200-Room Windward Hotel Planned in Kahului, Maui

By Wendy Osher

An Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice has been filed for a 200-room hotel proposed for construction within the Maui Business Park Phase II in Kahului.  RD Olson Development is planning construction of the four-story Windward Hotel on five acres of land off of Lauo Loop in Kahului, east of the current Costco Wholesale and Courtyard by Marriott property.

Plans call for a swimming pool, sundry shop, meeting and board rooms and a business center on property.  There’s also plans for on- and off-site infrastructure improvements relating to water, sewer, roads, drainage and electrical.

According to the EIS PN, the hotel will primarily serve users of the Kahului Airport, as well as others requiring accommodation in Central Maui.

The document notes that proposed hotel use will require a Motion to Amend the State Land Use Commission Decision & Order, a Change in Zoning and a n amendment to the the Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan.  After all land use designations have been obtained, a Special Management Area Use Permit will be required for development of the project which is valued in excess of $500,000.

In the cultural impact assessment portion of the document, two individuals interviewed expressed “concern for the proper management of stormwater and its potential effect on nearby wetland areas and nearshore waters.” Drainage mitigation was addressed in the infrastructure section of the report with plans for an engineering report to analyze anticipated changes in runoff and recommendations for improvements.

The lands comprising the Maui Business Park Phase II were previously planted in sugar cane by former HC&S operations.

Comments for an administrative 30-day public review and comment period on the EISPN are due by Feb. 7, 2019. Comments should be sent to the Maui Planning Commission with a copy to the consultant, Chris Hart & Partners, Inc.  Contact information is posted below:

Maui Planning Commission, County of Maui
Ms. Tara Furukawa, Staff Planner, (808) 270-8205, tara.furukawa@mauicounty.gov
2200 Main St., Suite 619, Wailuku, HI 96793

Chris Hart & Partners, Inc.; 115 North Market St., Wailuku, HI 96793
Mr. Brett A. Davis, Senior Planner, (808) 242-1955, bdavis@chpmaui.com

Windward Hotel. PC: EIS Preparation Notice, Source: Google Earth/Chris Hart & Partners

Windward Hotel. PC: EIS Preparation Notice, Source: Axis GFA/Chris Hart & Partners

Windward Hotel, Conceptual Site Plan. PC: EIS Preparation Notice, Source: Chris Hart & Partners