County Profile INTRODUCTION COUNTY PROFILE

GEOGRAPHY

The County of is the second largest county by land area in the State of Hawai‘i. It consists of four main islands: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and Kaho‘olawe. The combined area of these islands is 1,171 square miles, including over 9 square miles of inland water; the island of Maui is the largest, with 734.5 square miles, and the islands have a total coastline of 210 statute miles.

Kalawao County, a state- managed hospital community (Kalaupapa), is situated on the Source: County of Maui Geographic Information Systems island of Moloka‘i. The island Processed by: State of GIS Program of Kaho‘olawe is uninhabited and is in the process of being restored from a military Figure 1-11 known as the “Friendly Isle,” practice site to a cultural has a population that is largely Demographic Characteristics reserve. Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian and traditional pursuits like Population as of July 2016: 165,386 The island of Maui, known Median Age: 40.0 fishing and farming have as the “Valley Isle,” is the Average Family Size: 2.96 contributed to preserving its second largest in the Hawaiian Official Labor Force: 84,200 cultural heritage. archipelago. It has a land area Housing Units as of July 2016: 72,138 of 735 square miles, is 48 Median Household Income: $66,476 The island of Lana‘i has miles long and 26 miles wide. Per capita income: $29,664 historically been called the It is the economic center and Median Price of Single-Family Home “Pineapple Isle” because for home to most of the County’s Maui: $619,500 many years most of its 141 residents and businesses. The Moloka‘ i: $219,000 square miles were devoted town of Wailuku is the seat of Lana‘i: $598,000 to pineapple production; Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 57.7% county government and the cultivation of the crop has Median Gross Rent: $1,287 contiguous town of Kahului Persons Below Poverty Level: 10.7% since been phased out. Larry is the primary commercial Unemployment Rate as of Feb. 2017: 3.0% Ellison, the present owner of center. approximately 98% of the land Source: U.S. Census Bureau & State of Hawaii Dept. on , reopened the Four The 264 square-mile island of of Labor & Industrial Relations, County of Maui Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Moloka‘i is the second largest Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Bay on February 1, 2016 (released December 2016) in the county. Moloka‘i. after a multi-million-dollar

57 INTRODUCTION County Profile renovation. Figure 1-12 On January He is also in 1, 1983, a the process new charter of renovating b e c a m e the 102-room effective. resort, The Four The 2017 Seasons Resort edition takes Lana‘i, Lodge into account at Koele, which amendments is scheduled to between 1983 reopen in mid- and 2016 as to late 2018 with amendments a mix of hotel were passed rooms and a spa by the voters. and wellness The County concept. of Maui has operated under the Mayor-County GOVERNMENT Figure 1-13 Council form of government since 1969, which is the same form of In Maui County, as well as in the government as the counties of three other counties within the Principal Employers Kauai, Hawai‘i, and Honolulu. The state, there are no subordinate or in Maui County executive branch of the County is separate municipal entities. The headed by the Mayor who is elected state government administers the State of Hawaii on a non-partisan basis for a four- school system, airports, harbors, County of Maui year term. The Mayor is the chief hospitals, judicial system and the Maui Memorial Medical Center executive officer of the County state highway system. Grand Wailea-Waldorf Astoria and is responsible for overseeing Ritz-Carlton-Kapalua the day-to-day operations and for Most non-federal taxes are Four Seasons Resort-Maui appointing the heads of the various administered and collected by Federal Government departments. The legislative branch the state under Hawai‘i’s highly Hyatt Regency-Maui Resort & Spa is the County Council which is centralized tax system. The major Four Seasons Lana`i comprised of nine members who are sources of state revenue are the Westin-Maui Resort & Spa elected at-large, to serve two-year general excise tax and corporate and terms. The County Council, the personal income taxes. There are no Source: Maui Economic Development policy-making body, appoints the state personal or property taxes, no Board, Inc. County Clerk, County Auditor, and local levies for school districts nor the Office of Council Services. Each special assessments. The County of of the nine council members has Maui provides a broad range of services including public residency requirements, one each safety (police, fire, and public prosecutor), sanitation, from the islands of Lana‘i and Moloka‘i, and seven from social services, culture and recreation, transportation, the various districts on the island of Maui. The Council planning and zoning, and the construction and legislates taxes, rates, fees, assessments, borrowing and maintenance of streets and highways. appropriations for County purposes (County Budget) by ordinance. Maui County is governed by the County Charter, originally adopted by the electorate in September 1967. The Mayor establishes and directs basic management

58 County Profile INTRODUCTION guidelines for all 17 and an estimated further executive departments 25-30% in jobs supported of the county and indirectly by tourism in the serves as a liaison areas of agriculture, health between the County services, construction, real Council and executive estate, entertainment, and departments and recreation. agencies. While U.S. visitors GENERAL dominate Maui’s tourism market, accounting for ECONOMIC 72% of all arrivals, Maui OVERVIEW County, in collaboration with the Maui Visitors As discussed in the Bureau, initiated an Introduction section, aggressive campaign to Maui County's market “Maui” in the economy is expected greater Pacific Basin, with to continue positive emphasis on Korea. The growth for 2017 and 2018, based on the national and global goal was to increase visitor arrivals, expenditures, and economies, the strong performance of the local tourism length of stay through targeted campaigns aimed at and real estate industries, labor market conditions, active and first-time visitors to Maui Nui. and the growth of personal income and tax revenues. Thanks to our collaborative efforts and additional direct

flights to Maui, Maui’s visitor arrivals increased by 5%, Tourism and construction are the leading components of Moloka‘i’s visitor arrivals increased by 3%, and Lāna‘i’s the Maui County economy, which continues to include visitor arrivals increased by 36% in 2016 over 2015. some agriculture as well as technology, renewable Group arrivals, measured in room nights, totaled 75,577 energy and scientific and research facilities. exceeding the goal of 51,693. China arrivals to Maui County increased 8.3% and Korean arrivals to Maui Maui’s unemployment rate is below 3% and the labor County increased 4.7% in December 2016 compared to market is good for those seeking a job. While the closing December 2015. of HC&S and Makena Resort in 2016 was of great concern resulting in the lay off of 675 and 375 workers If the federal government works out a pre-clearance respectively, the County worked in collaboration with arrangement for visitors traveling from Narita and other WorkSource Maui and other entities to provide job airports in Japan, direct service from these markets to fairs, by becoming a clearinghouse of information for Maui will become a reality. workers, and by identifying and developing education and training programs. CONSTRUCTION

TOURISM Maui County’s economy has rebounded, thanks in large part to growth and robust construction spending in The visitor industry serves as the main driving force publicly-funded projects such as the Kahului Airport of Maui County’s economic engine. Measures of the improvements and commercial projects such as the importance of the visitor industry to Maui include the development of the Maui Business Park in Kahului. 40% of real property tax collections that it contributes and the 40% of direct employment for which it accounts In 2015, private (commercial & residential) building

59 INTRODUCTION County Profile authorizations on Maui 167 jobs for county topped $731 million, and residents. This number increase of $287.9 million is down over last year or 64.9% over 2014. due to Federal spending and employment Commercial construction reductions. The new activity in Maui County $340 million Advanced continued to move forward Solar Technology with two major projects. Telescope project, The largest private building recently renamed the project on Maui is Westin Daniel K. Inouye Solar Nanea Ocean Villas, a Telescope (DKIST), is $304.5 million time- well underway with share resort on 26 acres at completion slated for Kaanapali’s North Beach. 2019. Local contractors Another large project is a will be paid an estimated $46.5 million West Maui $29.5 million for labor/ Village development in materials associated with Napili planned for 9.6 acres site work and facility north of Maui Preparatory construction, with Academy. another $49 million to be spent on Maui for the AGRICULTURE construction/assembly of the actual telescope. While the closure of the 36,000 acre sugar operations Once in operations, its annual budget is expected to added fear and uncertainty to Maui’s economy, the add $18 million and 35 local jobs to the Maui economy. county is optimistic about agricultural lands being The Research and Technology Park in Kihei continues devoted to small farms, as well as the expansion of Kula to complement the work being done at the Haleakala Agricultural Park, for a variety of uses including energy observatories. crops, food crops, and support for the local cattle industry. Pacific Biodiesel, as an example, is utilizing REAL ESTATE 115 acres of agricultural lands for a biofuel crop site to show how sunflowers and other oil-producing plants In general, the Maui real estate market is strong, as can be turned to biodiesel fuel, vegetable cooking oil reflected in the real property valuations year after year. for restaurants, animal feed, soil amendments and fertilizers. Residential and condominium prices continue trending upward. Te supply of new homes is increasing and, The growth of the seed industry (especially seed corn) despite low interest rates increasing, the rates remain has accelerated seed corn companies continue to historically low. These factors should continue to fuel contribute significantly to the economy. the market in 2017. The rising sales prices motivate some “Owners” to become “Sellers” as they put their TECHNOLOGY homes on the market to take advantage of rising sales prices. According to the UH institute for Astronomy, the eight observatory facilities at Haleakala have an The commercial real estate market remains solid with annual operating budget of $40.4 million and support good demand for office and warehouse space.

60 County Profile INTRODUCTION

Figure 1-14 Single Family Median Prices by Area For Quarter Ending 6/30/2017

Current Quarter Information

Cent ral

Haiku

Hana

Kaanapali

Kahakuloa

Kapalua

Kihei

Kula/Ulupalakua/Kanaio

Lahaina

Lanai

Makawao/Olinda/Haliimaile

Maui Meadows

Molokai

Napili/Kahana/ Honokowai

Olowalu

Pukalani

Sprecklesville/Paia/ Kuau

Wailea/ Makena

$0 $500,000 $1,000,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 Area Current Quarter Previous Quarter Year Ago Quarter Central $600,000 $582,500 $325,000 Haiku $744,500 $785,000 $801,500 Hana $929,792 $2,200,000 $360,000 Kaanapali $2,410,000 $1,318,250 $1,597,500 Kahakuloa $0 $575,000 $800,000 Kapalua $2,400,000 $3,550,000 $2,437,500 Kihei $755,200 $767,500 $629,250 Kula/Ulupalakua/Kanaio $837,000 $818,500 $672,500 Lahaina $1,655,000 $911,875 $838,571 Lanai $455,000 $385,000 $305,000 Makawao/Olinda/Haliimaile $623,750 $627,500 $529,000 Maui Meadows $1,131,500 $1,450,440 $859,000 $450,000 $340,000 $412,500 Napili/Kahana/Honokowai $874,000 $950,000 $789,637 Olowalu $0 $0 $1,250,000 Pukalani $700,000 $641,000 $595,000 Sprecklesville/Paia/Kuau $865,000 $750,000 $1,161,500 Wailea/Makena $3,120,000 $3,250,000 $3,116,250

Source: REALTORS Association of Maui

61

SOURCE: REALTORS Association of Maui - www.RAMaui.com MLS Sale data - Information deemed reliable, however not guaranteed Page 15

62