Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain or Wetland
To: All interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals
This is to give notice that the County of Maui has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under the Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction and Reimbursement Program (B-25-UU-15-0001). The proposed program is located in Maui County (County) and may include properties located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain or adjacent to wetlands. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using the 0.2 percent flood approach.
Action Description
The proposed action would fund the reconstruction and reimbursement of eligible owner-occupied single-family residential units destroyed by the 2023 Maui wildfires. Activities are funded by the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal aid program and would be administered by the County of Maui Office of Recovery (County OOR). The proposed action area includes previously developed lots within the four wildfire burn zones: Lahaina Fire burn zone, Upper Kula Fire burn zone, Olinda Fire Burn Zone, and Pulehu Fire burn zone. The exact locations and number of properties in the proposed action area would be determined as impacted homeowners apply to, and are approved by, the program. Because the proposed action would fund the reconstruction, or reimbursement of reconstruction, of owner-occupied single-family residential units in the same manner that supports the needs of the household (i.e., like-for-like replacement), the action would not increase residential density or populations beyond pre-wildfire conditions.
Floodplains and Wetlands
The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using the 0.2 percent flood approach, or the 500-year floodplain. There are approximately 142.8 acres of FFRMS floodplain in the proposed action area, including 119.7 acres in the Lahaina Fire burn zone and 23.1 acres in the Pulehu Fire burn zone. In addition to the floodplain, there are 72 total acres of wetland and aquatic habitats in the proposed action area according to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory (NWI).
Alternatives
To determine if there are practicable alternatives to the proposed action that would minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and intrinsic values of the existing floodplain or wetlands, the County of Maui considered four alternatives:
Alternative 1: Single-Family Reconstruction and Reimbursement Program (Proposed Action)
Alternative 2: Relocation of Residential Units Outside of the FFRMS Floodplain
Alternative 3: All Single-Family Residential Units Selected for the Program Must be Outside the FFRMS floodplain
Alternative 4: No Action Alternative
Determination
The County of Maui has evaluated the listed alternatives to building in the floodplain or adjacent to a wetland and has determined that it has no practicable alternative to development. The proposed action is designed to support as many displaced residents as possible by providing funding to homeowners in varied stages of their rebuilding process by providing funding or reimbursement for reconstruction costs and would accomplish the County of Maui’s goal to provide a long-term, sustainable, safe, resilient, and culturally appropriate housing solution to wildfire-impacted owner-occupied single-family housing units in the timeliest manner possible. Other alternatives were not considered viable because they would increase costs and delays, reduce the number of properties eligible for the program, or fail to achieve the proposed action’s goal.
Compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements will protect and preserve properties reconstructed in the FFRMS floodplain. The County of Maui will require all reconstructed properties in the FFRMS floodplain to meet the highest building elevation standard under FEMA standards or the County Code of Ordinances and will require proof of flood insurance for all structures in the FFRMS floodplain as part of the application process to the proposed action. Under the proposed action, no construction activities will be allowed in wetlands or riverine areas. At properties adjacent to wetlands or riverine areas, construction contractors will implement erosion and sedimentation best management practices (BMPs) during ground-disturbing activities to minimize indirect effects to wetland water quality and sensitive habitat. These BMPs can include, but are not limited to, the use of mulches, soil binders and erosion control blankets, silt fencing, fiber rolls, and temporary berms. The inclusion of BMPs in the proposed action will be sufficient to minimize adverse impacts to the natural ecological benefits of wetlands.
Environmental files documenting compliance with Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, are available for public inspection, review, and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.
Intent of Notice
There are three primary purposes for this notice.
1. People who may be affected by activities in the floodplain or wetland and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas.
2. An adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about the floodplain or wetland can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas.
3. As a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in the floodplain or wetland, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Comment Procedure
Written comments must be received by the County of Maui at the following address on or before December 31, 2025: County of Maui Office of Recovery, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793-2155 and 808-270-6267, Attention: Brian Oshiro. A full description of the proposed action may also be reviewed from 8AM to 5PM at the Main County Building, 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, at the Lahaina Gateway Unit 102-B, 325 Keawe St., Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761, and online at https://hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/. Comments may also be submitted via email to brian.oshiro@co.maui.hi.us, Subject Line: SFHRRP – Final Flood Risk Comment.
Certifying Officer: Richard T. Bissen, Jr., Mayor, County of Maui
Address: 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793-2155
Date of posting: December 19, 2025
(SA1514053 12/19/25)
