A brief history of the development

1963

Naupaka Beach (the beach in front of Seibu's Maui Prince Resort Hotel today) is listed on maps as a 2.3 acre State Beach Reserve.

1964

Ulupalakua Ranch hires surveyors to re-establish boundaries for the 2.3 acres to prove it is actually part of Ulupalakua Ranch. The state accepts the Ranch's survey as correct.

1967

State Beach Reserve Naupaka Beach disappears on the tax map & becomes part of Ulupalakua Ranch.

1970

Residents sign petition to save Hoapili Hwy/ Makena Road between Kihei and Makena from relocation by Intercontinental Hotel Construction (Outrigger Hotel).

1972

16.1 acres mauka of Naupaka Beach, owned by the state, is given to Ulupalakua Ranch in a land swap for Po'olenalena Point. (Chang's Beach) The appraised value for these 16.1 acres is $21,000. No public discussion or legislative review is required by law.

1973

Ulupalakua Ranch now offers the attractive beachfront parcel (obtained through boundary "re-adjustment") and adjoining hotel site (16.1 acres obtained from the state) to Seibu Hawaii, which purchases it for $2.5 million. In addition, Seibu also buys an additional 1,000 acres from the Ranch for $7.5 million to create proposed Makena Resort.

Local protests begin against the Makena Resort development plan.

1974

State of Hawaii completes a major survey of Maui sites for the National Register of Historic Places. 15 complexes in the Makena area, with hundreds of sites, are listed, including Hoapili Trail/Makena Road.

1975

Seibu/Makena Resort Master Plan EIS approved by Maui County Council. Seibu files a General Plan Amendment for their entire 1,000 acres.

Seibu becomes a partner in the Central Maui Joint Venture (CMJV) with Wailea Resorts, A&B Properties, and C. Brewer, to construct a water pipeline from 'Iao Valley to South Maui. Seibu and Wailea Resort lend the project $7 million, which is repaid over 15 years.

1978

Seibu undertakes "improvements" of four miles to Makena Road from Wailea Alanui Dr. north of the hotel to Kanahena (the area was a dirt road) at a cost of $3 million.

1979

County Planning Commission hearing held on the Seibu hotel. Four people plus Seibu spoke in favor of the plan, 20 people opposed it. The Planning Commission approves a Special Management Area (SMA) permit for hotel.

Sierra Club Maui, People to Save Makena, and allies file a complaint in circuit court asking the Maui County Planning Commission to invalidate the Seibu SMA permit, calling Makena "just the kind of coastal zone area are that the Council planned to protect when it passed the Coastal Zone Management Act." The suit asks for a serious and in-depth consideration by the Planning Commission before the decision is made. Legal challenges stretch over several years.

CMJV pipeline completed. Water from 'Iao Valley wells arrives in South Maui.

1980

After a ruling by the state attorney general, Hawaii de-lists from the National Historic register all Maui historic places registered from 1972-78 including all those in Makena and the Hoapili Highway/Makena Road.

Makena Resort master plan included in Kihei-Makena Community Plan.

1981

Seibu proposes closing a portion of Hoapili Highway/Makena Road and building a new, larger road, further mauka. Citizens and community groups protest the loss of the ancient road (part of the approximately 138-mile-long King's Highway).

Briefs are filed in the 1979 Seibu Hotel SMA challenge. Residents erect "condo-buyers go home" signs in Makena as legal battles continue. County pays $200,000 for a EIS on Makena Resort development, which is criticized by local citizens and press

1984

Prominent citizens sign a letter to Maui's Mayor, County Council and Seibu to urge that the traditional road remain open, and ask that a public hearing be held to address the issue.

Maui Historian Emeritus Inez Ashdown begs the County Council not to "close the age-old beach road by Keawala'i Bay, but beautify it for this generation of Hawaiians and other long-time owners."

Maui County Council holds public hearing on Makena Road issue. Hui Alanui o Makena files complaint challenging County's ability to abandon a historic road used for traditional access.

A land exchange is proposed between the state and Seibu for 8 acres of Big Beach, owned by Seibu, in exchange for 1,100 feet of Hoapili Highway/Makena roadway. Citizens oppose the concept.

State BLNR approves the exchange of 9 acres of Seibu land on Big Beach for 66 acres of state land in Makena. Legislative approval takes several years. After the Hui Alanui O Makena lawsuit is settled, the land is swapped in 1986.

1985

Construction begins on Seibu's Maui Prince Hotel on Makena's Naupaka Beach. Hotel opens in 1986.

1986

Hui Alanui O Makena lawsuit is resolved. Seibu issues an environmental impact study on the road closure and agrees to dedicate a 15-foot wide public trail along the former Hoapili Highway/Makena Road alignment, build a public parking lot and restrooms.

1995

Seibu asks the State Land Use Commission for a district boundary amendment to change 146 acres from "Ag" to urban. (25 acres for a hotel, and 120 acres for apartment/condos.)

LUC approved the request with 22 conditions, to be met before county zoning was changed. Conditions:
* need for affordable housing
* adequate water & road capacity
* preservation of historical sites
* protection of near-shore water quality

One condition requires Seibu to notify the LUC of any intent to sell the land prior to development.

2001

Seibu requests changes in county zoning for 755.7 acres as part of its Master Plan. The re-zoning requests would allow 137 acres that was not zoned for development, and 15 acres, zoned for single-family homes, to be converted into condos and hotel timeshares.

2002
Maui County Council Planning Committee hears public testimony on proposed Makena rezoning. If the zoning is approved, construction would start on condos and timeshares within two years. More than 200 people attend the hearing. No decision is made

2003
County Council's Planning and Land Use Committee, chair Wayne Nishiki requests supplemental information from Makena Resort to allow committee members to make a decision on the project based upon a complete view of the resort's plans for preserving historic and cultural sites, protecting reefs from land based pollution, ensuring public access and securing adequate water resources.

2004
A hearing on Makena rezoning in the County Council's Planning and Land Use Committee, chaired by Council Member Wayne Nishiki, will be held on March 8 in Kihei.