Breaking News Alerts

We'd like to send you alerts when breaking news happens. Hide this Message

Press "Allow" to Activate

×
  • News Topics
    • Maui News
    • Maui Business
    • Maui Discussion
    • Maui Coronavirus Updates
    • Maui Arts & Entertainment
    • 2022 Election
    • Crime Statistics
    • Maui Sports
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Maui Real Estate
  • Weather & Surf
    • Maui Weather Forecast
    • Maui Surf Report
  • Maui Lifestyle
    • Maui Job Listings
    • Food and Dining
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Real Estate
    • Obituaries
    • Events Calendar
    • What’s Open
  • Latest Maui Videos
    • 2022 Maui Police Week Memorial Service: officers, park ranger, federal agent honored
      Raising Cane's looks to hire 100 crewmembers for Kahului, Maui restaurant
  • Special Sections
    • Medical Minute
    • IMUA Discovery Garden

 
 
 
 
Maui Now
Aloha, !
My Profile | Logout
Aloha, Guest!
Login | Register
    Maui Now
  • Sections
  • Maui News
  • Business
  • Weather
  • Election
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Obituaries
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • News Topics
    • Maui News
    • Maui Business
    • Maui Discussion
    • Maui Coronavirus Updates
    • Maui Arts & Entertainment
    • 2022 Election
    • Crime Statistics
    • Maui Sports
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Maui Real Estate
  • Weather & Surf
    • Maui Weather Forecast
    • Maui Surf Report
  • Maui Lifestyle
    • Maui Job Listings
    • Food and Dining
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Real Estate
    • Obituaries
    • Events Calendar
    • What’s Open
  • Latest Maui Videos
    • 2022 Maui Police Week Memorial Service: officers, park ranger, federal agent honored
      Raising Cane's looks to hire 100 crewmembers for Kahului, Maui restaurant
  • Special Sections
    • Medical Minute
    • IMUA Discovery Garden

Real Estate

Real Estate Maui Now is
brought to you in part by

400 acres of major Lahaina project Villages of Leialiʻi offered to DHHL

By Kehaulani Cerizo
March 11, 2022, 6:30 AM HST
* Updated March 11, 9:47 PM
Listen to this Article
3 minutes
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

Project manager Stan Fujimoto shows part of the Villages of Leialiʻi area in Lahaina. PC: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. meeting
Lahaina Bypass Highway intersects the master planned community of Villages of Leialiʻi. PC: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. meeting

State owners of a major Lahaina development called Villages of Leialiʻi recently offered to transfer for free about 400 acres of the project’s land to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. 

Although transfer approval and future plans for the land will have to be ironed out by DHHL, the proposal was praised Thursday during a Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. meeting. 

“Without a doubt, we are excited about the proposal,” said Stewart Matsunaga, acting administrator of DHHL’s land development division. 

Blossom Feiteira, longtime advocate of affordable housing with a focus on Hawaiian Home Lands, also hailed the potential transfer. 

“We applaud the opportunity to expand the department’s reach in the west side of Maui and we look forward to further conversations and eventual transfer of these 400 acres to the department,” she testified. 

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Villages of Leialiʻi is a Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. master planned community on 1,128 acres of state-owned land in Lahaina, located mauka Lahaina Civic Center and divided by a long swath of Lahaina Bypass Highway. 

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Years in the works, Leialiʻi would eventually hold between approximately 3,000 and 4,000 residential units, two elementary schools, mixed-use, commercial, office and industrial sites, parks and open space, according to its master plan. 

Slightly more than 50 percent of the residential units will be affordable and go to families at 140% and below the Area Median Income. Other units would be market rate, HHFDC project manager Stan Fujimoto said during Thursday’s meeting. 

On Jan. 27, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation met with DHHL to discuss transfer of the stateʻs remaining undeveloped Leialiʻi land — 402 acres — to DHHL.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

A transfer agreement was drafted Feb. 22, which included certain obligations of water and roadway infrastructure, along with other terms.  

Matsunaga on Thursday said that the department is reviewing the area, the conditions and other terms. 

“I know there was a question regarding how the land will be used,” he said. “I think the first thing is that we will go to our commission to recommend acceptance of the offer and allow the chair to negotiate the terms and conditions of the transfer.” 

Matsunaga added that officials have been in preliminary conversations with beneficiary liaisons on the west side. 

Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin, whose residency seat covers West Maui, later Thursday said that she agrees with the transfer.

“I totally support this transfer of crown lands to DHHL because I don’t believe they should ever be sold,” she told Maui Now.

During the meeting, members confirmed that Leialiʻi is public trust, ceded land.

In 2005, Villages 1A and 1B of Leialiʻi, comprising about 72 acres, were transferred to DHHL. In 2007, DHHL completed Village 1A’s 104 homes and is currently working on 175 to 250 residential units in Village 1B. 

Also Thursday, Fujimoto provided updates on the Leialiʻi project, including funding details and construction timeline for Kaiaulu o Kūkuʻia, a 200-unit affordable family rental housing plan at the southwestern part of Leialiʻi, north of Keawe Street Extension and mauka existing Upper Kapunakea House lots.

Kaiaulu o Kūkuʻia construction is slated to start this summer, he said.  

PC: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. meeting
Kehaulani Cerizo
Kehaulani Cerizo was born and raised on Maui and worked for nearly 15 years as a news reporter, copy editor and features editor at daily newspapers. She earned awards at The Maui News in Wailuku and at Today’s Local News in San Diego.
Read Full Bio
Maui Jobs View All Jobs Chevron Forward

Kokua Real Estate Services, LLC
Maintenance Techs / Janitors / Landscapers
Central Maui · 20 hours ago
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort & Spa
Culinary 3 Full Time $1,000 Sign on Bonus
South Maui · 3 weeks ago

Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
Assistant Food & Beverage Manager
South Maui · 6 days ago

Pacific Media Group
Digital Marketing Specialist
Central Maui · 3 days ago

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
Mahalo for Subscribing
×

Related Articles

  • Turn-Key Lots Offered by DHHL in KapoleiTurn-Key Lots Offered by DHHL in Kapolei September 23, 2019
  • Rent-With-Option-To-Buy Homes Offered by DHHL on Hawai‘i IslandRent-With-Option-To-Buy Homes Offered by DHHL on… April 17, 2021
  • Major 200-acre industrial project planned for Lānaʻi gets key approval from state LUCMajor 200-acre industrial project planned for Lānaʻi… February 18, 2022
  • Major 670-acre housing project at Honuaʻula aims to move ahead; groups interveneMajor 670-acre housing project at Honuaʻula aims to… February 22, 2022
  • Proposed Resolution Urges Mayor to Grant Water and Sewer Credits to DHHL Lots in LahainaProposed Resolution Urges Mayor to Grant Water and… March 3, 2021
  • DHHL field investigation work in Lahaina set for March 14 to April 1DHHL field investigation work in Lahaina set for… March 12, 2022
Make the most of your Maui vacation with these top-rated activities: Maui Top 20: Maui Visitor & Tourism Information

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Maui Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments
Trending Now
1This Is Your Lucky Day Two Hawaiian Monk Seals Sunbathing On Kihei Beach 2Two Charged With Arson On Maui Third Individual Charged With Other Crimes 3Set To Open This Summer Mauis First Raising Canes Seeks 100 Plus Staffers 4Piʻilani Highway Open And Passable For Four Wheel Drive Vehicles 5Usps Offering 8 Free At Home Covid 19 Tests 6May 12 18 2022 Covid 19 Update 12 Deaths 7149 New Infections In Hawaiʻi
Back to Top
  • Maui News
  • Maui Business
  • Weather
  • Entertainment
  • Maui Surf
  • Maui Sports
  • COVID-19 Updates
  • Crime Statistics
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Maui Activities
  • Maui Discussion
  • Food and Dining
  • Real Estate
  • Events
  • What’s Open
  • Maui Jobs
  • About Maui Now
  • Contact Information
  • About Our Ads
  • App
  • Newsletter
  • Terms of Service

Copyright © 2022 Pacific Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | About Our Ads