What is the Koki Mauka Subdivision Proposal?
At Koki, Haneoʻo Ahupuaʻa, Hāna Moku, Ranch Partners LLC is proposing to develop an 8-lot, 115-acre subdivision on agricultural lands by seizing the lots’ rights of Kuleana Land Commission Awards that were previously quiet titled. Ranch Partners LLC are moving multiple Kuleana Land Commission Awards and consolidating them into 8 lots.

What does this mean?
Embedded within the rights of Kuleana land parcels is the right to build at least one home. Once intended to ensure that Native Hawaiians could erect a dwelling on their ʻāina so that we may live and remain for generations, Ranch Partners LLC is manipulating these Kuleana rights intended for kānaka and using them to develop a subdivision in Koki, Hāna.

Kuleana Lands in Koki:
There are a total of 9 Kuleana lots in the proposed subdivision at Koki and 8 lots have been quiet titled by previous land owners. At least 4 of these parcels are fragments of an original Kuleana that were bisected by the old Hāna airstrip, through executive order, decades ago. It is unlikely that these remnant portions of the original Kuleana parcels actually have any development rights, as the larger remnants already have homes. Nonetheless, the proposed subdivision is using these fragmented lots for rights as well as the other Kuleana parcels for exemptions in the subdivision process.

Impacts to Cultural Sites, Rights and Access:
The proposed subdivision and any subsequent development has the potential to significantly impact our traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights. One of the proposed subdivided lots, on the Koki side, completely blocks historical access to at least one ʻohana’s Kuleana parcel that still remains in Hawaiian hands. The subdivision is central to an intact cultural landscape with the Haneoʻo, Hāmoa, and Ka Iwi o Pele complexes surrounding the parcel on 3 different sites. These sites are cataloged on the State Inventory of Historic Places as #-1483 and -1481. At least one known heiau is within the proposed subdivision and several wahi pana of importance are located within the proposed subdivision. The subdivision applicants are proposing the “moving” of Kuleana Land Commission Awards to more development friendly locations along the highway. This movement threatens to permanently extinguish these original Kuleana and any Kuleana specific rights associated with them.

So, who is Ranch Partners LLC?
The players behind Ranch Partners LLC are unknown. In 2023, Ranch Partners bought the impacted parcel; however, the community still does not know who the owners of this company are. They are hiding behind their corporation and have not engaged with the community. Ke Ao Hāliʻi, a Hāna non-profit organization, tried to acquire this parcel for preservation and stewardship and at the last minute, Hāna Ranch sold it to Ranch Partners LLC instead of this community non-profit who has an established track record of protecting lands in Hāna for the benefit of all.

Hāna Ranch and Ranch Partners LLC History of Unethical Land Stewardship:
Ranch Partners LLC’s activities across their parcels (TMKs (2) 1-4-007:005, 011, 012, 019, 020, 021, and 022) show a pattern of un-permitted and After-the-Fact (ATF) land clearing and alteration (SMX2025-0044, SMX2025-00016 [ATF Invasive Vegetation Control]). These repeated violations demonstrate a disregard for permitting laws and the protection of culturally sensitive historic properties. The community is concerned that these After-the-Fact “clearing of lots” activities are inadvertently disturbing surface historic properties, potentially removing them from the landscape to make way for the proposed Koki Mauka Subdivision (SUBD2024-00025).

What is the Subdivision Process?
According to the County of Maui the Subdivision Process includes:
a preliminary subdivision approval normally issued upon receipt of the requirements from the reviewing agencies, and consists of a stamped plat, with any revisions to be made noted thereon, and a letter listing the conditions to be met to obtain final subdivision approval. The County has 45 calendar days to issue a preliminary subdivision approval from the date the preliminary map and supplemental materials are deemed complete and satisfactorily received. Final subdivision approval will depend on how soon the subdivider is able to meet the conditions of approval.

Also included in the Subdivision process is the call for community input. Community input is a critical component of this process as it gives the community and stakeholders a platform to voice concerns regarding the proposed development. The manipulation of Kuleana Land Commission rights enacted by Ranch Partners LLC bypasses the community input component normally required of development projects like this; thus, evading community oversight and eliminating a platform for community to speak up against this project.

Immediate Call for Action:
The Hāmoa / Haneoʻo Fishing Village Hui have protected constitutional interests and rights in our traditional and customary native Hawaiian practices that will be impacted by the proposed subdivision (SUBD2024-00025) and are requesting a contested case hearing and the implementation of a Ka Paʻakai Analysis to be conducted before any final action is taken by Maui County on the proposed subdivision.

What is a Ka Paʻakai Analysis and How Does This Help?
The Ka Paʻakai Analysis is a legal framework that State and County government agencies must follow to fulfill their fiduciary obligations under the Hawaiʻi State Constitution and Hawaiʻi State law when considering proposals that may impact the exercise of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights protected by the Hawaiʻi State Constitution.

• The Ka Paʻakai Analysis is helpful in:
  • Determining the identity and scope of valued cultural, historical or natural resources, including the extent to which traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights are exercised in the petition area;
  • Evaluating the extent to which those resources, including traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights, will be affected or impaired by the proposed action;
  • Determining the feasible action, if any, to be taken by the State to reasonably protect Native Hawaiian rights if they are found to exist.

What Can You Do?
Make your voice heard and sign the petition!

We call on Ranch Partners LLC to meet face-to-face with the community to share their plans for this subdivision and to stop hiding behind a corporate LLC.

Mahalo!