Maui County has officially sealed a $9.5 million deal for the Wailuku Executive Center, a four-story downtown office building that is set to become the consolidated headquarters for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. The move is intended to end years of scattershot workspaces and bring about 90 prosecutors and support staff under one roof, according to the Pacific Business Journal.
As reported by Pacific Business Journal on Thursday, the county closed on the property for $9.5 million, wrapping up a purchase that local leaders had been negotiating since last fall. The outlet notes that the primary goal is to house the prosecuting attorney’s office in a single, centralized space.
County legislative records show the purchase was authorized through Bill Nos. 103 and 104 and Resolution 25-173, which approved up to $10 million in bond funds, including up to $9.5 million for the acquisition and roughly $500,000 for closing costs and essential upgrades. Attachments in the county’s legislative file outline the anticipated renovation work and budget priorities for the building, including mechanical and safety system improvements, with additional detail available in the county record.
About the building
The Wailuku Executive Center, at 24 North Church Street, is a four-story complex that spans about 26,124 square feet and contains 30 condominium units plus a 10,782-square-foot parking garage, according to Maui Now. Public filings list ATAK Investments, led by Wailuku attorney Anthony Takitani, as the owner of record.
Why prosecutors are moving
County officials say pulling the entire department together in one place should strengthen supervision, streamline training and generally boost morale for prosecutors and their support teams. Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin told Maui Now that staff have long been “spread across multiple locations,” and that consolidation is expected to smooth out daily operations.
Next steps and renovations
County staff have indicated that due diligence on the building will include a hazardous-materials assessment, followed by initial upgrades such as replacing the chiller, improving fresh-air intake and updating the main fire-alarm panel. According to the county’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development committee materials, some renovation funds may be held in escrow so work can move faster while permitting and any required remediation are underway.
Downtown Wailuku impact
Officials say the change will free up the old Wailuku Courthouse, which was vacated after a mold problem, for other county uses, with the Department of Personnel Services mentioned as a likely new tenant. Keeping the prosecuting attorney’s staff in the downtown core preserves close access to Hoapili Hale and Kalana O Maui and ties into a broader push to centralize county functions, according to the county’s legislative file.
The county has not provided a specific timeline for moving staff into the Wailuku Executive Center. Leaders say relocation and renovation will roll out in phases as funding is allocated and remediation progresses. For additional coverage on the transaction and the county’s plans, see the Pacific Business Journal and the Budget, Finance and Economic Development committee materials.
