Maui County announces interim, permanent safe parking sites for the houseless

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The County of Maui announced Wednesday that it’s working to set up a “new interim” Safe Parking location on county property in Puʻunēnē and a permanent site in Kahului.

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Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said the safe parking site in Kahului was flooded during the March Kona low storms, and officials reassessed options after the storm’s impacts and identified a more secure option.

The county said the Puʻunēnē safe parking site will be on a county parcel off Pulehu Road, and will be ready in approximately six weeks.

Officials said work is underway to build a purpose-built, permanent safe parking location on county property in Kahului.

“We recognize the urgency of addressing houselessness, and our focus is on protecting public safety while creating safe, managed alternatives for people who need them,” Mayor Bissen said.

Safe parking is a designated, legal place where homeless individuals living in their cars can park and sleep overnight in a safe and sanitary environment, while also having access to supportive resources. The program began during Mike Victorino’s administration and was enacted in September 2022.

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The county said the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku was identified as the preferred location, but did not move forward after councilmembers raised concerns about the site, funding process and the need to complete a formal procurement process.

County officials said throughout the past three months, teams and community partners have conducted more than 60 outreach and engagement efforts along Pulehu and Hansen roads, completed more than 25 cleanups, removed more than 10 tons of waste and debris and 56 abandoned vehicles, and helped three individuals transition from the encampment into permanent housing.

The county is also expanding behavioral health outreach in partnership with Aloha House and the Maui Police Department’s CORE team.

“There is an important role for both the Administration and Council in advancing solutions for houseless individuals and our most vulnerable populations,” Mayor Bissen said. “This is a shared responsibility, and by bringing the tools and resources of both branches together, we can help get solutions on the ground faster. Houselessness transcends politics – we need to continue to provide on-the-ground support to people in the most need – evidence that demonstrates aloha in action.”

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