Maui Water Shortage

Water problems have stalled work on housing projects in three widely separated areas of Maui.

The Maui Planning Commission last week gave the lack of an adequate water supply as the reason for deferring approval of the three projects.

In west Maui, the Commission put off approval of a 52-unit condominium project. The development is planned for a site on the makai side of Honoapiilani Highway, near Mahinahina Point and between Honokowai and Napili.

The area has been plagued recently with a dirty and inadequate supply of domestic water. The State of Hawaii is proceeding with plans for a new fresh water well and a one-million-gallon storage tank for the area.

Carl Kaiama, director of the Maui County Dept. of Water Supply, asked the Commission to defer action on the condominium proposal until the State can test the new well. He said drilling and testing would not be complete for about six months. The Commission also deferred approval of an employee housing project in the Ulupalakua area of east Maui. The Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc., had asked permission for rezoning of 27.5 acres from agricultural to rural. New building lots, plus several existing lots and homes in the area, would be sold to ranch employees.

According to a Planning Commission staff report, the area's existing public water system cannot support any more users. It said there are no immediate plans to improve the system.

However, according to a representative of the ranch, the water usage would not be increased if the lots were sold only to employees who already live in the general area and now use the water system.

The rezoning request was deferred to give the Commission staff and ranch officials time to work out an acceptable development plan.

An inadequate water system also was cited as the reason for deferring action on a proposal by the Hana Ranch, Inc., for subdiving 40 acres of land into house lots for ranch employees. The land presently is zoned for agriculture.