Lawsuit seeks stop to erosion control project on Maui

Two Maui shoreline protection groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the Hololani condominium from beginning work on a measure to halt beach erosion.

The West Maui Preservation Association and the Na Papa‘i Wawae ‘Ula‘ula group filed the suit last week, claiming changes to a shoreline protection project in Kahana were not properly approved, The Maui News reported. A hearing in state court has been scheduled for Friday.

Faced with erosion threats, the Hololani Association of Apartment Owners began shoreline hardening measures over a decade ago. It installed sandbags and erosion blankets as temporary solutions and sought to construct a 400-foot seawall. The Maui Planning Commission approved the seawall project in 2014.

The project required an easement on the state-owned shoreline. The Hololani association sought approval from state Legislature this year, but lawmakers did not act on the easement request. The condo altered the project plans to install only the sheet piles, getting approval from the county planning director. The work was to start next month.

The protection groups said the Maui Planning Commission should have allowed for public hearings.