The availability of housing for local residents continues to be the major social and economic issue facing Maui County, an issue that was severely exacerbated by the 2023 Lahaina wildfire disaster, which killed 102 people, destroyed over 2,200 structures, and left over 7,000 people in need of shelter. With millions of dollars coming into the county for disaster recovery, an unprecedented level of investment in residential construction is expected over the next 5-10 years, and the construction sector was one of the fastest growing sectors of Maui County’s economy in terms of job growth in 2024. Skilled trades jobs in the construction sector continue to be one of the highest paying career pathways for Maui Nui residents.

Despite the overwhelming public demand for more housing and the increasing level of investment in this sector, challenges remain. Slow and complex permitting processes, infrastructure issues (especially lack of water), restrictive zoning, high land cost, and a shortage of local workers all make planning and completing construction projects difficult. Nonetheless, some recent changes indicate that the county is shifting towards allowing for more residential construction, including a new permitting office in Lahaina and zoning changes to allow for mixed-use (including residential) development of the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului.