West Maui water service in Kapalua could see a sharp price increase, with Hawaii Water Service proposing a roughly 59% rate hike to collect about $2.22 million more per year for its water and wastewater operations. The change would impact around 1,500 customers and would be the first major rate adjustment in many years. State regulators are scheduled to hear public testimony on the proposal on Monday at 6 p.m. in Lahaina.
What the company is asking for
According to the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Water filed its application on Nov. 12, 2025. The utility is seeking a $2,220,655 increase in annual revenue and approval for several related tariff changes: a Power Cost Charge pass-through, a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tariff sur-credit, and a Watershed Purchase Rider that would allow the company to pass along the costs of water it buys from the Maui Land and Pineapple watershed. The Commission will evaluate whether those proposed changes are “just and reasonable,” as required by law.
How much might bills rise?
As reported by Aloha State Daily, Hawaii Water general manager Geoff Fulks recently warned customers in a letter that the proposed riders could significantly change what shows up on their monthly bills. Under the plan, purchased water could cost about $6.18 more per 1,000 gallons, and power costs could add another $0.19 per 1,000 gallons. The proposal also bakes in small monthly tax credits of about $1.90 for water service and $2.13 for wastewater service, which would offset only a sliver of the overall hike.
Why Hawaii Water says the work is needed
The company says it is facing higher operating expenses along with a slate of capital projects it considers necessary. Those projects include work on tanks and reservoirs, upgrades to generators and pumps, and other improvements meant to keep the system reliable and in compliance with health and safety regulations. Hawaii Water has pointed to similar infrastructure investments in its other Maui service territories when it has pursued rate adjustments in the past, as noted by Hawaii Water Service.
How to weigh in
The PUC will take oral testimony on the Kapalua rate case on Feb. 2 at Maui Preparatory Academy, 4910 Honoapiʻilani Highway in Lahaina, and also via WebEx for those who want to call in rather than show up in person. Written comments can be submitted through the Commission’s public comments portal, and anyone seeking to formally intervene in the case must file motions by Feb. 12, 2026. Details on how to connect to the hearing, watch the livestream and submit comments are laid out in the Commission’s public hearing notice.
Context and legal limits
State officials stress that this proceeding has a fairly narrow focus. The hearing is about the requested rate changes only and will not decide the broader and highly contested questions around water allocation in Kapalua. Those fights have simmered amid West Maui’s drought and the post-fire scramble over limited water supplies, including public disputes involving the Honokōhau ditch and golf-course irrigation. That backdrop has been explored by local media and advocacy groups, including detailed reporting by Maui Now.
The PUC could ultimately scale the proposed hike up or down before issuing a final decision. For now, though, the Feb. 2 hearing is the most direct opportunity for Kapalua residents to go on the record about how a 59 percent increase would hit their homes, businesses and bottom lines.
