© 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Longtime Maui families invited to apply for the ʻĀina Kupuna property tax relief program

The Changs are one of the 10 original families to reside in Makena. Few of the descendants from these long-time Makena families remain in the area, including the Kukahiko, Kuloloio, and Luʻuwai ʻohana.
Courtesy of the ʻOhana Kukahiko
/
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The Changs are one of the 10 original families to reside in Makena. Few of the descendants from these long-time Makena families remain in the area, including the Kukahiko, Kuloloio, and Luʻuwai ʻohana.

Maui County is offering tax relief to longtime families struggling to hold on to their ancestral lands — properties that have been passed down for at least three generations.

The new measure known as the ‘Āina Kupuna Law was signed earlier this month by Mayor Michael Victorino after being passed unanimously by the Maui County Council. Lineal descendants have until Jan. 3, 2022, to apply.

Edward Chang’s family has lived in Makena on Maui’s south shore since the 1870s. Local landmarks like Chang’s Beach and Five Graves are named for his ʻohana.

But now he’s at risk of losing his family land as rising real estate values drive property taxes to unaffordable heights.

The Changs are one of the 10 original families to reside in Makena. Few of the descendants from these long-time Makena families remain in the area, including the Kukahiko, Kuloloio, and Luʻuwai ʻohana.
Kukahiko ʻOhana
/
Courtesy of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The Changs are one of the 10 original families to reside in Makena. Few of the descendants from these long-time Makena families remain in the area, including the Kukahiko, Kuloloio, and Luʻuwai ʻohana.

"In 2019, my taxes reached an all-time high of $22,000. That’s an increase of 425% over the previous years. My father’s generation, my generation, and now my children’s generation are in constant struggle to keep this land in our family," Chang said.

Chang blames the uncontrolled development of resorts and high-end homes along the shoreline. Chang’s daughter Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa said other longtime Makena families rent out their properties for weddings or as short-term vacation rentals just to pay the taxes.

“Huhū wau no ka mea pipiʻi ka ʻāina, ʻaʻole lākou no Hawaiʻi” said Kawaiʻaeʻa.“Ke loaʻa ka hana maikaʻi iā kākou, kama kūloko maʻamau, ʻaʻole hiki ke uku i kēlā ʻano kākī ʻāina. ʻO kēlā ke kākī no ka ʻāina, ʻaʻole hiki ke ola.”

She said she’s angry because property values have skyrocketed and the folks buying these properties are not even from Hawaiʻi. Even with good-paying jobs, said Kawaiʻaeʻa, ordinary local folks can’t afford this tax.

Kawaiʻaeʻa said most families over the years have been forced to sell their ancestral land and move out of Makena.

Maui County Councilwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez said the ʻĀina Kupuna Law is meant to provide these families tax relief.

"So this legislation would give an ʻohana the opportunity to dedicate their property for 10 years so they cannot sell. And the dedication would provide them tax relief by only paying the minimum property tax for the year so $350 a year," she said.

To qualify, the owner of the property must be a lineal descendant of the original owner and the property must have been held in the family for at least three generations.

Kawaiʻaeʻa praised the bill as a much-needed solution to a long-standing problem.

ʻO ka ʻoiaʻiʻo ʻaʻole pilikia nā ʻohana o Maui wale nō,” said Kawaiʻaeʻa.“He pilikia kēia no ka hapanui o nā Hawaiʻi i mau nō ka loaʻa o ka ʻāina," said Kawaiʻaeʻa, "Maliʻa paha e lilo paha kēia pila he kūkohu e noʻonoʻo ai paha nā kālana ʻē aʻe ʻoiai, he pilikia kēia no nā makahiki he lōʻihi, ʻeā?”

Kawaiʻaeʻa said this isn’t just a problem for Maui families. This is a problem mostly for Native Hawaiians who still have land in their family.

She said perhaps this bill could provide a framework for other counties to consider.

So far, only 15 families have applied for the ʻĀina Kupuna designation. Application forms can be found on the Maui County Real Property Assessment Division website.

Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi is a general assignment reporter at Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Her commitment to her Native Hawaiian community and her fluency in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi has led her to build a de facto ʻōiwi beat at the news station. Send your story ideas to her at khiraishi@hawaiipublicradio.org.
Related Stories