The proposal was to open Honua'ula's private championship golf course to local residents for one day a week. It wasn't the first time golf has been used as a sweetener for the development, formerly called Wailea 670. Previously, two golf courses had been planned, and developers proposed 50 percent of the tee times on at least one golf course for 50 percent off the market rate to Hawaii residents.

Council Members Michelle Anderson and Jo Anne Johnson were not impressed.

"I think we're getting the short end of the stick on this," Anderson said.

Johnson added: "Now we're giving crumbs to the local people."

The developers initially offered no public play and instead agreed to establish a junior golf program for youths ages 12 to 18, and to assist charitable nonprofits by providing use of the golf course and its amenities for one fundraiser per quarter. In addition, the Maui Interscholastic League would be permitted to use the golf course once a year for an official MIL or state tournament.

Council Member Gladys Baisa suggested Honua'ula rotate the nonprofits that would benefit from holding lucrative fundraising golf tournaments.

Council Member Mike Victorino said he believed the developer was being "more than fair" with its willingness to work out the terms of fundraising tournaments with nonprofits, and, unlike Anderson, he did not think it was necessary to demand that such fundraisers be held on weekends.

In the end, Land Use Committee Chairman Mike Molina on Monday recommended approval of a condition that would provide for a new junior golf program, a day of public play, four nonprofit fundraising tournaments and MIL usage once a year. Committee members tentatively agreed to those terms.

On the subject of wastewater for the 1,400-home development, Anderson insisted on a condition that Honua'ula be required to connect to the public wastewater reclamation facility as outlined in a condition proposed in 1992 for the project.

Honua'ula representative Charlie Jencks said the project intends to build a temporary, private wastewater facility for an estimated $5 million until it can hook up to the wastewater plant in Kihei.

When pressed, Dave Taylor, the county's Department of Environmental Management's Wastewater Reclamation Division chief, estimated it could cost as much as $15 million to establish the connection between the Honua'ula area and the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

Anderson said she believed the council should keep the 1992 condition and demand the developer cover its fair share of development and funding of the wastewater transmission line between Honua'ula and the Kihei sewage treatment plant.

"Oh well, that's the price you pay to develop," she said.

Anderson said the council needs to stop allowing private sewage plants that eventually could lead to the degradation of the island's reefs.

Committee members agreed, tentatively reaching a consensus on a condition that Honua'ula "shall" connect to the public wastewater reclamation facility.

The Land Use Committee has been reviewing Honua'ula since July 25. Its first two meetings included approximately 10 hours of public testimony. In subsequent committee sessions, Molina has tried to focus discussion on the 30-plus conditions for approval.

During a regular meeting today, council members are expected to discuss a request for a Honua'ula public hearing in South Maui. That request to Council Chairman Riki Hokama came from Anderson, Johnson and Victorino. A Maui County Charter provision requires the council to hold a public hearing on a bill if requested by three council members.

On Monday, Molina recessed the Land Use Committee meeting until 9 a.m. Friday in the Council Chambers.