Easter Seals Hawaii Plans Maui Center for Disability Services

By Wendy Osher

Courtesy: Commercial Properties of Maui and FEA filed by County of Maui, Community Development Block Grant Program.

Easter Seals of Hawai’i (ESH) is proposing a renovation project on lands it recently purchased from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. near the Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center.

The property, near the Onehee entrance to the mall, was previously utilized as a preschool for children of ML&P employees, and more recently as a preschool operated by Kamehameha Schools Maui.  A separate building on the property was previously used by ML& P as a dormitory for seasonal workers.

Easter Seals plans to renovate and modernize two existing buildings on the property (located at 155 South Wakea Avenue), and utilize the center to provide programs and services for clients with developmental disabilities and special needs.  ESH plans to convert the dormitory portion of the property into offices and transitional housing for program participants.

The property, purchased by ESH in 2010, is currently zoned as Heavy Industrial.   Due to the sandy soils underlying the project site, archaeological monitoring has been recommended to ensure adverse impacts to archaeological resources are avoided.

The County of Maui, Community Development Block Grant Program filed a Final Environmental Assessment for the project with a finding of No Significant Impact.