Charging Stations at Large Maui Parking Lots

Written By Noel Morin
 

It’s the Law

State law (HRS 29171) requires the installation of one electric vehicle charging system in any parking lot of one hundred or more stalls in places of public accommodation by July 1, 2012. It was amended in the 2021 legislative session by HB1142 CD1 to require such charging stations be at least level 2, that they are to be in working order and that the Counties may implement ordinances to enforce the charging station requirement.

A survey of large public parking facilities in South Maui without charging stations estimates the following number of parking stalls:

  • Shops at Wailea: 700+

  • Wailea Golf Club: 260+

  • Kihei Gateway: 250+

  • Kihei Town Center: 150+

  • Kihei Island Surf: 140+

  • Kihei Kalama Village: 150+

  • Azeka Center: 150+

We submitted a Request for Service on July 21 to the County to enforce the installation of charging stations at those locations. We also shared the list with the company Aloha Charge so they can look up the owners of those properties and work with them to get chargers installed.

Is one charging station really enough at large parking areas like the ones above? No, but it is a start. Hawai‘i County is working on a local ordinance that would require more than one, perhaps a number proportional to the number of parking spots. That may be something for us to build on.

Courtesy of CHUTTERSNAP

Courtesy of CHUTTERSNAP

You Can Help

It is in the interest of the owners of large public parking areas to acquire and maintain charging stations because they attract customers who are likely to spend more time than the average customer.

Do you know of other 100+ public parking areas with no functional EV charging? Send mail to info@mauiev.org.

Noel Morin