Maui County is diving into a massive rewrite of Title 19, the zoning code that decides where homes, businesses and farms can go across Maui Nui. County planners briefed the Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee on June 17, 2026, outlining a module-by-module schedule that aims to wrap up in the last quarter of 2028. If it stays on track, the overhaul could reset rules on housing types, short-term rentals and agricultural uses that shape daily life on the islands.
According to the Maui County Council, the Housing and Land Use Committee received a presentation on the Title 19 rewrite on June 17 but took no legislative action. The agenda explains how the public can testify in person at the Kalana O Maui Building or online via Teams. Officials described the briefing as an informational step meant to set the table for draft chapters that will head into broader public review.
Per Maui County, the Planning Department and its consultant team will bring zoning code overviews to the three island planning commissions this summer: the Maui Planning Commission on July 14, Lānaʻi on July 15 and Molokaʻi on July 22. Those sessions are designed to roll out draft chapters in tighter bundles so commissioners and residents can dig into specific topics instead of the entire code at once. County officials are urging residents, business owners and cultural practitioners to track agendas and send in testimony through official channels.
Module-Based Schedule and Budget
Instead of tackling all 93 chapters in one intimidating slab, planners will release draft sections in smaller groupings called modules. Module 1 is expected this fall, with additional modules moving through review into 2027. As reported by Maui Now, the County has budgeted about $690,000 for the consultant contract, and planning staff said Orion Planning + Design has spent roughly half of that amount so far. Officials told the Council that breaking the rewrite into modules is meant to keep the process manageable for the public and more transparent overall.
Why the Rewrite Matters
Title 19 dates back to 1960 and has been tweaked in bits and pieces for decades, leaving a code that many people find hard to navigate and sometimes internally inconsistent. A 2018 Title 19 audit prepared for the County by Orion Planning + Design found the code outdated, at times contradictory and out of sync with newer planning documents. The audit called for a phased, comprehensive rewrite. That report now serves as the technical backbone of the current effort and is a key reason planners say they need broad input across the islands.
Community Concerns and Next Steps
Public testimony at the June briefing zeroed in on how the rewrite will recognize Native Hawaiian land tenure and kuleana rights. Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez said she has invited two University of Hawaiʻi law professors to brief the committee in July. Planning Director Jacky Takakura noted that planning commissioners already receive Native Hawaiian law training, and staff warned that the department will lose one of its three employees assigned to the rewrite starting in July 2026. Those community, cultural and staffing concerns were aired during the Council briefing, according to Maui Now.
How To Follow And Weigh In
Residents who want to track the rewrite or sign up for updates can visit the project website and send feedback by email, and the County posts agendas and eComment links for each commission meeting. For project documents and event listings, see T19Rewrite.org and the Planning Department’s information page on Maui County. The July commission hearings will be the first formal chances for the public to weigh in on draft modules.
