Makena Resort - Who wants it? Why?

By Jan Welda Fleetham, Haleakala Times

In 1973, a Japanese Corporation called Seibu purchased from Ulupalakua Ranch over 1,000 acres of land near Wailea in south Maui, in order to create what they planned to call Makena Resort.

Local protests against this began immediately, and have continued to grow over the years.

Organizations such as Hui Alanui O Makena, Maui Tomorrow and Sierra Club, as well as hundreds - possibly thousands - of residents and visitors, are vitally concerned with protecting and preserving the traditional rural character of this historically significant area.

In 1974, the State of Hawai'i listed 15 complexes in this area for the National Register of Historic Places. In 1981, an "archaeological reconnaissance" was done of land that was being considered for an expansion of the Makena Golf Course - 82 sites and site complexes were located just in that small area, although other sites had apparently been long since bulldozed over.

Then, as now, it seems that the only people in favor of this resort being built are those that will benefit monetarily from it.

For a closer analysis of the situation, George Cooper and Gavan Daw's book Land and Power in Hawai'i, Chapter 9, "Maui: Developing Kihei," is a good start.

Issues such as water rights and usage, sewage, potential pollution of nearshore waters, beach access, traffic generation and safety, road extensions, other impacts on the environment, plans for future expansion, etc., each warrant careful study and consideration.

Seibu was able to build the Maui Prince Hotel, which opened in 1985, and is currently attempting to change the zoning in much of its property. For example, in 2001, changes in County zoning were requested for 137 acres NOT zoned for development, and 15 acres zoned for single-family homes, to be converted into potential condos and hotel timeshares. Currently, no decision has been made.

Public hearings are expected in early 2004; important zoning decisions could be made; you can help make a difference. Please contact Maui County Councilmembers or Mayor Alan Arakawa's office to comment on this.