Maui County Acquires Land for Wildfire Debris and Future Landfill Expansion

Maui County has entered into an agreement to purchase approximately 79 acres in central Maui for $4 million, intended as a permanent disposal site for debris from the 2023 wildfires and to provide for future landfill expansion. This acquisition, which requires approval from the County Council, offers nearly four times more acreage than a previous deal.

«The acquisition of these properties enables us to secure a final disposal site for the wildfire debris and also provides years of additional landfill capacity, strengthening our community’s resilience,» stated Mayor Richard Bissen, highlighting the agreement as a significant step in enhancing waste management in Maui.

The deal involves conditional agreements with Nan Inc., a Honolulu-based construction company, to purchase nearly 49 acres of previously quarried land plus 30 more acres currently being quarried in Puunene. The county aims to resolve the challenge of managing approximately 400,000 tons of ash and debris following the August 2023 blaze that devastated Lahaina, damaging around 2,200 structures and resulting in 102 fatalities.

Prior attempts to secure land had seen the county eyeing a 20-acre parcel next to the landfill, temporarily opting for eminent domain against Komar Maui Properties after negotiations fell through. However, this case will be dropped should the Nan Inc. agreement proceed, according to a county news release.

Council Chair Alice Lee expressed confidence in swift council approval, indicating the urgency of preparing the new site for debris relocation from Olowalu. «But more than likely we’ll pass this on the floor after asking the administration some clarifying questions,» she mentioned, noting the council’s familiarity with the site’s significance.

The design and construction of the new disposal site have already prompted action from the County’s Department of Environmental Management. Shayne Agawa, its director, affirmed the land acquisition would enable decades of landfill capacity expansion, linking it to goals for increased recycling and waste-diversion initiatives.

Property owner Nan Chul Shin and the county acknowledged the strategic importance of this land for Maui’s recovery, with cooperation from the current tenant emphasized to aid the county’s response efforts. Meanwhile, debris from Lahaina will continue to be stored at Olowalu until the new site is operational, as per the county’s communication with local news outlet Civil Beat.