The Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee has taken a significant step towards managing access to South Maui beach parks by unanimously recommending a bill to establish paid parking zones. The vote, which concluded with a 7-0 tally on Monday, sets the groundwork for the county’s Park Maui program.
This initiative aims to enhance visitor management while prioritizing local residents. Under the proposed legislation, residents holding a valid Hawaiʻi driver’s license will enjoy free access to parking as well as priority in finding spots, especially during busy weekends and holidays.
Council Member Tom Cook, who chairs the committee, expressed that he anticipates pushback from tourists but emphasized that the program’s core goal is to benefit local families. “This is the opportunity for local residents to get the benefit of being local residents, especially for kids and families being able to go to the beach early on the weekend and have parking available,” Cook stated.
The parking plan stipulates that Hawaiian residents will have a two-hour window before non-residents are allowed access on weekends and holidays. Residents will have free parking options at South Maui beaches, with priority given until 10 a.m. on these peak days.
For tourists, the cost will be a flat daily rate of $10, with paid parking available only after 10 a.m. Local parking spots will also be monitored using a mobile application and physical kiosks that require users to scan their Hawaiʻi driver’s licenses for residency verification. In addition to aiding users, parking ambassadors will patrol the areas, with enforcement measures expected to commence following an initial education period.
Violators of the new parking regulations may face citations and possible towing of their vehicles. Neil Nakamoto, who manages the Park Maui program, elaborated that this rollout will begin in phases, initially focusing on the Kamaʻole I, II, and III beaches.
According to Nakamoto, residents can park for free from Monday through Friday for the entire day if they choose. He reiterated that on weekends and holidays, residents would have the first priority in securing parking ahead of visitors.
Maui County Department of Transportation Director Marc Takamori highlighted that the program aims to be self-sustaining, with its revenue being reinvested into county infrastructure and improvements. “The intent is that it’s supposed to be at least bringing in more revenue than the actual cost of the program itself,” Takamori explained.
Several council members showed their support for the parking initiative while posing questions regarding its implementation. Council Member Gabe Johnson raised concerns over the county’s bus system’s capacity to accommodate transportation needs in light of the new program.
“Do you folks plan to have longer routes, longer time periods, more bus routes… buffing up the bus system to make it more convenient so people will actually just say, ‘I’m not even gonna drive?'” Johnson inquired.
In response, Takamori mentioned that while immediate changes to the bus routes aren’t planned, discussions aimed at improving services are currently ongoing.
Council Member Shane Sinenci also expressed interest in potentially expanding the parking program to East Maui, a region too often impacted by tourist traffic congestion. He suggested piloting the program in two locations in East Maui to test its viability and revenue-generating capabilities.
Council Chair Alice Lee raised queries regarding the financial feasibility of the program, requesting detailed revenue projections. Takamori conceded that while the initiative is anticipated to generate revenue, the recent loss of parking locations in West Maui due to the Lahaina fires had affected early financial estimates.
The proposed bill includes amendments aimed at resolving conflicts with the parking pass fees indicated in the fiscal year 2026 budget and ensuring compliance with how the parking zone maps were adopted through ordinance.
Notably, Council Members Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins were absent and excused during the vote. The bill will now advance to the full County Council for its first of two readings.
image source from：mauinow
