Pali to Puamana Coastal Park Way

Just imagine – a park stretching eight miles along Maui's western shoreline. Campgrounds, bike paths, trails and plenty of open space for unrestricted access to the incredible beaches, reefs, surf breaks and classic sunset views this balmy coastline has to offer.

This is a vision shared by a diverse group of community members who have formed an ad hoc committee to explore the opportunities presented by the necessary mauka realignment of this section of Honoapi`ilani Highway. Within the foreseeable future this highway will need to be moved inland an average of 400 feet all the way from the western foot of the Pali cliffs to Puamana Beach at the entrance of Lahaina Town. Because this highway is the only viable access to Lahaina and West Maui, plans under discussion by the Maui County Department of Planning and the State Department of Transportation include widening the highway to four lanes to accommodate future growth of this area of the island.

At the present time, there is only limited development along this corridor, primarily in the vicinity of Olowalu and at Launiupoko near Lahaina. However, much of the land both mauka and makai of the highway are in private ownership, and plans are in the works for extensive residential and limited commercial development. Public acquisition coupled with private protection of between 400 and 800 acres of this land along the coastal corridor would insure open space for view corridors of the ocean, parks for recreation and camping, and unfettered beach access for surfing, swimming, diving and other ocean activities.

The community-based Pali-to-Puamana Coastal Park Way committee is looking at the creative combination of possible funding sources from all levels of government matched with donations from private conservation investors and environmentally-oriented foundations. The initial step in the establishment of this corridor will be the purchase of 100 acres of coastal land at Ukumehame, just north of the Pali Tunnel. The County of Maui has allocated $4 million from the FY2004 budget to purchase this land, providing a window of opportunity to delay planned development of the adjacent mauka lands and allow the working group the time to raise significant additional funding to protect additional lands.

Purchase of the additional 300-700 acres of coastal lands is likely to cost another $15-40 Million. Although it may well take several years to complete the fundraising necessary to acquire the additional acreage, it is an unparalleled opportunity that will soon be lost forever.

The Pali to Puamana Coastal Park Way is a fine example of the public and private sectors coming together to craft a win-win project for all involved. Ultimately, the winners will be the generations to come that will enjoy the parks and open space, that pristine coastline, inshore waters and of course, those sweeping views of Kaho'olawe and Lanai from a newer, safer highway.

For Further information, call the Maui Coastal Land Trust, 808-244-5263.