Draft EIS filed for Honuaula Development

By Wendy Osher

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been filed for the controversial Honuaula Development in South Maui.

View towards the ocean from the Honua'ula property. Site Photograph Courtesy: Honua’ula Partners, LLC, and PBR Hawaii & Associates Inc.

The project gained approvals by the council two years ago after decades of discussion, legal challenges and debate over zoning.

The master-planned community is proposed for development on land located at the border of Kihei and Wailea and according to the DEIS, includes plans for 1,150 homes and an 18-hole homeowner’s golf course.

Developers say positive impacts of the project include the provision of housing, economic benefits and plans for the protection of native plants and resources in the area.

Potential adverse environmental impacts include: increased population in the region, potential traffic impacts, greater demands on public services, additional solid waste generated, additional electrical consumption, and short-term impacts to air quality and noise levels due to construction.

A 45 day comment period on the document begins today.

(Related archived story from October 25, 2010:  http://mauinow.com/2009/10/25/honuaula-developer-files-eis-preparation-notice/)