39-Unit Nani Loa Condominium Hotel Proposed in South Maui

Nani Loa Condominium Hotel project rendering courtesy Chris Hart & Partners Inc. via FEA document. View looking southeast.

The Maui Planning Commission issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for a 39-unit hotel condominium complex proposed for construction on 1.4 acres of land in Kīhei.

The determination was made at the commission’s Nov. 10 meeting and was transmitted to the state for publication.

The Nani Loa Condominium Hotel is proposed by Victory Development on a vacant land-locked parcel mauka of Kamaole Beach Park II in South Maui.

According to a Final Environmental Assessment, the subject parcel was originally part of the adjoining parcel which contains the 180-unit Kihei Kai Nani development, a project that was constructed in 1970.

Nani Loa Condominium Hotel project rendering courtesy Chris Hart & Partners Inc. via FEA document. View looking southwest.

The project calls for one three-story building and one four-story building, with the lower floor of each to serve as covered parking for tenants and guests.

The final Environmental Assessment was triggered by the proposed Community Plan Amendment to change the land designation from multi-family to hotel use.

According to the FEA document, the design has 6 floor plans, ranging from 780 square feet to 1,462 square feet of either two or three-bedroom units.

In 2009, the parcel was the subject of a separate proposal that sought the construction of a 32-unit hotel condominium; however, the applicant was unable to pursue the project due to a downturn in the economy.  The FEA states that “the recent improvement in the economy has encouraged the applicant to resubmit this updated Draft EA document.”

Nani Loa Condominium Hotel project rendering courtesy Chris Hart & Partners Inc. via FEA document. Aerial imagery looking west.

Developers cited data contained in a Socio-Economic Forecast as reasoning for the project need.  According to the FEA, developers say the economic projections for the Maui County General Plan 2030 forecasts thatm “Maui County will need 25,713 visitor units by 2030 based on the expected increase in visitor arrivals.” The report further noted that the Nani Loa Hotel Condominium represents about 0.89% of the projected increase in units for the area.