The Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee recommended adoption of two resolutions authorizing the mayor to apply for 20‑year state enterprise‑zone designations for Napili and for a reconfigured Greater Maui zone.

The resolutions instruct the county to submit redesigned maps and a county benefits package to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) as part of the Hawaii Enterprise Zones Partnership Program. Committee members voted to forward the items with non‑substantive revisions; the motion carried, 6‑yes, 3 excused.

Why it matters: Enterprise‑zone designation makes businesses within the zone eligible for state incentives, including exemptions from the general excise tax and tiered state tax credits for up to seven years, and allows counties to offer additional benefits such as expedited permitting or property tax relief. The county must assemble a benefit package and submit it with the application by Nov. 15, 2025 for DBEDT and governor review before the current Greater Maui and West Maui designations expire on April 30, 2026.

Jason Ushijima, chief of the business support branch at the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, described the program and how businesses qualify. "Companies who are qualified for this program and are a part of it receive 100% exemption from general excise taxes," Ushijima said, and he outlined other state credits that phase down over a seven‑year participation period.

County economic development staff said Maui County currently offers priority permitting to qualifying businesses and is exploring additional incentives such as real‑property tax relief. Jade Rojas, the county’s economic development director, told the committee the administration plans to assemble a county benefit package and return to the council before the end of the year.

Committee members pressed staff on outreach and the proposed zone boundaries. Member Tamara Paulton said Napili residents had not been consulted and urged more community engagement before the resolutions reach final council action. Staff acknowledged that Napili was included in the West Maui Zone under the prior designation and said Lahaina will be included in the new designation maps being prepared for 05/01/2026. Council members asked staff to coordinate with planning, water, public safety and other agencies to confirm how priority permitting and any new county incentives would be implemented.

Senator Troy Hashimoto was identified by staff as the state legislator already engaged to help pursue any statutory changes to add new eligible industries; staff said the county intends to prioritize adding technology‑oriented activities (advanced manufacturing, software and data science, aerospace and creative digital media) in a targeted request to the Legislature rather than seeking a wide list at once.

The committee asked staff to compile (1) a written benefits package proposal by December, (2) outreach to affected communities including Napili and Lahaina, and (3) a list of businesses currently in the program and associated employment figures. DBEDT staff said the DBEDT director has up to 60 days and the governor up to 90 days to act on an application once it is submitted.

The committee recorded its vote to forward the resolutions to full council; the motion carried in committee by a 6‑yes, 3‑excused tally. The county will now prepare the application package, including any county benefits to be offered to participating businesses, and transmit it to DBEDT ahead of the November deadline.

In coming weeks the county will also gather community feedback and return to the council with more detailed benefit language, staff said.