By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Maui County’s Upcountry Water Meter Waitlist has been open since 1993 and stopped taking new applications in 2013. It holds roughly 1,424 applicants requesting 3,612 meters, some waiting more than 20 years. The county’s rule is simple: no water meter, no building permit. That shapes land values, financing and timelines across Kula, Makawao and Haʻikū.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and when someone tells me they’ve found a pasture-view lot in Kula, an acre in Haʻikū or a fixer in Makawao, my first question isn’t about square footage. It’s whether the property can actually get water. For thousands of Upcountry landowners, the answer has been “not yet” for more than three decades, and anyone shopping for land here needs to understand why before writing an offer.

What Is the Upcountry Maui Water Meter Waitlist?

It’s Maui County’s queue for new water meters on the Upcountry system, and without a meter you can’t get a building permit. The list has been open since 1993, and the county stopped accepting new applications in 2013.

Today it holds roughly 1,424 applicants requesting 3,612 meters, and some have been waiting more than 20 years. That single fact shapes land values, financing and timelines across Kula, Pukalani, Makawao, Ulupalakua and parts of Haʻikū.

Why Is There a Water Meter Waitlist Upcountry?

Because demand already exceeds reliable supply. The Upcountry system draws primarily from the Makawao aquifer, which has a sustainable yield capped at 7 million gallons per day (mgd).

Upcountry water measure	Figure
Makawao aquifer sustainable yield	7 mgd
Current peak Upcountry demand	About 10.1 mgd
Reliable supply	About 9.7 mgd
Projected demand by 2035	Up to 15.7 mgd

Every one of those 3,612 requested meters represents additional gallons the system doesn’t yet reliably have. Until capacity catches up, the Department of Water Supply has said it can’t meaningfully start working through the backlog.

Is the County Adding Upcountry Water Capacity?

Yes, and 2025 and 2026 have brought real progress after years of standstill.

• Kamole treatment plant: a roughly $5 million filter upgrade, completed this spring, pushed treatment capacity there from 4 mgd to 5.5 mgd.
• Reservoir storage: new storage near the plant, a combined 140 million gallons, is in design.
• Wells: multiple wells are in negotiation or study, including Hoku Nui, Piʻiholo, Kalialinui, Kula Kai, Kealaloa and Kula Ridge. If all are eventually built, they could add up to nearly 18 mgd of system capacity.
• Timelines: acquiring existing wells is estimated at one to three years out; brand-new wells are a five-to-ten-year proposition.

What Is Bill 97, and Does It Shorten the Water Meter Wait?

Not directly. On August 31, 2026, a Maui County Council committee voted 7-0 to advance Bill 97, backing a deal for three new groundwater wells in the Waiʻōhuli area with a combined capacity of about 1.73 million gallons per day.

County officials estimate that’s enough to eventually serve roughly 2,880 residential units. The project, rooted in a 2022 legal settlement, is aimed primarily at unlocking more than 1,000 stalled Hawaiian Homestead lots, which sit on a separate DHHL waitlist from the general county meter list. It signals the kind of infrastructure investment that could ease pressure system-wide over time, but the bill still needs full Council approval and construction is estimated at about six years. It’s a step forward, not a finish line.

What Do Water Meters Cost Upcountry in 2026?

As of July 1, 2026, the county raised monthly service charges about 5%. The charge for a standard 5/8-inch residential meter is now $30.25 a month. The adjustment is tied to roughly $30 million a year in infrastructure needs, including pipe replacement and new water sources. I break down the full change in what Maui’s new water rates mean for your monthly budget.

What Should You Check Before Buying Upcountry Land?

Confirm the property’s water status before you commit. Meter size depends on the demand your project is expected to create, and a larger home, an ADU or a multi-unit plan can require a bigger meter than the property currently has.

• Does the property already have an active water meter, or is it relying on a waitlist position?
• If it’s on the list, what’s the filing date and priority number?
• Is the existing meter size adequate for your building plans? Confirm with the Department of Water Supply and a water resources consultant.
• How does the price compare with properties that already have secured water?

If you’re planning an ADU, read my guide to Maui’s new ʻohana unit rules alongside this one, and check the wastewater side in what Hawaiʻi’s cesspool law means for Upcountry buyers.

My Take: What I’m Telling Upcountry Land Buyers

None of this should scare anyone away from Kula, Makawao or Haʻikū. The cooler weather and larger lots are real draws. But due diligence looks different here than it does for a Kīhei or Wailea condo, and water access is one of the most overlooked pieces of it, especially for people relocating from off-island and shopping remotely.

The way I look at it, a lot with an active, adequately sized meter and a lot that depends on a waitlist position are two different products, even if they sit side by side. With a backlog of 3,612 requested meters and new wells measured in years, I wouldn’t price a waitlisted lot as if a meter were around the corner.

My concrete next steps: pull the meter history before you make an offer, confirm the meter size against what you actually want to build, and compare against properties that already have secured water.

This is general information, not legal advice. Please confirm a property’s water status with the Department of Water Supply and, where needed, a Hawaiʻi attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build Upcountry without a water meter?

No. Maui County’s rule is no water meter, no building permit.

Can I still apply for the Upcountry water meter waitlist?

No. The county stopped accepting new applications in 2013. The list, open since 1993, holds roughly 1,424 applicants requesting 3,612 meters.

How long is the Upcountry water meter wait?

Some applicants have been waiting more than 20 years. New wells are a five-to-ten-year proposition, so there’s no firm timeline for working through the backlog.

Does Bill 97 help people on the county meter list?

Not directly. Bill 97’s Waiʻōhuli wells are aimed primarily at Hawaiian Homestead lots on a separate DHHL waitlist, though added capacity could ease pressure system-wide over time.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re considering land or a home Upcountry, I’m happy to walk through a property’s water status, timeline and realistic build options with you before you make an offer. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and you can call or text me at 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com. No pressure, just a straight answer about where things stand.