Kahului residents and Latter-day Saints across Maui are marking a major milestone after church leaders announced where the island’s first temple will stand. The Kahului Hawaii Temple is planned as a single-story building of about 19,000 square feet on nearly 8 acres along Kuikahi Drive, next to the existing chapel at Maui Lani Parkway. Congregants say having a temple on Maui will bring sacred ordinances closer to kupuna and families who currently travel off-island to worship.
Temple Site And Plans
The First Presidency has identified a 7.6-acre parcel along Kuikahi Drive, with plans for a single-story temple of roughly 19,000 square feet and an ancillary building. According to a news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the site sits next to a meetinghouse at Maui Lani Parkway and will be the first temple on the island of Maui.
Church Footprint And Local Context
Pacific Business News reported that the church paid about $20 million in mid-2025 for a 46-acre parcel in Kahului, expanding its property holdings in central Maui. That earlier purchase, combined with the newly announced temple parcel, highlights the church’s growing physical presence in the area as site selection and planning move ahead.
Members Say The Temple Will Be A Relief
Kahului Hawaii West Stake President Benjamin Hanks told Hawaii News Now that members call the temple “the house of the Lord” and that he “feels deeply grateful.” He explained that temples serve a different role than weekly chapels, hosting sacred ordinances such as marriages, and said having a temple on Maui will ease burdens for kupuna, people on fixed incomes and those with health challenges. Hawaii News Now also reported that no groundbreaking date has been set and that the public will be invited to an open house once construction is complete.
Next Steps And Timeline
Design work, permitting and scheduling still need to be finalized before any construction begins, and church officials say more details will be released as plans develop. For now, this is an early site announcement, with more formal designs and public outreach expected when permit applications are filed. In its announcement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints noted that additional project details will be provided over time.
