Clearing overgrown land is often the first excavation job on a Maui property, whether it's for a house site, fire safety or pasture. Here's what to know about permits, what you're pulling out and where it all goes.
You probably need a grubbing permit
Maui County requires a grubbing permit to uproot and remove vegetation, including trees, shrubs and plants. Some exemptions apply. The county does enforce this: in 2024 it issued a violation over unpermitted tree clearing that began as fire prevention. See the permit guide.
Invasive and fire-prone plants
A lot of Maui clearing targets invasive species. After the 2023 fires, Upcountry groups focused on removing fire-prone invasives like wattle. The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) works to prevent, detect and control the most threatening invasive plants and animals, and has identification guides and maps on its website. If you find a priority species, report it.
When you replant, MISC recommends choosing local, non-invasive plants, ideally from local growers, since those are less likely to carry pests.
Where the green waste goes
There's no green-bin curbside pickup on Maui, so cleared material has to be hauled. Options include:
- Central Maui Landfill, 1 Pūlehu Road, Puʻunēnē.
- Hawaiʻi Organics Compost in Waikapū, at Kuihelani and Honoapiʻilani highways. It opened in September 2025 and had processed more than 12,000 tons of Maui green waste by mid-2026. It also sells compost and mulch.
- Hāna Landfill for East Maui self-haul.
Commercial green waste at the landfill was $40 per ton plus an $11 recycling surcharge, as reported in 2025. Your contractor's haul and tipping costs will show up in the quote. Chipping and spreading material on site as mulch can cut costs, if it isn't infested.
The coconut rhinoceros beetle
Green waste piles can become breeding sites for the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle, which damages palms. Maui's response has stressed managing and composting green waste rather than leaving piles to sit. Report suspected beetles to the state pest hotline, 643-PEST (7378).
Protect the soil after clearing
Bare ground erodes fast in Maui rain. Clear in phases, mulch, and replant or stabilize quickly. See erosion control.
Find crews on our land clearing page or in the full directory.
Sources
- County of Maui: Grubbing permits
- Maui Now: Violation for unpermitted tree clearing (2024)
- Maui Invasive Species Committee
- Hawaii News Now: Dumpsters for fire-prone plants; no green bin pickup on Maui
- County of Maui: Green waste disposal locations (Aug 2026)
- Maui Now: Fight against CRB and green waste management (June 2026)
- Maui Now: Composting returns to Maui; commercial tipping fee
- Maui News: Green waste and the coconut rhinoceros beetle (643-PEST)