#Maui Planning Department

County of Maui Department of Planning is informing property owners and residents within the Special Management Area (SMA) throughout Maui County of limited activities that are permissible due to the state’s emergency proclamation tied to the current and recent storms.

Op-Ed: Jonathan Helton with the Grassroots Institute of Hawaiʻi comments on a bill coming up before the Maui Council on Friday that would exempt from the county zoning height limits certain properties that were destroyed by the August 2023 fires. He urges that the Council broaden the scope of the measure to include all affected property owners.

The County of Maui Planning Department has issued a Request for Proposals for professional services to assess and provide recommendations on a potential update to the Maui Island Special Management Area Boundary.

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation invites residents to provide input on proposed plans for the Lahaina Recreation Center and the Kelawea Mauka Park playgrounds during a community meeting Monday, May 12, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall.

The County of Maui Department of Planning launched an expedited Special Management Area exemption process for parcels in the Lahaina Disaster Area.  The link went live Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, and the Planning Department has 20 exemptions in the pipeline. 

The County of Maui Department of Planning is conducting a quality of life survey to assist in assessing residentsʻ opinions on core themes and topics identified in Maui County’s General Plan. The survey will cover general aspects of quality of life and resident satisfaction, not immediate needs related to the August 2023 fires and resulting economic recovery. 

Ana Lillis, a former planner in the Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division, was named Deputy Director of the County of Maui Department of Planning. Her official start date is April 1.

Mayor Richard Bissen today announced the retirement of Planning Director Kathleen Ross Aoki, as she wishes to focus on her family after losing her Lahaina home in the Aug. 8 fire. Her retirement is effective Dec. 31, 2023.

Lānaʻi residents are being asked to weigh in on the creation of a Maui County wetlands map during a public meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 24, at Lānaʻi High & Elementary School cafeteria in Lānaʻi City.

Molokaʻi residents are asked to weigh in on the creation of a Maui County wetlands map during a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center conference room in Kaunakakai.

The County of Maui’s Planning Department will be closed all day on Thursday, Dec. 8 for staff training. All offices will reopen the following day, Friday, Dec. 9. 

The Plans Review Section of the Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division will be closed to the public temporarily on Wednesdays beginning Nov. 16, 2022. The Maui County Department of Planning made the announcement today saying this will allow personnel to catch up on a backlog of plan reviews for permit applications.

The Maui County Planning Department has scheduled public meetings to discuss the latest versions of the Special Management Area and Shoreline Rules before presenting them to the Maui Planning Commission for adoption.

The department has 82 full-time employee positions and one part-time position. Six positions were newly funded in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and have not been filled. There are 12 other vacant staff positions.

The Maui County Planning Department announced today that new rates and fees will take effect on July 1, 2022, with Maui County’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

The Planning Department has completed an interactive and publicly accessible map of pending and recently completed projects throughout Maui County.

The Maui County Planning Department closes its offices on the third floor of One Main Plaza, Suites 315 and 335, from Thursday, Jan. 6 to Friday, Jan. 7.

The County of Maui issued a Stop Work Order to Nāpili Beach House, LLC, developer of a large single-family residence under construction in Nāpili. The home has been the subject of an ongoing dispute over its permits and size, as well as community concerns involving the height of the structure.

The Maui Charter Commission continued its year-long evaluation of proposed charter amendments at a virtual meeting last week with the approval of four proposals under Theme G – Planning. The Commission’s next meeting Nov. 18 addresses the police and Executive Branch. 

The Maui Charter Commission will receive testimony and discuss the remaining 10 proposed charter amendment under Theme G – Planning and also consider Theme H- Police at its next regular online meeting on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 9 am.