Episode 205: Maui Building Permit Series 3 of 3: Maui’s 56-Ring Building Permit Circus with Dr. Jennifer Salisbury
Summary
In this episode, we unpack why getting a building permit on Maui feels like running a “56‑ring circus.” From Jordan Molina’s insights on the island’s complex regulatory web to real‑world examples of shifting policies and people, listeners learn what really drives delays and confusion. The episode breaks down a universal framework for tackling any building permit — from understanding your parcel to managing unexpected hurdles. Tune in to learn how to turn Maui’s chaos into a manageable, step‑by‑step process for your next project.
Links:
Task Force Link Simplifying permitting For enhanced economic development SPEED Task Force by Greggor Ilagan
Final Report of Permitted Interaction Groups Winter 2025 Final_Report_of_Set_1_SPEED_Permitted_Interaction_Groups.pdf
Maui Presentation from September 11 Maui County Building Permit Process.pdf
Link to Maui Automated Permit PS Log In
Listen to the full episode :
This Week’s Blog Post:
In this episode, I wrap up the third and final part of the series on the Hawaii Governor Green’s SPEED Task Force, which stands for Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development. I explain how the first episode focused on the task force itself and why I’m involved, the second episode focused on the people, permits, and the Permanent Permitting Interaction Groups, and today’s episode is the game plan on how to actually do a building permit regardless of where you are. I also explain that we then compare that framework to the craziest place on the planet to get a building permit, which is Maui, the rock I’m sitting on.
Why Maui Is So Difficult
I talk about why it is so difficult to get a building permit on Maui and how the permitting pipeline is complex because of overlapping jurisdictions, evolving requirements, and changing personnel. A project can pass through more than a dozen departments, each with its own review process, staff queue, and requirements, plus state and federal overlays. I explain how one approval can delay another, how shoreline parcels and special management areas add federal review, and how the final steps of a permit can require as many as 56 approvals. This is why builders joke that Maui isn’t a three-ring circus, it’s a 56-ring circus.
The 56-Ring Circus in Real Life
I explain that the term 56-ring circus captures the chaos of multiple departments, private engineers, inspectors, utility companies, historic overlays, and changing laws that are rarely in sync. I share how policies, personnel, and codes can change halfway through the process, how previously approved plans can become outdated, and how real life events like health changes, staff turnover, or tragedy impact permits. The system was built decades ago for a smaller, slower Maui, and it has not been designed to adapt very well, which is why the process feels impenetrable and incredibly frustrating.
The Universal Building Permit Framework
I break down the universal framework for any building permit, no matter where you are, by focusing on two core pillars: the parcel and the structure. I explain the importance of identifying the parcel, understanding zoning, overlays, infrastructure, access, water, sewer, power, and emergency services. I then explain how the structure matters just as much, whether it is a dwelling, a renovation, an expansion, a conversion, a garage, or a temporary or permanent structure. I emphasize that governing bodies care about health and safety, water, sewer, fire, and compliance, and that permits are stressful everywhere, even when they move quickly.
The Takeaway
I bring the framework back to Maui and explain how to use county maps, property tax systems, and pre-application meetings to understand what departments will review a project and what is allowed before hiring professionals. I talk about the importance of working with experienced local professionals, being realistic about time frames and costs, and understanding that a significant portion of any build is red tape before construction even begins. I close by explaining that if you understand the parcel, the structure, the people, and the policy, you can navigate the system strategically instead of reactively, document everything, work with the system, and eventually the 56-ring circus starts to feel less like chaos and more like choreography.