Ledcor Maui's recently completed Garden Corner, a native plant restoration project at Laʻi Loa, is a garden featuring native and canoe plants that traditionally existed in this area.

Ledcor Maui announced this week the release of its final environmental impact statement for its proposed South Maui Properties project.

The final document was released following a draft EIS that was published in February 2024.

The final EIS includes seven vacant, in-fill parcels within Wailea’s 50-year-old resort master plan and a neighboring vacant lot in Kihei. The release follows months of analysis and a review of agency and public comments.

The final EIS includes more than 6,000 pages and reflects the input gathered from the public in order to assess the potential environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts, as well as the proposed mitigations.

David Goode, director of development for Ledcor Maui, said the final EIS is a part of the process that’s been ongoing for the past few years.

“It’s been a fairly lengthy, comprehensive process over the last two years,” he said.

Goode said the next step is to have the EIS accepted by the Maui County Planning commission, and that they’re looking to have a meeting with the planning commission in the next 45 days.

Goode described the EIS as an informational document and is not a permit, but will help inform and guide future permits. He described it as a summary of the information that has been learned through public process and input.

“It gathers information about potential impacts and strategies to minimize impacts,” he said.

According to a press release, Eric Gerlach, senior vice president at Ledcor Maui, said it’s a result of “integrating feedback from agencies, community members and experts to evaluate the proposed projects and balance growth with sustainability.”

“The final EIS will inform our future site planning, building design, landscaping and restoration programs, cultural awareness and our general approach to community building in South Maui,” he said.

According to a 2022 article in The Maui News, Ledcor Maui is proposing to develop almost 1,000 housing units among several different South Maui Resort communities. The proposed project aims to include open spaces and required workforce housing.

The project is one of several major development projects proposed for the area, alongside the project formerly known as Wailea 670 and Mākena Mauka.

Key elements included in the Final EIS include an overview of proposed workforce housing, cultural and historical considerations, environmental analyses, long-term residential, infrastructure and traffic planning, and community engagement

Quoted in the press release was Clifford Nae’ole, Ledcor Maui’s cultural advisor, who said they appreciate the valuable input from the community, stakeholders and experts who have contributed to this process.

Find a volume of the final EIS online at files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2025-02-23-MA-FEIS-Ledcor-South-Maui-Properties-and-Improvements-Vol-II.pdf. Learn more at ledcormaui.com.