s best available option to retain and protect cultural material recovered during removal.

Neighborhood groups and cultural stewards told the council they oppose demolition. Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation, said the building can be restored and described bringing a structural engineering firm that concluded “this does not have to be demolished.” Morrison said FEMA insisted on a full demolition rather than targeted removal and that the foundation has pursued alternative debris-removal options with the county. “No is a complete sentence,” Morrison said, summarizing his opposition to demolition.

Other testifiers—including historians and descendants—characterized the site as part of a biocultural landscape tied to Lahaina’s history and urged preservation. Jen Mader (testifying as a long-time worker with local mission descendants) said the spring is “a tangible link to these histories” and warned that demolition could expose and further harm the ancestral groundwater source.

County staff described the limited scope of the proposed agreement. Erin Wade, who handled debris-removal coordination with federal agencies, told council members that the Corps had completed most surface removal and that without the county agreement the Corps would move on and the remaining standing walls could be demolished without a county program to receive or safeguard recovered pohaku (stones). Wade said the agreement before the council would allow the county to accept and store recovered stones on county property so cultural stewards could later decide their fate.

Council members asked about alternatives. Director David Molitao (on the record as a resource for cultural protection) said any re-use of recovered stones would be reviewed under historic-district procedures; reconstruction or any new use would need historic-district permits and cultural-commission review. Molitao’s cultural assessment also stated such stones traditionally have high cultural significance and should not be repurposed for commercial ends. Councilmember Tamara Poulton asked staff to explore whether the county could pursue eminent domain for a small portion of the parcel that contains the spring house; staff said they would consult with corporation counsel and bring options back before second reading.

What the council did: The body passed the intergovernmental agreement measure on first reading (8 ayes, 0 nos, 1 excused). Staff and several council members said they would return with additional options, including potential property acquisition or other legal approaches, before final action.

Looking ahead: Council rules require a second reading to adopt the agreement. County staff and cultural practitioners said they will continue consultations, but stressed the near-term deadline because the Corps’ debris mission will end unless the county and the owner reach workable arrangements for recovered artifacts.

Sources: Public testimony during the Jan. 17 council meeting; county staff presentations and Q&A on the proposed intergovernmental agreement.","The Maui County Council advanced a measure that would let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remove debris from the privately owned Spring House site in Lahaina and let the county store historic stones and other artifacts for possible reuse, after months of competing preservation, owner, federal and community interests.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Maui County Council, Jan. 17, 2025

Council approves managed-retreat funds for Montokuji Mission to address shoreline erosion and exposed fuel tank hazard

Council approves water catchment and updated water-demand rules to help farms and households

Council grants exemptions to county affordable-housing conditions for two developer projects, citing financing needs

Council amends grant to convey additional Lahaina parcel to community land trust for forever-affordable housing

Maui County considers agreement to salvage artifacts as private owner seeks demolition of Lahaina spring house