More than 30 years ago, an idea was first whispered under the name “Wailea 670”. A vast piece of land stretching across the rolling hills above Wailea. Hugging the southern edge of Maui Meadows. For decades, the vision has lingered. Reimagined. Fought over. Celebrated by some… feared by others.
This place is no ordinary parcel of land. Beneath the kiawe trees lie remnants of old Hawaiian life. Terraces carved for farming. Trails of stepping stones, shelters, and heiau serving as the centerpiece for important ancient ceremonies. Every discovery added another layer of meaning and invited another voice to speak up.
A Battle of Perspectives
For some, Honuaʻula holds the promise of relief. Maui’s housing crisis has grown heavier with each passing year. To this end, the project’s backers point to workforce homes and affordable neighborhoods as part of the answer. Others see something different. A threat to what cannot be replaced. Acknowledging that once you disturb sacred land and fragile ecosystems, you cannot put them back.
A Timeline That Stretches On
The County Council first gave its blessing back in 2008 but progress never came easy. One legal challenge followed another. Groups like Maui Unite, Sierra Club, and later Maui Tomorrow pressed their case that preservation efforts on the were not enough. The years blurred into decades, fast forward to our current day and the project sits on the table… waiting.
Just recently the Council once again voted, approving by the narrowest of margins, to move Honuaʻula forward. Two bills now rest on the mayor’s desk. On paper, the project would carve out space for more than a thousand homes. In reality, the story is far from settled.
How Dreams Changed Shape
In the beginning, plans promised nearly 1,400 homes, shops, even an 18 hole golf course. Time and resistance chipped away at those ambitions. The golf course disappeared. Entire sections of land, 160 acres, were promised to stay untouched forever, protected by easement. Boundaries widened to buffer Maui Meadows. A park appeared in the design. Height limits crept in. Every compromise reshaped the initial vision of this project.
The Housing Question
Affordable housing has been the beating heart of this story. At first, only 250 homes were promised. Somehow, not even within the development itself. They were slated for North Kīhei. That sparked understandable outrage. Years later, negotiations pulled some of those homes back into Honuaʻula’s borders. Today, the proposal includes nearly 300 workforce homes alongside hundreds of other residences; still, for many locals the question lingers, will it ever be enough?
Roads, Paths, and Promises
Developers now speak of “low impact” design. They talk about keeping gulches natural, weaving in sidewalks and bike lanes, expanding Piʻilani Highway into four lanes with roundabouts instead of stoplights. On paper, the neighborhood would feel modern and connected, while still shaped to fit the land. But as with everything else in this saga, promises and plans are not the same as reality and execution.
The Future Remains Unclear
Despite the decades, despite the approvals, despite the press releases and proposals… no shovels have yet broken the soil. More hearings remain. More mediation is underway. The Planning Commission still holds the power to decide what comes next.
A Generational Debate
What began in the 1990s as a zoning change has grown into one of the most drawn out and polarizing conversations Maui has ever had about growth. Will there ever be a true compromise between those arguing from opposite ends of the development spectrum. Honuaʻula has become a mirror of sorts, reflecting the tension between preserving heritage and meeting the urgent needs of today.
The story is still unfinished. Honuaʻula remains an idea caught between past and future… between the voices of those who call for preservation and the voices of those who plead for housing. However it ends… one truth is certain… this single stretch of land has already shaped Maui’s history for more than three decades… and it will continue to shape the island’s future for generations to come.
Contact a Maui Real Estate Specialist
Yes we will always be your trusted advisor in the real estate market. But it’s so much more than that! A REALTOR should be that professional who recognizes their role in supporting your wealth building and preservation. Helping to magnify wealth is one of the core values of The Sayles Team; a set of guiding principles for how we serve our clients at the highest level.
As experts in the field, we are constantly learning. This is all about providing guidance, making the wisest choices for the future. If someone you care about needs such guidance or recommendations, please share our contact information. We would be honored to help them! As ever, we are here to provide resources. Reach out today for your up to date, in-depth market analysis or an evaluation of your property’s value.
Aloha,
Anthony Sayles R(S)
808-280-6532