PRESS RELEASE: PUC CONDUCTS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED HAWAII WATER RATE INCREASE IN KAPALUA

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

NADINE Y. ANDO

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

JON S. ITOMURA

CHAIR

PUC CONDUCTS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED
HAWAII WATER RATE INCREASE IN KAPALUA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2026

LAHAINA, Maui – The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission will conduct a public hearing Monday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Maui Preparatory Academy on Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc.’s request for a rate increase for its Kapalua Water and Wastewater Divisions. In-person and online attendance are welcome.

Hawaii Water says its operating expenses have increased since it last raised rates 16 years ago and that it has made significant capital improvements to its water and sewer systems. Hawaii Water is asking the commission to approve the following:

• A total revenue increase of $2.22 million, or a 59% increase over revenues at current effective rates, including a 7.46% rate of return;
• A Power Cost Charge pass-through that would allow the company to directly pass on its power costs to customers;
• A Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tariff credit to refund customers’ over-collected revenues from 2021-2025; and
• A Watershed Purchase Rider that would allow the company to directly pass on to customers the cost of water it purchases from the Maui Land and Pineapple watershed.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and share their views during the hearing, either in person or online.

Date/Time:   Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, 6 p.m.

Location:     In person

                              Maui Preparatory Academy

Bozich Center for Athletics and Performing Arts
4910 Honoapiʻilani Highway
Lahaina

Online via Webex
https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m20a601fcdfc79ea484cd8348d96ba0f5
Meeting Number:     2554 850 8493
Meeting Password:  6iYxR2dmai6 (64997236 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Telephone Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208
Access Code:                    2554 850 8493

The hearing will broadcast live on Akakū Community Media channel 53 on Maui County and on ‘Ōlelo Community Media channel 54 on Oʻahu. It will also livestream on the commission’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@hpuc.

Written comments may be submitted online on the commission’s website, by email or mail and should reference Docket No. 2025-0220.

Online:         https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/consumers/publiccomments

Email:          [email protected]

Mail:             Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission

465 S. King Street, #103

Honolulu, HI 96813

This hearing is limited to Hawaii Water’s request for a rate increase. It does not address the ongoing broader dispute about water management in the Kapalua region of West Maui. The commission previously stated that it does not have the legal authority to make determinations about water allocation and priority uses of water.

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