Mayor Bissen announces interim and permanent Safe Parking sites for those experiencing houselessness

After flooding from Kona Low storms earlier this year prompted the County to reassess a previously identified Safe Parking site, the County of Maui is moving forward with a new, interim Safe Parking location on County property in Puʻunēnē and a permanent site in Kahului, Mayor Richard Bissen announced on Wednesday.

The temporary Safe Parking site will be located on a County of Maui parcel off Pūlehu Road in Puʻunēnē and will be ready in approximately six weeks, Bissen said. Meanwhile, work is under way to establish a purpose-built, permanent Safe Parking location on County property in Kahului.

“We recognize the urgency of addressing houselessness, and our focus is on protecting public safety while creating safe, managed alternatives for people who need them,” Bissen said. “I have directed our team to move as quickly as possible to get interim Safe Parking in Puʻunēnē operational, while we continue advancing a permanent solution in Kahului.”

Safe Parking refers to a designated, legal place where people who are experiencing homelessness and living in their vehicles can park and sleep in their vehicles overnight in a safe and sanitary environment, while also having access to supportive resources.

A previously identified Safe Parking site off Hansen Road in Kahului sustained significant flooding from the March 2026 Kona Low storms. County officials reassessed options after the severe weather impacts and identified more secure options moving forward.

Efforts to establish a Safe Parking program began under the previous Administration, with Ordinance 5419 enacted in September 2022. The J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku was initially identified as the preferred location, but the proposal did not move forward following concerns raised by Councilmembers regarding the site and funding process, as well as the need to complete a formal procurement process.

“For individuals who are not living in vehicles, the Department of Human Concerns is also pursuing additional temporary shelter options, including an interim Safe Sleep program modeled after programs implemented in other counties,” said Margaret “Maggie” Willis, the new director of the County Human Concerns department. “Our approach is focused on addressing immediate public safety concerns while establishing safe, managed alternatives that connect people with behavioral health treatment, services and pathways to permanent housing.”

County departments and sections that regularly respond to sites with houseless individuals, providing support and cleanup efforts, include Office of the Mayor, Department of Human Concerns, Department of Public Works, Department of Environmental Management and Maui Police Department.

County officials are also expanding behavioral health outreach in partnership with Aloha House and the Maui Police Department’s CORE team, bringing services addressing mental health and substance use directly into the field.

Mayor Bissen thanked the many County and state partners, along with nonprofits, churches and other outreach groups and individuals, who are working to serve and assist Maui Nui houseless residents.

“There is an important role for both the Administration and Council in advancing solutions for houseless individuals and our most vulnerable populations, and we welcome opportunities to work together on legislation that can remove barriers and expedite projects,” Bissen said. “This is a shared responsibility, and by bringing the tools and resources of both branches together, we can help get solutions on the ground faster. Houselessness transcends politics – we need to continue to provide on-the-ground support to people in the most need – evidence that demonstrates aloha in action.”