Maui, and all of Hawaii, take environmental concerns very seriously, especially when it comes to preserving our shorelines. In the 1970’s, the County created both the Special Management Areas and Shoreline rules. These rules addressed shoreline building setbacks in sensitive coastal areas of the Valley Isle. The rules are reviewed and updated every ten years based on erosion rates and the science available at the time. In April of 2023, Maui voted to update these rules. Whether you’re considering either renovations or new construction, SMA permits are part of the overall process before construction. Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Because of its size, every piece of land in Aloha State is no more than 30 miles from a coastline, putting the entire state under Coastal Zone Management. … [Read more...] about Navigating SMA Major and Minor Permits in Maui Building Projects