#kahului aquifer

Maui Planning Commission recommends EC Pāʻia Town project rezoning as private water source raises questions

The Maui Planning Commission voted 5-3 Tuesday to recommend approval of the EC Pāʻia Town Project’s rezoning, after developers said the 170-home, mixed-use development would rely on private wells and a private wastewater treatment plant rather than county systems in Central Maui that already operate at or near capacity. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a related community plan amendment for the same 40-acre property.

Draft EIS published for Hoʻonani Village development in Puʻunēnē

The Maui Planning Commission called for an environmental impact review for the proposed 1,608-unit Hoʻonani Village development in Puʻunēnē, and developers have delivered a draft study with public comments due May 7. The state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development published the three-volume document Monday, initiating a 45-day public review period for the project planned […]

State clarifies Central Maui pumping data; groundwater aquifer limits are under review

State water regulators have clarified data regarding groundwater pumping in Central Maui, acknowledging that while current withdrawals exceed official sustainable yield limits, those limits are conservative estimates that are now under re-evaluation. The clarification comes following an Oct. 28 staff briefing before the state Commission on Water Resource Management. The main focus of the briefing […]

Drought leaves extreme low flows in East Maui streams; debate sparked over emergency easing of stream flow standards

Alarmed about a severe and protracted drought, state and Maui County water officials are reporting historic low flows in East Maui streams and weighing their options to maintain water supply to residents and farmers. The dry weather impacts are being felt in a region popular among visitors for its Road to Hāna, which traverses Maui’s normally lush landscape, a […]