The Maui County Council has given preliminary approval to purchase private water infrastructure in West Maui from West Maui Land for $6 million. Supporters say public ownership will improve reliability, while some council members warn of potential long-term costs.
- Maui County Council granted preliminary approval to acquire West Maui Land’s water systems, which serve roughly 500 customers in Olowalu and Launiupoko.
- The aging systems — originally built for sugar-field irrigation — have experienced repeated outages and deferred repairs, including a damaged reservoir flagged by the state water commission four years ago.
- Mayor Richard Bissen cited lessons from the 2023 wildfires as justification, noting that failures in private water infrastructure complicated emergency response.
- County officials contend the systems are profitable and that user revenues will cover operations and maintenance, offsetting the $6 million purchase price.
- Council Chair Alice Lee raised concerns about operating at a loss, while other members argued public control is a necessary long-term investment.
Source: Hawaii News Now
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