Urging The Office Of Planning And Sustainable Development To Consult With The Kahana Bay Steering Committee, County Of Maui, Department Of Land And Natural Resources, And United States Army Corps Of Engineers Regarding A Path Forward For The Proposed Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project.
SCR76 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution addressing the stalled Kahana Bay Erosion Mitigation Project on Maui. The resolution describes a regional effort led by the Kahana Bay Steering Committee, made up of condominium owners and a kuleana parcel owner, to restore eroded beaches at Kahana Bay. It notes that planning and environmental review work has already been underway for several years, including consultation, scoping, and a second draft environmental impact statement, but that the project has not advanced to a final environmental impact statement or implementation.
The resolution urges the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to consult with the Kahana Bay Steering Committee, the County of Maui, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify a path forward. It specifically asks the parties to consider whether the Corps would evaluate the project under Section 103 of the River and Harbor Act of 1962, what roles each entity would play if the Corps took over, and what financing options might be available with or without federal participation. It also requests a progress report to the Legislature by December 31, 2025.
SCR76 does not change Hawaii statutes or create a new regulatory program; instead, it directs state and local agencies to coordinate on a proposed coastal erosion mitigation project and to explore federal involvement. Its practical effect is to encourage intergovernmental consultation, potentially open the door to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers review, and keep the Legislature informed about project progress. The resolution also highlights financing issues under Maui County’s community facilities district framework and the need for public ownership of protective structures such as rock groins.
The overall sentiment appears supportive of moving the project forward, with the resolution reflecting concern about ongoing beach erosion and frustration that the project has stalled. The bill passed the Senate Water and Land Committee unanimously, 5-0, with amendments, suggesting broad agreement on the need for further coordination. The tone of the measure is collaborative and problem-solving rather than adversarial.
The main points of contention are not about whether erosion should be addressed, but about how the project should be structured and who should bear responsibility. The County of Maui has reportedly been unwilling to assume the liability associated with owning the groins needed for the project and has not adopted rules to implement the proposed financing mechanism. There is also uncertainty about whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would take on the project, and if so, what the timeline, responsibilities, and funding sources would be. These issues create tension among the condominium associations, county officials, state agencies, and federal partners over liability, ownership, and financing.