The Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee convened on July 23, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding housing affordability and market trends in the region. This meeting was a continuation of discussions from previous sessions held on June 9, June 18, June 23, June 24, June 25, and July 2.

The primary focus of the meeting was the recent fluctuations in housing prices, particularly in relation to the historical context of the Maui real estate market. A council member highlighted that the baseline for assessing recent price reductions is set against 2024, a year marked by record-high housing prices. Notably, the discussion revealed that condo prices, specifically those in the Bill 9 category, have surged by 50% in the two years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an additional 10% increase since then.

The committee examined the implications of these price trends, noting that the proportion of affordable condo sales has significantly declined. In the early 2000s, 50% of condo sales were affordable to local residents, a figure that has plummeted to just 21% in recent years. In stark contrast, only 5% of single-family home sales in West and South Maui are deemed affordable for residents, underscoring the pressing need for affordable housing solutions.

The discussion also touched on the financial burdens associated with property ownership, including AOAO fees and assessments for capital improvements, which are common across all types of housing. The committee acknowledged that while these costs are often labeled differently for single-family homes, they represent a significant aspect of home maintenance that all homeowners must manage.

As the meeting progressed, the committee continued to explore various strategies to address the ongoing housing crisis, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical price trends and their impact on local residents. The session concluded with a commitment to further analyze these issues and develop actionable solutions in future meetings.