Halama Wetlands
The Halama Wetlands in Kīhei are part of the greater Welakahao wetland system, fed by Kēōkea Gulch and the Kula Kai aquifer. As a cryptorheic wetland separated from the ocean
Blog - Save Kihei
The Role of the Ewa Wetland in Kihei’s Drainage System
The Ewa Wetland is not just a low-lying parcel of land—it is one of the most critical natural drainage assets in all of South Kihei. According to the County’s drainage
Ewa Wetland – Kihei
The Ewa wetland is an example of a landlocked wetland. With no obvious overland outlets to the ocean this wetland is still a catchment and detention basin and performs a
Historical site destroyed: Waiohuli Corral
A large historic stone enclosure above Waipuilani Gulch in Kihei—identified as the Waiohuli Corral (SIHP 5233)—has been removed during recent development. This loss highlights a growing pattern of cultural erasure,
KULANIHAKOI ELEVATED ROADWAY: A REAL SOLUTION FOR A CRITICAL FLOOD ZONE IN KĪHEI
A targeted solution for one of Kihei’s most flood-prone areas, the Kulanihakoi Elevated Roadway concept lifts the road to restore natural water flow, reduce flooding, and protect surrounding homes and
Post-Storm Reality: Our Drainage System Is Compromised
Heavy sediment buildup across Kihei’s storm drains, culverts, and gulches has reduced flow capacity throughout the drainage system. Without immediate clearing, the next major storm will cause more severe and
Waipuilani Gulch Greenway Bridge: What Actually Needs to Be Built
Waipuilani Gulch is not a single crossing problem. It is a continuous mauka-to-makai flood system that collects both upcountry runoff and localized rainfall across Kihei before converging into a constrained
Flooding, Rainfall, and Storm Events in South Maui
The March 2026 storm broke records at Kahului Airport, but South Kīhei’s flood history goes back decades. Rainfall data, stream flow records, road closures, and lived experience all point to
Extreme Weather Is Not the Disaster
The extreme floods of March 2026 revealed a system that was never built to handle the full watershed. The damage was predictable—and preventable.
South Maui’s Stormwater System: Why It Fails When It Matters Most
Flooding in Kihei is not random. It’s the result of a stormwater system that fails under real conditions, leaving streets, homes, and communities exposed.
Understanding Kihei’s Stormwater System: The Language of Wai
Kihei flooding is not random. It follows natural pathways shaped by wai, gulches, wetlands, and the coastal plain. This explains how the system works—and why it fails.
Kīhei Flooding: A Disaster We Knew Was Coming
Record rainfall across South Maui pushed water, mud, and debris through every gulch and drainage system at once, overwhelming infrastructure never designed for real flood conditions. From washed-out roads to
Is Lahaina Building Back Smarter and Stronger After the Fires?
After the August 8, 2023 fire, Maui officials promised Lahaina would rebuild safer and stronger. This article looks at whether that promise is becoming reality by examining evacuation routes, underground
Post-Storm Road Hazards in Kihei
After major storms in Kihei, mud, flooding, and debris can remain on South Kihei Road for days, forcing pedestrians into the roadway where sidewalks are missing and shoulders become unsafe.
Slow Down in Flooded Streets
After the recent Kona storm in Kihei, flooded streets are still damaging homes, yards, and businesses. Driving too fast through standing water creates wake waves that worsen erosion, increase property
Fuel Prices, Perception, and the Systems We Depend On
In Kihei, fuel prices feel personal because energy touches everything from shipping to daily cost of living. But when U.S. gas prices are compared globally, Americans still pay less than
Centipedes in Kihei After the Rains
After storms and heavy rain in Kihei, centipedes often appear indoors as floodwater drives them from their hiding places. This article explains why they come inside, why they help control
On Maui, Tipping Is Not a Bonus — It Is Wage Replacement
On Maui, many service workers are paid below living wages because tips are expected to fill the gap. Tipping on Maui is wage replacement, not a bonus.
More Hotels for Maui
At a time when Maui needs more homes, affordable housing, and a stronger local economy, the island is building more hotels. This long-form article examines why that trend should raise
How the Narrative Gets Steered
Public narratives can be controlled and shaped during major policy debates, power quietly shifts away from communities, and people can lose agency even when change feels like progress.
Who Stands to Gain From Bill 9?
Bill 9 will phase out thousands of Minatoya-listed vacation rentals across Maui. Who stands to gain from that shift? Why does the hotel industry have the strongest incentive—and how do
Fragmentation and Exploitation in Hawaiʻi from the Plantation Era to the Present
A historical examination of how division—through labor suppression, land segregation, and political fragmentation—has repeatedly enabled exploitation in Hawaiʻi, from the plantation era to the present day.
Financialization and Land Consolidation in Hawaiʻi
An explainer on how financialization and institutional land consolidation are reshaping housing, water, and economic control in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi for Sale: How Institutional Capital Is Quietly Rewriting Our Future
Hawaiʻi is undergoing a quiet but profound shift as land, housing, and commercial infrastructure move from local stewardship into institutional portfolios. This long-form analysis examines the Alexander & Baldwin sale,
Bill 9 and the Illusion of Simple Solutions
Maui County’s Bill 9 was intended to address housing affordability, but on a small island economy, removing one sector creates ripple effects felt across jobs, small businesses, and community stability.
Why Maui Chose Tourism: The Real History & Data Behind Our Economy
Tourism on Maui didn’t grow by accident. It was a deliberate response to the slow collapse of sugarcane, designed to keep families on island and communities alive. This article explains
The Economic Unsustainability of Maui’s Construction Boom
Maui’s construction surge, including “affordable housing,” masks a deeper crisis. Without a thriving local economy, small business recovery, or wage growth, construction profits leave the island while local families struggle.
The Surfing Economy of Maui: A Renewable Engine for Island Sustainability
This reference essay analyzes the surfing and ocean-sports sector as one of Maui’s most resilient, non-extractive economic engines. It explores cultural foundations, local employment, innovation, environmental stewardship, and policy implications
The high cost of living in Maui, Hawaii, has significantly impacted generational wealth and housing affordability
The high cost of living in Maui, Hawaii, has significantly impacted generational wealth and housing affordability. Here are some key points: High
Don’t Panic, Prepare: The Real Danger in Tsunami Evacuations Isn’t the Ocean — It’s Us
🚨 Don’t Panic, Prepare: The Real Danger in Tsunami Evacuations Isn’t the Ocean — It’s Us Last night in Kihei, during the
Is Panic-Buying Gasoline Necessary Before a Tsunami?
🌀 Should You Panic-Buy Gas Before a Tsunami? What Maui Residents Need to Know During our recent tsunami warning on Maui, one
Likely Tsunami Damage on Maui – Realistic Localized Impact
🌊 Likely Tsunami Damage on Maui – Realistic Localized Impact 🔹 1. Coastal Infrastructure Damage (Primary Risk) Most damaging tsunamis in Hawaiʻi
Waipuilani Mauka
Waipuilani Mauka is an undeveloped scrub-shrub wetland in Kihei, shaped by groundwater, seasonal flooding, engineered drainage changes, and surrounding development. The site shows signs of wetland hydrology, including altered vegetation,
Maui County Missing Wetlands
Maui County Wetlands Overlay Mapping Project Fail How could the consultants get this wrong? These two major wetland gulch stream systems are
How Legacy Corporations Shape Maui’s Tourism—and Keep Locals Out
Still Controlled: Maui’s Tourism Industry Is Dominated by Legacy Corporations—and They’re Turning Locals Against Each Other The Big Five might sound like
Luxury Developments Threaten Maui’s Sacred Lands and Community
The proposed Ledcore Maui development in the Wailea area has ignited significant concerns among local residents, Hawaiian cultural practitioners, and environmental advocates.
Maui’s Service Industry Workers: The Reliance on Tips Amid High Living Costs
Maui’s Service Industry Workers: The Reliance on Tips Amid High Living Costs The idyllic beaches and lush landscapes of Maui, Hawaii, attract
Rezoning Could Affect Swimmers, Surfers, and Fishermen in Kihei
Maui County Planning Commission has recently approved rezoning to allow More Commercial/Industrial use of the land around the Kihei Wastewater Plant. This
Kulanihakoi Gulch is Being Devastated
Gulch Destruction: This natural gulch is being gutted in the name of debris removal, the project is turning it into a deep
Kalama Wetlands
The Kalama Wetlands at Kalama Park in Kīhei are one of South Maui’s last remaining perennial estuary wetlands. Fed by groundwater springs and connected to the Haleakalā watershed, they help
The King’s Trail, also known as the Alaloa
The King’s Trail, also known as the Alaloa (“long road”), was an ancient thoroughfare that once encircled the island of Maui, stretching
South Maui Sand Dunes
The South Maui Sand Dunes are remnants of ancient coastal processes, primarily shaped by sea-level fluctuations during the Pleistocene epoch. These dunes
Landowner Shamefully Clears 7-Acre Forest without Permits
For the past several generations, a well-known Kihei forest has provided one of Kihei’s last green spaces, and also a habitat for
Storm Surge and Its Potential Damage in South Maui
Understanding Storm Surge A storm surge is a rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones, hurricanes, or other intense storms.
High rents a barrier for Small Businesses in Maui
High rents a barrier for Small Businesses in Maui High Rental Costs Prohibitive Expenses: Successful small businesses, such as food trucks, often
The lack of affordable housing in Maui County is a symptom of low wages and a depressed economy
The lack of affordable housing in Maui County is a symptom of low wages and a depressed economy, and not just a
Lowering house prices on Maui could make the housing market more attractive to mainland buyers
Lowering house prices on Maui could make the housing market more attractive and vulnerable to mainland buyers for several reasons: Higher Purchasing
Shutting down temporary vacation rentals on Maui might not make housing more affordable
Economic Impact: The vacation rental industry is a significant part of Maui’s economy, providing jobs and generating tax revenue1. Reducing the number of
Dangers of South Maui’s Limited Road System
Dangers of South Maui’s Limited Road System South Maui’s road infrastructure is heavily reliant on two main roads: Piilani Highway and South