Maui Wind Farm Gets 25-Year Lease to Power 17,000 Homes

Maui's Kaheawa Wind Power I just got a new lease on life, and so did the 17,000 homes it powers each year.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously approved a 25-year lease renewal for the wind farm at a meeting held on Maui last week. The facility has been spinning clean energy into island homes for two decades, and now it gets to keep doing what it does best.

Situated on 200 acres of state land in Kaheawa Pastures, the wind farm operates 20 turbines with a total capacity of 30 megawatts. That's enough electricity to keep the lights on, the air conditioners running, and the refrigerators humming for roughly 17,000 Maui households every single year.

The new lease allows the wind farm to continue operating but doesn't permit expansion or new turbines. It includes six months for turbine refurbishment, a 20-year operational period, and up to two years for eventual decommissioning.

The deal isn't just good for renewable energy. It's good for Hawaii's natural resources too.

The Ripple Effect

The wind farm pays $300,000 annually or 3.5% of gross revenue, whichever is higher. After 10 years, the rent gets reappraised at fair market value for the next decade.

Every dollar flows directly into Hawaii's Special Land and Development Fund, which subsidizes conservation and resource management projects across the entire state. Clean energy literally pays for protecting Hawaii's natural beauty.

"This decision supports Hawaii's long-term renewable energy goals and the responsible management of public lands," said DLNR Acting Chair Ryan Kanakaʻole. The lease revenue plays a crucial role in the department's ability to sustain conservation projects throughout the islands.

Before approval, officials completed all environmental review requirements. The board accepted the Final Environmental Impact Statement in December 2025, finding it compliant with applicable law and adequately disclosing environmental impacts.

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife also approved a Habitat Conservation Plan and issued an Incidental Take License, ensuring wildlife protection remains a priority alongside renewable energy production.

Twenty years of proven clean energy performance, 17,000 homes powered sustainably, and funding that protects Hawaii's natural treasures for generations to come.