Maui County's temporary emergency guidance for work inside the Special Management Area is a timely reminder that storm cleanup and SMA permit planning need to move together, not in separate tracks.
On April 10, the County of Maui Department of Planning explained that certain storm-related activities are temporarily allowed in the SMA because of Governor Josh Green's seventh emergency proclamation for the March and April 2026 weather events. The proclamation period began April 8 and is scheduled to run through Sunday, June 7, 2026, unless it is ended or replaced earlier.
That matters for homeowners, associations, businesses and contractors from Kihei to Lahaina, Paia, Hana and other shoreline communities. The guidance gives limited room to respond to storm damage, but it is not a blanket approval for coastal construction. The county emphasized that allowed activities must be tied to storm damage, must not harden the shoreline, and must still comply with other required permits such as building, electrical, plumbing or demolition approvals.
What the temporary SMA allowances cover
Maui County described a narrow set of activities that may proceed during the emergency period. These include removing storm debris without expanding the disturbed area, temporarily stabilizing and protecting structures, repairing minor storm-damaged elements such as roofs or windows, and repairing or protecting critical public infrastructure and utilities.
The details are important. Temporary stabilization cannot affect neighboring properties and must be removed by June 7. Emergency repairs cannot expand the structure's footprint, height or use. Shoreline hardening is still off the table under the county's guidance.
In plain language, the emergency window is meant for safety, cleanup and short-term protection. It is not a shortcut for major improvements, permanent shoreline barriers, additions, expanded decks, new retaining walls or other work that would normally require careful SMA review.
If you have questions about a coastal property or storm-related repair, contact Shoreline Consulting Hawaii at ryan@schawaii.com or call 808-762-2345. A quick review before work begins can help avoid a much bigger permitting problem later.
Why this matters for Hawaii coastal development
Storm damage often creates pressure to act quickly. A damaged window, undermined driveway, flooded utility area or debris-covered yard may feel like an emergency, especially when a home or business is exposed to more rain, waves or public safety hazards.
At the same time, Hawaii's SMA rules exist because shoreline work can affect beaches, drainage, public access, cultural resources, neighboring parcels and nearshore waters. Even well-intentioned repairs can create problems if they push water onto another property, disturb a sensitive area, block access, or make erosion worse.
That is why documentation is so important. If you are relying on an emergency allowance, you should be able to show what damage occurred, when it happened, why the work is necessary, and how the repair stays within the county's limits.
Practical steps before starting storm repairs
Before authorizing work on a Maui shoreline or SMA parcel, property owners should:
- Confirm whether the parcel is inside the Special Management Area.
- Photograph and video the storm damage before cleanup begins.
- Keep contractor proposals specific to storm-related repair, stabilization or debris removal.
- Avoid any design that expands the building footprint, height, use or disturbed area.
- Ask whether separate building, electrical, plumbing, flood, demolition or grading permits are needed.
- Create a plan for removing temporary protective measures by the deadline.
- Save receipts, sketches, emails and agency communications in one project file.
These records can be useful if the county asks for clarification, if additional permits are needed after June 7, or if a temporary repair becomes part of a longer-term resilience discussion.
How Shoreline Consulting Hawaii can help
Shoreline Consulting Hawaii helps owners, builders and project teams understand what the SMA process requires before they spend time and money in the wrong direction. For shoreline and coastal projects, that can include preparing site information, organizing maps and supporting documents, drafting narratives that address Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 205A, coordinating with county planning departments, and tracking changes in emergency rules or local policy.
For more complex projects, Shoreline Consulting can also help coordinate with licensed professionals and other specialists as needed. That matters because many SMA applications involve more than one issue at the same time: drainage, wastewater, access, cultural resources, shoreline setbacks, environmental impacts and community concerns.
The current Maui emergency guidance is useful, but it is temporary. Standard SMA requirements are expected to resume after June 7 unless the proclamation is changed. Owners who use this period for cleanup should also be thinking ahead: What permanent repairs are needed? Will future work require a minor or major SMA permit? Does the site need a better drainage, erosion or access strategy?
Coastal property in Hawaii comes with responsibility as well as opportunity. By documenting storm damage, keeping emergency work limited, and planning the next phase carefully, owners can protect their property while respecting the beaches and coastal resources that make these places valuable.
For help reviewing a Maui SMA issue, storm repair question or future coastal project, email ryan@schawaii.com or call 808-762-2345. Shoreline Consulting Hawaii can help you move from emergency response to a clear, compliant permitting path.