DOE Planning

• Share information with the following people

  • Roy Ikeda, Richard Kiyabu, Cori China

Todo

1. ECA amendment #1 - with updated 14.2-acre land purchase (waiting for appraisal for 14.2-acre)

2. County code revisions - Title 19 - 19.96  12 to 26.2 acres for school

3. Request for right-in, right-out access from Waiale Rd ext. (waiting for the decision of Jordan, Director of Public Works)

4. Request for temporary wastewater capacity at Kahului WWTP (initial contact made)

5. Amendment to EIS

6. Updated traffic study

7. Division of the parcel (WCT)

8. DLNR approval is required before conveyance (WCT)

9. Warranty deeds from WCT, at least 90 days before the site work (WCT)

Waikapu Country Town

Summary

• Location: Waikapū, Maui, on 1,562 acres.

• Residential: Includes single-home homes, multi-family units, and rural units, totaling 1579 units.

• Commercial: Approximately 170,000 to 200,000 square feet of commercial space.

• Community Amenities: Features tree-lined streets, a lagoon, an elementary school on 12 acres, and 82 acres of open space and parks.

• Affordable Housing: The plan also includes 213 additional affordable housing units, bringing the total to 500 workforce units.

• Infrastructure: Includes a private wastewater treatment facility, an extension of Waiale Road, and a network of trails, paths, and sidewalks.

• Phased Development: The project is planned to be built in two phases, starting in 2017 with completion during 2026. 

History

• Waikapu Country Town Development (WCT) designated approximately 12 acres for future central Maui elementary school sites in 2017 as part of the Education Contribution Agreement. WCT will provide all the infrastructure required to support the future school.

• Wai'ale Community Development originally dedicated a 16.87-acre lot for a new central Maui middle school as part of the Education Contribution Agreement. However, the development ended abruptly after Hawaiian burial sites were discovered in the area. 

  • The Environmental Impact Statement for the Waiale development did not meet the requirements. 

  • In December 2021, Maui County purchased about 500 acres of land in Waiale from A&B Properties for $10.5 million.

  • County closes $10.5M purchase

  • 545-acre of land to be acquired by Maui Council 

• Waikapu Country Town was selected as the potential new central Maui K8 super school site, and DOE requested that WCT provide a 25-acre lot. Purchasing land and building all necessary infrastructure for an additional elementary school would have cost DOE significantly more money.

Land

• The parcel is located between Honoapi‘ilani Highway and the extended Wai‘ale Road, just south of Waikapū Stream. 

• The completion of Phase I infrastructure for the surrounding community is anticipated by the third quarter of 2027.

• The central Maui wastewater plant is expected to be completed in 2030.

• Environmental Assessment 

• Final Environmental Assessment 

• 2023 Annual Report 

• 2024 Annual Report 

• Rental housing in Waikapu Country Town - Maui Now 

• Zoning - County of Maui GIS 

• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report (6/26/2025)

County Code

• Chapter 19.96 WCT

• There are numerous mentions of “elementary” and “12-acres” in the FEIS. 

• "From a zoning perspective, “school” is a permissible use in the Residential and Education zones, we have to get a little more creative for the Main Street zone. " Albert

WCT Updates

• A Park Dedication Agreement with the County of Maui is being finalized, with County Council approval anticipated for summer 2025.

• An Archaeological Monitoring Plan (AMP) was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) and approved in 2024.

• A draft Traffic Memorandum of Understanding was submitted to the Department of Transportation in January 2025.

• Revised pump capacity permits for the two potable water wells to serve Waikapū Country Town were submitted to the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) in 2024 and were scheduled for approval in March 2025.

• The Department of Transportation signed off on a signalized intersection for the entrance of Maui Tropical Plantation and Honoapiilani Highway.

• A subdivision application for the Waikapū Country Town Neighborhood N1 Rural Subdivision was submitted to the County of Maui Department of Public Works (DSA) in May 2024.

• A subdivision application for the Waikapū Country Town N5 multifamily site ("Aikanaha Residences") received preliminary approval in January 2025.

• In February 2024, the Aikanaha project, a 212-unit affordable rental housing development within Waikapū Country Town, underwent review by the Maui County Council's Housing and Land Use Committee.

• In April 2025, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) awarded nearly 100 turnkey homes in Waikapū, with development of Phase II slated to start in May 2025 and families expected to move in early 2026.

• The project also received an extension for construction completion to 2029. 

Land Acquisition

When the DOE is the recipient of a school site to meet a school fair-share condition, the Educational Contribution Agreement between the DOE and the donor of the land shall spell out specific requirements to address subdivision infrastructure, service allocations, easements, land title issues, hazardous waste, and conveyance requirements. 

1. Land use condition

   1. The authority that provides the Department the ability to receive a dedication of land.

2. Education contribution agreement

   1. An agreement between the Department and the Developer that stipulates the requirements of the developer as part of the dedication.

   2. The agreement was signed on 1/31/2017

      1. The WCT will pay the DOE approximately $2,600,000 in impact fees for construction costs.

      2. The WCT will offer a 12-acre lot for a future school.

   3. Jeffrey Ueoka (Mancini, Welch & Geiger LLP) requested the school's planning information and suggested amending the agreement. 8/9/2022 

   4. TODO: Work on an amendment of ECA with WCT for the 26-acre lot.

   5. Clarification on the green buffer zone if it belongs to the school.

3. Formal due diligence

   1. Involves a wide range of complex matters, such as environmental assessment, analysis of zoning, obtaining governmental approvals, etc. 

4.  Closing

   1. The final step in executing a real estate transaction. It is the last step in purchasing and financing a property.  

5. Check with DOE B&F who should be the owner SFA => DOE (Wahiawa Center for Excellence issue; land owner (State Lib) - money allotment agency mismatch)

1. The DOE is further inquiring about the greenway buffer zone on the school site at the intersection of Olohe and Puapualenalena Streets.  We noticed that the greenway buffer zone is not shown on the latest school site map (26.200 acres).  Was it eliminated when the school site was expanded?  No, we will need to keep that greenway portion as it’s part of a larger WCT greenway (See below). 

2.  [Referring to the greenway buffer zone on the school site at the intersection of Olohe and Puapualenalena Streets.]  Are there specific limitations of uses/restrictions in these designated areas?  See the design guideline segment  #4 below and in the PDF pages 32 and 33 of the attached WCT Design Guidelines.  I think the best plan of attack would be for you to come up with a draft site plan and we can jointly (or separately) sit down with the Planning Department to confirm they are ok with the design and that it conforms to permitted uses.  We view the expanded school site as a huge benefit for the residents of WCT and will advocate accordingly!

3. The DOE had a request for the developer to consider installing a roundabout instead of the traditional intersection at Olohe and Puapualenalena Streets.  Please consult with the developers and let us know if that could be considered.  The intersection is currently being designed as a four-way stop intersection.  We would ask that our design continue as is.  It’s imperative that we get our improvement plans submitted as they are currently designed.  As your site plan evolves, if it is still an important issue for you, we can investigate how difficult it would be to seek approval and change.  The change would require, at a minimum, additional traffic studies.

Na Wai Eha

• Earthjustice - Requested Earthjustice for comments 1/3/25