The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee on Nov. 5 heard a full presentation on the Hoʻonani Village mixed‑use proposal and then paused action after legal and planning officials said the Maui Planning Commission had not had an opportunity to review the change and additional technical analysis was needed.

"I raise a legal concern with respect to the fact that you do not have a planning commission recommendation," Deputy Corporation Counsel Michael Hopper told the committee, urging a Planning Commission recommendation before final action. The Planning Department’s director, Kate Blystone, told the committee she was not comfortable recommending approval of the change without an environmental impact study and additional technical information.

The project proponent, represented by Jeff Uyoka, described a 166.511‑acre site in Kahului proposed for up to 1,608 multifamily units in nine phases, with Phase 1 anticipated to include about 268 units and an affordability target described as up to 140 percent of area median income (AMI) though the team said it expects many units to be at or below roughly 120 percent AMI. Uyoka said the proposal is intended as a transit‑oriented, walkable community with on‑site open space and the potential for a combination of affordable multifamily housing, limited commercial uses and light industrial (M‑1) zoning stacked to preserve flexibility.

Several county departments provided written comments and asked for more information. Shane Agawa, Director of Environmental Management, said the property lies outside the county sewer service area and that Kahului’s wastewater treatment capacity would likely be insufficient for full build‑out until work on the Central Maui wastewater reclamation facility is complete (the department’s preliminary schedule targets late 2029). Agawa told the committee it may be necessary to upsize collection pipes and pump stations or to construct an on‑site wastewater reclamation facility.

Residents and experts who testified were sharply split. Dozens of speakers said the project could create workforce housing and help keep local families on the island. "Honani Village gives working people like me a chance at stable housing," construction worker James Lacey III testified. By contrast, other testifiers, including an aviation noise planner, warned that the site lies under the Kahului Airport flight path and urged deferral until an updated noise analysis and a full EIS are complete. "It will expose people and their children to high levels of noise that will damage their health," testified Albert Perez, who cited FAA and EPA noise benchmarks and urged an EIS before any land‑use changes.

Committee members discussed options for proceeding. Planning Director Blystone said the department would typically transmit the resolution and supporting materials to the Planning Commission and receive departmental comments, but that many agencies had said the resolution alone did not provide sufficient detail for substantive review. Deputy Corp. Counsel Hopper and the Planning Director both recommended obtaining a Planning Commission recommendation before any final zoning action to reduce legal risk.

The committee took no final votes on the bills. By unanimous consent it closed oral testimony and accepted written testimony into the record, and it recessed to reconvene November 6 at 9:00 a.m. so members could review uploaded department responses and allow Public Works, Environmental Management and other agencies time to provide additional information for the Planning Commission and the committee to consider.

Next steps identified by staff and committee members included scheduling the matter for Planning Commission review, completing a formal EIS or other technical reports requested by departments, and clarifying whether and how a 201H accelerated housing pathway would be used. No final land‑use ordinances were adopted at this meeting.