[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6520332,"mediaKeyId","5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee","parentId",5332940,"title","Council approves purchase authorization for 1.72 acres in Lahaina to support roadway, evacuation and infrastructure planning","audioSeconds",155,"startMs",4920000,"endMs",5075000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee&start=4920&end=5075","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee/thumbnail_4920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520332/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-approves-purchase-authorization-for-172-acres-in-Lahaina-to-support-roadway-evacuation-and-infrastructure-planning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520332-b2955e36514f21989c44f244ee3ce6d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770855959&Signature=aCXuR701KvY~Ss7ZACgdjuzm7kQn8KREWns1GmHHw3~zqE3A~z~K7UGDAdEvPgPkjONFAGIRKwt5-t-xDLvKdZB2sVE5PEt7zlcoDqGQt~zP5e3U8SNhrscfpa~Nts3xHk4olHP1DnlguPkTh3wwDMpbsgYjDL~pLRTw4aYs0GSxAG8LcUmwB7jjOB0cSUikhHDXPmRmg8rn27cF3~VhJ0L3PvoZFhN99Sl3sbAvg5mh0rA-zQF79FzSnIm3xAXR3zfmYfd6OsqDCoXuBmRwVuR53-iVQdxW0BV9u58L-CtjNNCCcH5B6cNeaSInYfUsLRy9J7oyyt8UZxoZgO~bqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Maui County Council on July 8 adopted a resolution authorizing acquisition of 1.724 acres in Lahaina across nine parcels for up to $1,950,000, exclusive of closing costs. The council acted after a committee discussion that cited transportation, evacuation and long‑term infrastructure planning as reasons to secure the land.

Why it matters: committee members said the parcels support a Kahuna Street and Dickerson Street roadway extension project intended to improve connectivity and evacuation access in Lahaina; the site was also described as a potential relocation area for a Hawaiian Electric substation whose current location conflicts with future road alignment.

Appraisal and purchase terms

Public Works Director Molina told the committee that the formal appraisal was $1,540,000 — roughly $410,000 below the asking price — but emphasized the scarcity of suitable parcels in Lahaina and potential public benefits from securing this site now. Possible future uses discussed included bus infrastructure, a drop‑box recycling center, and community serving uses depending on zoning and available acreage.

Council action

The council discharged the item from committee and then adopted the resolution following a brief discussion. The motion to adopt passed unanimously.

Next steps and context

If the acquisition proceeds, county staff will complete closing and then coordinate planning work to determine the parcels' specific public uses consistent with zoning and community input. Committee members framed the purchase as a preemptive step to secure land needed for evacuation access and future county infrastructure in a part of Lahaina where suitable public parcels are limited.

Ending note

Officials described the acquisition as an investment in infrastructure and evacuation planning; the appraisal and asking‑price difference highlight negotiation and budget choices the county may face during closing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Council of the County of Maui on 2025-07-08 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting - Jul 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Maui County Council authorized the acquisition of 1.724 acres across multiple parcels in Lahaina for up to $1.95 million to support a roadway extension, potential bus infrastructure and to reserve space for relocation of a Hawaiian Electric substation, citing unique site value and evacuation planning needs.","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},6520337,"Council approves Molokai carport solar lease to Molokai Clean Energy Hui; project aims to power about 150 households",7206,1770000,8976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee&start=1770&end=8976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee/thumbnail_1770000.jpg","/articles/6520337/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-approves-Molokai-carport-solar-lease-to-Molokai-Clean-Energy-Hui-project-aims-to-power-about-150-households","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520337-e62c6873d6f91655ccf9beb4334b54f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770855959&Signature=f0108i3kYn8HhL0W7lI~OhYr8hRpeC5oOZknmr4sYB9ryQ148~FJmPmPb02272Asuxseai7DeUccscr2XPSmvY~eCGqhCJ2kwQ-5BIfATn8IumImlWZQ~poynfIfG3yWEOdi81n9ceH-BCJL43EaW42aE7UnDusgp1NkKBSF6hiPpUyb7mcQTUC9n8rPqsAcP-kMea9sesaEuGjLs4F0A39n2MvVgM3zrgkePYrWt~KB45eDUBWNxjR~c2pzk6ToCxk8oyIV4~93e9PaU~E0riWJdVR2lBQDaDelxJim-G-GTuHR58BZv4ehBDgpqDaNHt8lylo6hrQwVgXlXIYeGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council on July 8 approved a lease of county property at Kualapu'u Park and Community Center on Molokai to allow construction of carport solar arrays as part of a community‑based renewable energy (CBRE) project.

The resolution authorizes a lease to the Oahu Energy Cooperative Molokai and related entities for construction of four carport arrays that backers say will generate about 250 kilowatts — roughly enough to serve 150 households. The council adopted the resolution unanimously.

Why it matters: proponents said the project is a community‑designed step toward Molokai energy independence, disaster resilience and energy equity. Testimony described lengthy islandwide community engagement that produced a design aligned with local priorities for Lele Aina (land stewardship), disaster resilience and local benefit distribution.

Project details and testimony

Laurie Buchanan, who testified in support, told the council the project is part of a broader Molokai effort to bring renewable energy to the island and to meet state goals. She said the carport array would provide shade for parking and that the project team worked with the county arborist and parks staff on tree replacement plans.

Testifier Leilani summarized community outreach for the Molokai Clean Energy Hui, saying the co‑design process included more than 2,700 individual conversations, 1,467 islandwide surveys, 30 focus groups and more than 16 community events. She said the design met the community’s standards for self‑governance, energy equity and affordability.

Funding and timeline

At the meeting, speakers said the CBRE program includes a larger set of projects. The total package cited during committee discussion was about $21 million: roughly $3 million from congressional direct spending through the U.S. Department of Energy, and approximately $9 million each in loans from American Savings Bank and Inclusive Prosperity Capital. Proponents said the carport component is expected to begin permitting and interconnection work and, if permitted, could supply savings of roughly 10–20% for subscribers; the lease term is 20 years.

Council action and next steps

The council adopted the lease resolution and will coordinate permitting, tree replanting plans and park access modifications with project leaders and county parks staff. Council members praised the extensive community involvement and noted the project’s potential to provide both shade and distributed generation capacity for the island.

Ending note

Supporters said the project represents a milestone for Molokai in community‑designed renewable energy and could provide modest cost savings to participating households while advancing local ownership of generation assets.","Maui County Council adopted a lease of parking‑lot space at Kualapu'u Park on Molokai for a community‑based solar carport project. Backers said the 250‑kilowatt project would serve roughly 150 households and is part of a larger Molokai energy initiative.",{"_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},6520341,"Council clears food trucks on agricultural land after public outcry over shutdowns",9332,1353000,10685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee&start=1353&end=10685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee/thumbnail_1353000.jpg","/articles/6520341/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-clears-food-trucks-on-agricultural-land-after-public-outcry-over-shutdowns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520341-0611f6dd2248107a8d5c2cac2a0eb4e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770855959&Signature=J1aPipW~AXKQVRGTl7aUNmAxgxtdCW0w5ga6xJzVMsjnjTuT6L3J4Po9Mit2XTQl2HirM-oyj26fE2k4yH9fBzvwdrTbLEkahcSd-cz3C5EHS0ryKQpj81rQsMtCRALwbkPmR5kcRPYKUi2qcTLFkBvgiS546~GOzx~~WLFs5LeMl3ib7pH27OfaLwmHdAn2hT1ak~2m5rsFSL2X7snvgzSuT7hTanOX8DAiOOzKz--RZlpCuYIS3Hlr1iFxH3VYY-RYcHO62cm22b84ypnGwooMa-tK7nIgrrdcQGYwuUhTmLiouf1vhXT1vA-E-kKvdQHw93HiSnJEveeoeff1zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council on July 8 approved an ordinance change allowing mobile food trucks and trailers in the county agricultural district, a measure supporters said is intended to restore income opportunities for farmers and small operators who had been shut down by recent planning‑department enforcement.

The council adopted a revised version of Bill 76 and substituted an updated draft at the meeting; the bill passed final action unanimously.

Why it matters: testimony at the meeting said planning‑department enforcement in 2023 closed food‑truck operations on farms in Hana and elsewhere, creating heavy financial hardship for operators and employees. Supporters described the change as aligning county practice with state law that expanded permissible agricultural uses and as a way to diversify farm income.

Public testimony

Sydney Smith, chair of the Ag Working Group, and other testifiers told the council the changes are necessary because farmers who used food trucks to sell directly to consumers were closed by planning staff even after trying to comply. Smith said farmers spent \"countless hours\" drafting ordinances to support ag tourism and asked the council to pass the measures so farmers \"don't need to do that.\"

Pamela Timpott, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, told the council she supported the bill because food trucks are a lower‑cost option than building a 1,000‑square‑foot restaurant and can help farmers expand farm‑to‑table sales. Jacob, a Hana food‑truck operator, described being shut down in 2023, saying the enforcement \"stopped my life\" and left him \"in a deep hole.\" Several other testifiers echoed those concerns and asked the council to remove a 500‑foot spacing provision that had been in earlier drafts.

Council action and changes

Members moved and approved a substitution incorporating planning‑department and legal revisions and then approved the bill on final reading. Council records show members removed the 500‑foot separation requirement in discussion and accepted planning‑commission edits that distinguished food trucks from farm stands. The council also discussed hours of operation and enforcement approaches but adopted language that allows food trucks on parcels when they meet registration and safety requirements.

Supporters and next steps

Supporters, including the Ag Working Group and the Maui Chamber, urged the council to pass the language to avoid future abrupt enforcement actions that they said had led to lost payroll and business closures. Council members directed staff to prepare implementing guidance consistent with county land‑use codes and safety reviews from Fire and Public Safety.

Ending note

The ordinance change is intended to give agricultural operators flexible retail options while proceeding to implementation details for access, safety and registration.","The Maui County Council voted unanimously to adopt changes allowing mobile food trucks and trailers on agricultural parcels, a measure testifiers said will restore livelihoods after planning‑department enforcement actions closed several operations.",{"_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},6520346,"Council narrows ag‑tourism ordinance, requires cultural consultation for activities representing indigenous traditions",3725,3120000,6845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee&start=3120&end=6845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332940-cfee49ebe089e22cedb18ad6cb858cee/thumbnail_3120000.jpg","/articles/6520346/Maui-County/Hawaii/Council-narrows-agtourism-ordinance-requires-cultural-consultation-for-activities-representing-indigenous-traditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520346-3172b1d243f4da45e991e31c1753806f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770855959&Signature=a0vv6UflwjSmSvHpyi5i3Z~F2RxNvx98qKp2fOoM0NFJHVs-BIQHlbonjd~RxIbK99alx1Op7s7LLsIDgUdbTNbOSXzNsZowQjnE1GSCC~MRyqaCv1yuW7qRPKxJ45OkPbAf5d9TwW7x9gzhjiQI6uGDgLBzyiNp6uv9JzbfsbsFavBQYjpIsCF1GSHgZH~cgipKoA~ZtCG4ipWJTpelbOXQjk8QPO7N6dvJwclEnvhOrLGU8230bySIYl3mIP930k~Z5BAVNdvvVHg3waxMG9Y1D4CEL2x0XDmhixWNtkpDyBe-LgHlr0eLwdwxrCOmgkUfKKb~nDtsEpgli9o~DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maui County Council on July 8 approved changes to the county comprehensive zoning ordinance (Title 19) to establish agricultural tourism as an accessory use on working farms, while adding new procedural safeguards for activities that present indigenous cultural traditions.

The council adopted a finalized version of the bill after two committee-level amendments: one requiring consultation with the Department of OUV Resources when a proposed agricultural‑tourism activity represents indigenous cultures, traditions or customs, and another suspending a producer’s registration for three years after three violations of the chapter. Council members approved the final substitute version of the bill by an 8‑1 vote; the two committee amendments passed earlier without dissent.

Why it matters: supporters said the changes update Maui’s zoning to reflect state law and help farms earn supplemental income; opponents and some council members said the bill needed stronger, enforceable protections against cultural appropriation. The discussion included multiple public testimonies from farmers and food‑truck operators who said prior planning‑department enforcement had disrupted livelihoods.

Council debate and votes

Council Member Gabe Johnson, who carried the measure, framed the bill as an economic and food‑security measure, saying the change would \"give our farmers more options to make their farming operations viable.\" The measure began in committee as a response to state statute changes in Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and committee work that produced an initial CD1 draft.

The CD1 draft had included a proposed role for the Department of OUV Resources in the registration process and a director's power to revoke registrations for repeated violations. After legal review and further drafting, the council substituted an FD1 version that deleted an automatic approval or veto role for OUV Resources and removed a commissioner-level revocation standard that had permitted up to a five‑year removal of registration. Deputy Corporation Counsel Andrew Nelson told the council he had not consulted with every affected department while preparing the FD1 language and acknowledged the constitutional concerns that motivated some deletions.

Members pushed and passed two amendments on the floor. Council Member Nancy Paulton successfully moved language that requires consultation: when an activity would \"represent the indigenous cultures, traditions and customs,\" the Department of OUV Resources must be consulted for guidance. Paulton's amendment passed 9‑0. She also moved an enforcement amendment to suspend a producer’s registration for three years after three violations; that motion also passed 9‑0.

Public testimony and concerns

Witnesses who spoke during the public comment period included Sydney Smith, identified as chair of the Ag Working Group, who urged approval and described the working group's multiyear study of the county code. Smith told the council the working group \"spent countless hours late into the evening after hard days on the farm to craft meaningful ordinances to improve the viability of our farms and ranches.\"

Multiple testifiers recounted enforcement actions by the planning department that they said had closed food‑truck operations on agricultural parcels. One Hana food‑truck operator, who identified himself only as Jacob, said the planning department had shut his business overnight in 2023 and left him \"hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt,\" adding, \"this gives me a lot of hope and a lot of light at the end of the tunnel.\" Several speakers representing the Maui Chamber and local growers urged the council to pass the bill to restore certainty and support farm income diversification.

Legal, enforcement and process tradeoffs

Corporation Counsel and some council members warned that provisions directly tying registration decisions to OUV Resources review could raise constitutional or due‑process questions; those legal risks led to the FD1 language that frames OUV Resources as a required consultant only when the activity explicitly \"represents\" indigenous cultural traditions. Deputy Corporation Counsel Andrew Nelson said he had tried to resolve legal issues while preserving protections against cultural misappropriation but did not consult every affected department in drafting the FD1.

Several members said they wanted a clearer enforcement path for intentional, repeated violations but also recognized that enforcement of zoning violations is governed by the broader enforcement provisions in Article 5 of the Maui County Comprehensive Zoning Code (chapter 19.53). Member Naomi Rollins Fernandez said she would not support the substitute unless stronger protections were added; member support ultimately hinged on the Paulton amendments that added the \"must consult\" trigger and a three‑strike suspension.

Where this goes next

The council substituted and adopted the FD1 version of the bill as amended. Sponsors said they intend to continue refining implementation details with county staff and Corporation Counsel before subsequent readings to reduce the legal risk of enforcement provisions.

Ending note

Supporters said the changes were meant to bring county code into alignment with state law and to create income avenues for farmers. Opponents cautioned that cultural protections required clearer, enforceable procedures and departmental consultations during rulemaking and implementation.

","Maui County Council on July 8 approved amendments to the county zoning code to allow agricultural tourism as an accessory use on working farms while adding a requirement that activities representing indigenous cultures consult the Department of OUV Resources and new enforcement language following repeated violations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves purchase authorization for 1.72 acres in Lahaina to support roadway, evacuation and infrastructure planning

Council approves Molokai carport solar lease to Molokai Clean Energy Hui; project aims to power about 150 households

Council clears food trucks on agricultural land after public outcry over shutdowns

Council narrows ag‑tourism ordinance, requires cultural consultation for activities representing indigenous traditions