SMA and Shoreline Process and Procedures for Reconstruction

On August 24, 2026, the State of Hawaiʻi Office of the Governor issued the Thirty-Second Proclamation Relating to Wildfires. The Proclamation temporarily suspends certain requirements of Chapter 205A, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS), for qualifying repair and reconstruction of structures affected by the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire.

Under the Proclamation, Special Management Area (SMA) and shoreline regulations continue to apply to parcels located makai (seaward) of Front Street, as determined by the County of Maui Planning Director.

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Parcels Mauka (Landward) of Front Street

Qualifying wildfire reconstruction may proceed without SMA review or approval.

Reconstruction that meets the parameters of the Proclamation does not require Special Management Area review or approval while the applicable suspension of HRS Chapter 205A remains in effect.

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Parcels Makai (Seaward) of Front Street

SMA and shoreline requirements continue to apply. Certain projects may qualify for administrative processing under RCD No. 10.

See the RCD No. 10 eligibility and review information below.

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Recovery Coordination Directive No. 10

The County of Maui has issued Recovery Coordination Directive No. 10 (RCD No. 10), which establishes a temporary administrative process for certain wildfire reconstruction projects makai of Front Street in Lahaina.

Under RCD No. 10, qualifying SMA Major Use Permit applications may be reviewed and approved administratively by the Planning Director rather than proceeding through the standard public hearing process before the Maui Planning Commission.

RCD No. 10 does not eliminate SMA requirements or other applicable protections. Shoreline setbacks, environmental requirements, historic preservation requirements, cultural resource protections, and other applicable regulations remain in effect.

RCD No. 10 applies to SMA Major Use Permit applications. Projects that qualify for an SMA Exemption or SMA Minor Permit will continue to be processed through the applicable existing SMA review process.

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Which Projects May Qualify?

RCD No. 10 applies only to qualifying reconstruction of structures damaged or destroyed by the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

To be eligible for administrative processing under RCD No. 10, a project must meet the applicable criteria, including:

• The reconstructed structure must be located entirely outside the applicable shoreline setback, or the property must not abut the shoreline.
• Reconstructed single-family dwellings must have a floor area of less than 3,500 square feet.
• Other structures and uses must be substantially like-for-like in footprint, scale, intensity, and use.

Being located makai of Front Street does not automatically qualify a property for administrative processing under RCD No. 10.

Projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria for administrative processing remain subject to the standard SMA permitting process.