A Maui County Council committee unanimously advanced Bill 97 (2026), which would allow the state to drill three new groundwater wells in Waiʻōhuli dedicated entirely to Native Hawaiian homestead lots. The bill moves to the full Council for a first reading.
- The three proposed wells would have a combined capacity of 1.73 million gallons per day, potentially serving an estimated 2,880 residential units.
- All water output would be directed exclusively to DHHL beneficiaries, bypassing the county’s broader Upcountry water system.
- Over 1,000 already-awarded homestead lots in the area remain unbuildable due to lack of water infrastructure.
- The county’s existing Upcountry water supply depends on rainfall-sensitive surface treatment plants, making separate well infrastructure preferable to county officials.
- At least one council member raised questions about whether some well capacity should be shared with the county’s general Upcountry meter waitlist.
Source: Hoodline
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