land protection & land justice

What could a Community Land Trust look like for Lahaina?

  • Governing and advisory boards of The Trust will be filled by community members who represent Lahaina, including but not limited to community leaders, leaseholders, and potentially people who sold their land into the trust.

  • A property owner decides to sell their property. The Lahaina Community Land Trust offers to buy properties at appraised value, as an alternative to purchase by profit-driven investors.

  • When the future of Lahaina becomes clearer, after clean-up, community input helps The Trust decide the best use of each parcel. It’s all about empowering the community to guide the future use of these lands.

  • Housing on lands owned by the trust can be built, purchased or leased at affordable rates to members of the community based on criteria determined by The Trust. Prices are kept affordable because it doesn’t include the price of the land. Lessees can build equity on their home, but agree to sell the home at affordable prices.

Lahaina Community Land Trust Program Summary

Initially acquired parcels may be banked for a period of time in order to better understand what kind of uses and development is most appropriate for Lahaina, as new zoning decisions are made and infrastructure is repaired.

Conservation Program

Lahaina Community Land Trust will prioritize properties with high cultural or environmental value, as determined by the Board of Directors and the Community Advisory Board. LCLT will partner with qualified community-based groups to steward parcels, ensuring that health and safety standards are met. Managed public access will be allowed based on management and safety considerations.

Affordable Housing Program

The trust will serve a wide range of income brackets, depending on Federal funding sources, and specific parcels. Focus, when possible, is 60-115% AMI. Single family unit construction may be owner-builder (financed by lessee) or built by the trust. Ground leases will be for a period of 99 years, renewable, inheritable and transferable. For-sale units: Resale formula will be chosen from a nationally recognized model, to ensure that the house will remain permanently affordable.

Lease-Back Program

For current Maui resident-owners, lease-back may be a seller’s condition of the sale of the parcel to the land trust.

Economic Development Program

Some parcels may be used for community-based economic development activities that are regenerative and place-based.

Are you a Lahaina Land Owner?

As a Lahaina landowner considering the possibility of selling, we understand the complexities and emotions involved in such a decision. We're here to explore a partnership that respects your needs and aligns with the values of the Lahaina Community Land Trust.