Council authorizes managed-retreat fund use so Lahaina Community Land Trust can buy at-risk shoreline lots

The Maui County Council voted to allow use of the county’s managed-retreat revolving fund to enable the Lahaina Community Land Trust (LCLT) to acquire privately owned shoreline parcels, a measure intended to help preserve multi-generational family ownership and public access. Resolution 25-148 passed by voice vote after council discussion and public testimony.

Autumn Ness, testifying for LCLT, told the council the organization currently manages eight community-owned parcels and has additional parcels under contract and under easement. “LCLT’s prioritize this bucket of funding to use for the potential acquisition of owned by generational Ohana on the Lahaina shoreline who if not for the fire would continue living on that land but may face barriers to rebuilding because of shoreline issues,” Ness said. She said LCLT will prioritize intervening on a narrow set of parcels and that decisions will be coordinated with county planning, the Office of Recovery and shoreline experts.

Managing Director Josiah Nishita and Office of Recovery staff said speed is essential: explained that land sales can happen quickly and pre-authorization would allow LCLT to move rapidly on a family’s timeline. Nishita said the county has been supportive and that administration staff and LCLT are coordinating on when county funds should be used versus state, federal, or private sources.

Councilmember Robert Paulton, who moved the resolution, said the pre-approval was requested because families can decide to sell quickly and LCLT needs to be able to respond “to meet the family's financial needs and save the parcel from the market.” Members asked that LCLT report progress to the council; Autumn Ness said the organization will provide updates and include items in its annual report and earlier briefings as needed.

Clarifying testimony from LCLT said only a handful of families (Ness estimated “two, maybe three” in the narrow category of generational households considering sale related to the fire) currently fit the qualifying description, and that LCLT’s priority is to avoid buying property when other funding or solutions exist. The managed-retreat fund balance authorized by ordinance is $5,000,000; council discussion emphasized that the funds are intended for urgent, limited acquisitions rather than a broad buyout program.

The resolution passed with a recorded voice vote read as six in favor and three excused. The council directed LCLT and county staff to coordinate before any purchases were made and asked for periodic updates.