New Maui County Growth Plan

Updated:

(This was an April Fools Joke.)

With the vaccine in place and restrictions relaxing on Maui, visitors are at a frenzy to visit one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country, and big corporations are quickly realizing the advantage of opening locations in the Aloha State. As part of Maui County’s new Growth Plan, dramatic reconstruction of some of Maui’s most popular towns has been approved, including Lahaina, Wailuku and Hana.

 

West Maui

 

Aloha Waterworld Resort & Waterpark

 

Demolition begins next week on Lahaina Town’s newest project, the Aloha Waterworld Resort & Waterpark, a five star resort resembling the 1995 post-apocalyptic action film. According to investors, the hotel will include a Waterworld-themed luau, set on a floating stage on the surface of the 500,000 gallon wave pool. Located directly off of West Maui’s famous Front Street, the resort is expected to be one of the highest priced destination resorts in the country. Custom trimarans will be designed to transport guests from shore to the offshore resort and water park, and priority access will be given to anyone who can sufficiently prove they are friends with Kevin Costner.

Waterworld Lahaina

 

Walmerica

 

Phase 2 for Lahaina also includes another massive undertaking, a controversial BIG BOX-funded Mall of America, or ‘Walmerica’. All existing Front Street shops, galleries, museums and restaurants will close for construction beginning July 1st in preparation for the 150-store, 12 story oceanfront shopping utopia that will replace the historic Pioneer Inn and 6 acres of surrounding property. While much opposition has come from nearby residents, lead project investor James Van Der Beek (no relation to the actor), replied that “it was only a matter of time before Lahaina became the next Las Vegas, and if there’s one thing Maui needs, it’s a decent Lady Foot Locker with a view.”

Walmerica Rendering

 

Central Maui

 

Iao Highway

 

With the addition of the Walmerica, a special highway will be built to increase traffic flow within the already congested area of downtown Lahaina. The new highway will begin at the existing site of the historic Iao Needle and continue through the West Maui Mountains until reaching Walmerica’s rooftop parking lot, which includes a mandatory $17.50 valet parking fee and proof of purchase within the hour.

While members of Maui County have done their best to save Iao Needle, it appears that the top half will be cut down to make room for the highway’s onramp and corresponding Walmerica billboard. Highway architect Sarah Michelle Gellar (no relation to the actress), says that “no matter what people may think, this will be the most beautiful highway in all of America, if not the world. Why look at history when you can drive straight across it!”

Iao Valley Highway

 

East Maui

 

Jurassic Theme Park

 

While most Growth Plan projects are scheduled to begin later this year, East Maui was the first to jump aboard plans for major reconstruction, already tearing down multiple miles of the Road to Hana in the area between Wai’anapanapa State Park and O’heo Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) in order to make room for Maui’s new Jurassic Theme Park, slated to open for business in early 2021.

Featuring a ride called ‘Clever Girl’ that will allow theme park attendees to ride an animatronic Velociraptor from the former site of O’heo Gulch to Hana Bay, the Jurassic Theme Park will also offer a state-of-the-art Sky Tram, ‘Hold Onto Your Butts’, offering exciting panoramic views of the park’s Tyrannosaurus Tex Mex Food Court and peekaboo views of several former historical sites.  The tram ends at what is being heralded from early VIP rehearsal viewers as the most unique if not the best Maui Luau, with hula dancing Jeff Goldblum impersonators and fire dancing velociraptors. While all employees will be required to wear a dinosaur costume and speak only in quotes from the hit movie, the theme park will create approximately 17 new part-time jobs for the island.

jurassic park hana

For those still interested in experiencing the scenic Road to Hana, we suggest a hearty swim from Paia Town (be aware of heavy fines associated with coming ashore near construction sites) or a 15 minute flight on Walmerica Air (only $300 with associated Walmerica investment presentations).

 

Mahalo for reading! For more information or specific questions regarding Maui County’s Growth Plan, please contact Sean Puffy Combs (no relation to the rapper/producer/actor/entrepreneur).

OH, and in case you’re still in the dark:

APRIL FOOLS!

90 thoughts on “New Maui County Growth Plan”

  1. Oh wow! Had me for a minute! Grateful Maui’s sense of humor has survived 2020 !!! Can’t wait to see my favorite place!

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  2. We remember Maui when it was a very laid back place and it was not bumper to bumper traffic. The Big Island is a better choice for us OR Molokai-too bad the Molokai Ranch Lodge closed it was AWESOME!!

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  3. You got me!!! Omg! I was freaking out! I love Maui just the way it is! My daughter got married there 4 years ago and I wanted to come back in the future. As I was reading I was thinking someone has lost their minds! To destroy such majestic beauty is criminal! By the way, Waterworld Resort??? Worst idea ever, lol! You really had me going all the way to the end. Thank God this is not true. Whew, what a relief!

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  4. Oh my gosh I was seriously about to start crying!! I LOVE Maui and all those things made me so sad lol
    Maui will always have my heart and respect ❤️

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  5. That is definitely what Maui DOES NOT need. All of these will ruin the beauty of the island. When most malls are struggling now a days why would you build a huge mall.

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  6. This was NOT funny! As a former Maui resident for 10 years in the 80’s-90’s and frequent visitor in the years since I returned to the Mainland; I would be heartbroken to see this scenario come true! Part of the beauty and charm in going to Hawaii is seeing the reminders of the old Island days. To see the demise of old Lahaina town, Front Street, Pioneer Inn; the Road to Hana; desecration of Iao Valley and any other destruction of the infrastructure would be the end of the Islands and certainly my last trip to what I still consider to be my home. WHY would anyone want to loose the incomparable beauty of the Islands for another big shopping mall?!?

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  7. We visit Maui every year and consider it our second home until we can move there and make it our forever home. I was fuming while reading what was going to happen to Lahaina town! How dare anyone mess with our favorite place on the island. What was going to happen to Fleetwoods and all of the other restaurants on Front Street? They can’t all survive in a mall! Cutting off the top of the IAO Needle was unacceptable as well and destroying parts of the Hana highway, oh HELL NO! Maui has already grown to much from the first time I visited as a 17 year old.

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  8. If this is a stupid April fools joke – it backfired. I’m canceling all my future vacations to a Maui nowx

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  9. Had me going, I could not imagine the local and native residents allowing this to happen, even in a small bit, Thank the Gods and Goddesses.

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  10. I was so upset, been going every year for the last 23 years and have seen Maui grow, but this. Lahaina is so quaint and love to go there and walk the streets and look in all the shops. Was thinking maybe I would have to go to Kauai next time, but then to see it was all a joke. So happy it will remain beautiful. Will be back at the end of the year.

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  11. I love Maui and my heart has always been in Lahaina and Western Maui. Reading this had me going until the end of the article. I’m sure change is needed but not what is in this article. Lahaina and Maui is so awesomely beautiful with so much history.

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  12. Oh my god we were just there in February and fell in love. Thought how wonderful that they try to keep the land unchanged in places. Never got to finish Hana road trip. Then read this?! My heart sank. We were coming back in 5 years and all things we wanted to see will be gone? Then my husband says you sure it’s not a joke. Made me read further then said oh that was probably the meanest joke ever played. But so glad it is a joke. Well done.

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    • I was transplanted to Lahaina Maui when I was 13 years old I finished my last 3 years of high school there.I graduated Lahaina Luna high School 1977 I have come back and lived several times since. To see plans such as these and what’s already gone on is heartbreaking. Maui was once beautiful and majestic not just a bunch of concrete buildings and over trafficed.

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  13. Not funny! I was getting ready to quit my job move there and begin protesting like they did to stop the Super Ferry.

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  14. Thankfully this is APRIL FOOL!!! To the people of Hawaii, protect your heritage, do not let big money destroy what you have. Stop selling your property to the rich and selfish… fight to keep your country yours!! You have so much more than money…

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  15. Ya got me! Although I was a little skeptical due to how much I know the Maui Island loves their pure beauty and natural sea, land and air space! Love you Maui, be there soon, just as you beautiful are!!

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  16. You had me going until you mentioned The Road to Hana that my husband and I traveled last year and saw no construction. We will be visiting again this year and are happy Maui will remain the beautiful Island that it is✈️

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  17. Hi Kelsey,
    You totally had me and I was pretty happy and sad all at the same time. Was there 5 years ago when we were Just Maui’d I told you we would be back in 5 years and we are coming this year. Surprised your still there I thought you were leaving. Glad you stayed and now you can help us when we get back there. Glad this was an April fools joke. Funny thing is I get promoted on April Fools day this year to LT. of my fire department. Hope that’s not an April fools joke as well. Lol. See you soon 🙂 Leave Maui just the way it is.

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  18. had my bags packed, have been looking for an excuse to move there with my family as I am a construction worker / heavy equipment operator, this would have made it possible…darn it

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  19. It was all bad except for the highway to Lahaina. That would be awesome! Although they could probably do it without cutting off the top of Iao Needle I’m guessing 🙂

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    • I was reading this in stunned disbelief and horror. What in the world were they thinking to destroy so much of nature’s beauty and replace it with Vegas type atrocities.
      Thank goodness I got to the end and saw it was an April Fools joke. Good one! Whew!

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  20. OMG! I just kept saying no, no, no. This will ruin Maui! And then I went down to see Wheaties others were saying when I realized it was a joke, Thank Goodness!!!!! We love Maui just like it is as I’m sure the locals do too, I truly hope nothing similar to this ever happens there.

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  21. Naw, I knew it was an April Fools joke when I saw the first picture! Please tell me that these things could NEVER happen to the most beautiful island in the world!

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  22. I believe Hana would go to war before something like this happens. I questioned the hotel in the water and then the mall where Pioneer is, but have to a admit my heart was a thumping. Beware Maui this could happen if you keep closing your eyes.

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  23. Totally excellent Aprils Fool joke, split second uh oh and then, “no way would my favourite island in the world do this to me”

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    • Good! This is a joke, but this kind of thing is happening in different ways. We need to be really careful of how we grow on Maui, and the community needs to be involved in making sure everything is well thought out before big money builds over important, sensitive areas.

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  24. Yep, reading this made me sick to my stomach until the end. You got us this time. I could not believe that Maui would let such a thing happen to that beautiful Island.

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  25. Not nice…you got me at first, but then when I read about taking the top off of the Iao Needle, I knew that was crazy. April Fools!! Love Maui.

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  26. This makes me sad… I loved Maui because it wasn’t commercialized…and now this looks like it’ll ruin that… :(((

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  27. I was just so mad about to blow my top, and said out loud NO! Then I remembered what day it was and looked ahead in this article, I must say you got me! My great great great, grandfather fought the Kings army at Iao Valley, my mother was born in Hana, and so was I. Our ohana is few in number yet willing to fight again at Iao! Just saying……………….Akua on Ohana side.

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