Kapalua Golf Owner Sues Maui Land & Pineapple Over 300%+ Water Rate Hike
TY Management, which owns two Kapalua Resort golf courses, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Maui Land & Pineapple of fraudulently quadrupling irrigation water rates by disguising capital repairs as routine maintenance costs. The rate increases also affected agricultural customers and Maui County’s non-potable water accounts. TY Management alleges Maui Land & Pineapple disguised nearly […]
Kapalua Water & Wastewater Rates Rise Starting October 2026
Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission approved a $1.94 million annual revenue increase for Hawaii Water Service’s Kapalua systems, with new rates taking effect this month. The increase reflects $5.86 million in completed infrastructure improvements and higher operating costs. Water and wastewater rates for the Kapalua service area are increasing for the first time since Hawaii Water […]
Kapalua Water & Wastewater Rates Rising After HPUC Settlement Approval
Multiple sources report that the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a settlement allowing Hawaii Water Service to increase annual revenue by approximately $1.94 million for its Kapalua water and wastewater systems. The rate adjustment — the first since Hawaii Water acquired the Kapalua systems in 2021 — reflects capital improvements, higher operating costs, and […]
Kapalua Golf Course Owner Files Federal Fraud Suit Over West Maui Water Billing
Multiple sources report that TY Management, owner of the Kapalua golf courses, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging fraud and racketeering against Maui Land & Pineapple (MLP) over the Honokohau water system. The suit claims MLP executives manipulated billing records to shift costs onto the golf courses and other water customers. MLP has denied the […]
Maui STR Phase-Out May Favor Cash Buyers Over Local Residents, RAM Data Shows
The REALTORS Association of Maui analyzed 183 condo sales in early 2026 and found that falling prices in STR-affected buildings have not translated into affordability for local residents. Nearly 70% of buyers had mainland mailing addresses, and 34% paid cash — a pattern more common among investors than local owner-occupants. Ordinance 5909, enacted December 2025, […]
Lahaina Cannery & Gateway Shopping Centers Sell for $155M to New Owner
Multiple sources report that two major West Maui retail centers — Lahaina Cannery and Lahaina Gateway — have been sold for $155 million to 11North Partners, with $96 million in acquisition financing arranged through PNC Bank. The deal, brokered by Northmarq and Hawaii Commercial Real Estate, marks a significant commercial real estate transaction in Lahaina’s […]
Hawaiian Electric Files to Buy Power from Proposed Maui Solar Farm
Multiple sources report that Hawaiian Electric has submitted an application to the state Public Utilities Commission to purchase electricity from the proposed Pulehu Solar project on Maui. The scaled-back plan calls for a 20-megawatt solar farm with battery storage on land near Kula, replacing a larger project previously abandoned by another developer. If approved, the […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Approves $222M Attorney Fees in Maui Fire Settlement
The Hawaii Supreme Court has allowed lawyers to retain $222 million in fees from the Maui wildfire settlement. Separately, a Pew Charitable Trust study identifies Hawaii as one of nine states where high housing costs significantly drive poverty rates. The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld $222 million in attorney fees tied to the 2023 Maui wildfire […]
HEI’s Bank Sale Scrutinized as Stock Value Surges 164% Post-IPO
Critics and lawmakers are questioning whether Hawaiian Electric’s parent company sold American Savings Bank too cheaply in 2024, as the bank’s value has since grown from $450 million to nearly $1.2 billion after going public. The controversy is surfacing during hearings on Hawaiian Electric’s proposed $170 million rate increase. HEI sold American Savings Bank on […]
Maui Leads Hawaii in Per-Capita Property Taxes, But Homeowners Pay Less
A new analysis compares property tax burdens across Hawaii’s four counties, finding Maui residents pay the most per capita at $4,139, though owner-occupied homeowners in Maui actually pay less than their counterparts in other counties due to low rates and generous exemptions. Maui County has the highest property taxes per capita in Hawaii at $4,139, […]