The Maui County Water Authority, Social Services and Parks (WASP) Committee on Oct. 20 recommended adoption of Resolution 25-178, authorizing a park assessment agreement that requires Waiale 905 Partners LLC to dedicate a contiguous 21.041-acre neighborhood park and provide pocket parks as part of the Waiale Large-Lot subdivision. The motion to recommend adoption passed 6-0, with Council Members Rollins Fernandez, Kama and Gabe Johnson recorded as excused; the item will go to the full council for consideration.

The park assessment agreement is intended to satisfy the County’s park-assessment requirement for the broader Waikapu Country Town development, which developer representatives told the committee is planned to include about 1,433 homes and a portion of workforce and multifamily units. Jeff Uioka, presenting for the developer, said the single contiguous park is meant to meet the requirement for Waikapu Country Town as a whole.

Committee members and Parks Department staff described the park as a multiuse neighborhood facility. Pat McCall, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, said the department has met repeatedly with the developer and “appreciate[d] their cooperation and taking into account our concerns,” and that the department had vetted the project. Parks deputy Sam Marville told the committee he was “very pleased with their cooperation” and that he believed the agreement “is going to be a benefit to the county.”

During discussion, committee members asked for clarifications about ownership and timing. The developer said the contiguous 21.041 acres will be dedicated to the county; smaller “pocket parks” described in the project layout will be privately owned and maintained by homeowners’ associations. On timing, the developer said backbone infrastructure — water, sewer, drainage and roads — is expected roughly two years after construction plan approval; the developer estimated the park could be usable around 2030–2031 depending on permitting and permitting comments.

Committee members also flagged a drafting error in the posted exhibit: acreage in the second recital had been transposed and showed 0.014 acres instead of the correct 21.041 acres. Members moved an amendment to replace “21.014 acres” with “21.041 acres” in the exhibit; the amendment was approved before the committee took its final vote.

Under the process described at the meeting, the developer will construct the park improvements specified in the agreement and then dedicate the completed park to the county. Uioka said that once the improvements are complete “the parks director can accept the park from the developer” if they substantially comply with the agreement; the committee was told the parks director’s acceptance is a discretionary administrative action under Maui County Code.

The committee’s action was moved by Council Member Tom Cook and seconded by Council Member Tamara Poulton. Committee Chair Shane Sinenci said the item will advance to the full council.