What Really Happened at the Maui Planning Commission Hearing for EC Pāʻia Development
If you read the recent Maui News article, it would appear that the Maui Planning Commission easily moved the EC Pāʻia Expansion project through to its next steps, and that the community was cleanly divided in its support/opposition. (Watch the meeting here).
THIS COULDNʻT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. EC PĀʻIA (similar to other deep pocket developers) PACKED THE MEETING WITH REAL ESTATE AGENTS, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REPS, AND THEIR OWN PR FIRM.
Overwhelmingly, the Sayles Team made a strong showing of support, representing over 50% of the testifiers who supported the project. It begs the question of how much the Sayles Team will profit off not only the 40 acre development, but also the payday from the additional 245 acres of Gentlemen Estates also being developed by EC Pāʻia.
Pro-Development Testifiers (* only 1 is a current Pāʻia resident):
Michael Scott - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Erin Haywood - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Anthony Sayles - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Devin Atkins - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Dano Sayles - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Samantha Kramer - Realtor with the Sayles Team
Kanani Bishop - Realtor with the Sayles Team
*Deborah Ryback - Author
Pane Meatoga -(construction industry) Based on Oʻahu; Union Rep Operating Engineers Local 3 / Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund
Zach Gonzales - (construction industry) Goodfellow Brothers, Regional Manager
Leif Sjostrand - (construction industry) Goodfellow Brothers, Senior Estimator
Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins (Current Councilmember who testified as private resident)
Lahela ʻAiwohi - EC Pāʻiaʻs Public Relations Firm (Ola Maui)
Testifiers OPPOSED to the Change in Zoning and Community Plan Amendment included Pāʻia residents and community members, Maui Tomorrow, and Surfrider Foundation. The Pāʻia residents showed up on their own time, were not paid, and represented their neighborhoods and families - not corporate interests.
Maui Planning Commissioners express SERIOUS Concerns about the EC Pāʻia Project
Itʻs important to note that Maui Planning Commission voted 5–3 to recommend approval of the rezoning only AFTER a recommendation to DENY the rezoning was motioned by Commissioner Mark Deakos.
Commissioner Deakos, as well as Commissioners Lind and Vice Chair Kealoha, raised significant and unanswered questions — particularly around water, traffic, true affordability, environmental review, infrastructure, public safety, and the process being used to move the project forward.
For a development that stands to significantly increase Pāʻiaʻs population and character, those questions deserve answers.
Commissioners Deakos and Lind ALSO supported a motion to DENY the change in zoning, citing concerns about the lack of information received from EC Pāʻia related to water, waste water, traffic impacts, lack of environmental assessment, and the use of the council initiated process that bypasses public concerns and early-stage environmental reviews. Commissioner Deakos noted that the significant amount of traffic infrastructure, potable water, waste water systems, and more seemed like substantial impacts for only 34 workforce rental units.
Ultimately, the motion to deny failed and Commissioner CJ Elizares made a motion to approve the change in zoning. The motion to approve was seconded by Commissioner Joshua Circle-Woodburn.
Commissioners Mark Deakos, PhD. (marine scientist), Crichton Lind (cultural practitioner from East Maui), and Andrea Kealoha, PhD. (water quality expert), cast the three dissenting votes and did not feel that there was enough information on the developmentʻs impacts to approve the change in zoning.
The Current Maui Planning Commission has strong ties to development/developers
The Maui Planning Commission consists of 9 appointed volunteers who are nominated by either the Mayor or the Maui County Council. Currently, 4 of the 9 commissioners are directly connected to large landowners, developers and/or the construction industry (either as current or former employees/union representatives).
Christopher "CJ" Elizares - Works for ATC Mākena/Mākena Golf & Beach Club and is a consultant for Cal Chipchase (lawyer for EC Pāʻia)
Keaka Kamai - Contractor and Organizer with DC50 (Painterʻs Union) and a part of the Tapers Union local 1944 for over 2 decades (both are construction unions)
Prentis-Ray Noʻeau Patao - Works as a Maui field representative for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters (HRCC) (construction union)
Joshua Circle-Woodburn - Former Land Development Project Manager with Discovery Land Company (note - Discovery Land Company owns Mākena Resort/ATC Mākena)
While Commissioners should base their decisions on the merits of each project or proposal before them, direct ties to large landowners, the construction industry, and developers can raise legitimate concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of the decision-making process.
Commissioner Christopher "CJ" Elizares even stated that he "likes sitting in traffic" and "maybe we should add [more traffic lights] to Pāʻia" that he can wait in.
These are the types of discussions, influences, and thoughts that are shaping the future of Pāʻia Town for Pāʻia residents.
Also note that Commissioner Chair Brian Ward called in sick the morning of the September 8 meeting, requiring Vice Chair Andrea Kealoha to step in as Chair. As Chair, Commissioner Kealoha was not able to make a motion nor second a motion.
What Happens Next?
The Planning Commission’s 5–3 vote does not constitute final approval of EC Pāʻia.
The recommendation now heads back to the Maui County Council for further action.
Substantial approvals also remain ahead. The property remains designated Agricultural at the state level and requires a Land Use Commission district boundary amendment. A portion of the property falls within the Special Management Area, meaning the project will eventually return to the Maui Planning Commission for an SMA permit. Environmental review and additional permitting also remain ahead.
And donʻt forget about the other 245 agricultural acres that Sam Hirbod has already subdivided into 18 gentlemen estates.
The conversation is far from over.
And now is the time for the community to pay attention.
Maui Can Support Housing AND Demand Better Planning
No one argues that Maui desperately needs housing. But supporting housing doesn’t require supporting every development simply because the word “housing” is attached to it. To be clear, the EC Pāʻia project is NOT an affordable housing project. It will provide only 34 workforce rental units and 26 "gap" houses for high income earners. The remaining single-family houses will be sold at market rate ($1.2-$1.6 million).
If the stated goal behind EC Pāʻia is to help local people remain in Pāʻia, then the project should be measured against that goal.
Show the community the sustainable water source.
Show how many working local families will realistically be able to purchase these homes.
Complete the environmental assessment.
Listen meaningfully to the existing community.
And make sure Maui is creating the housing Maui actually needs, rather than allowing the housing crisis to become justification for rushing major land-use decisions.
Maui can want more housing and demand responsible development.
Those aren’t opposing positions.
They’re what good planning should look like.
Pāʻia deserves thoughtful planning that benefits the Pāʻia community, both now and in the future. A community plan amendment and change in zoning that dictate the remaining growth areas in Pāʻia, without broad community input or critical review of environmental and community impacts, is not thoughtful, responsible, or congruent with the very intention of the Pāʻia Community Plan.
Comments