Lahaina's Front Street wildfire recovery pace lagging behind other areas of the town.
Rebuilding Lahaina: A Journey Towards Recovery
Two years after the devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, the town is still in the process of rebuilding. The fire, which claimed the lives of 102 people and was the deadliest in over a century, left a significant impact on the community.
The recovery process has been challenging, particularly for Front Street's historic and business district. Strict permitting requirements and complex infrastructure needs have slowed down the rebuilding progress in this area compared to other parts of the town.
Kai Nishiki, who chaired the West Maui Community Plan Advisory Committee, supports managed retreat and favors policies that prioritize parks and open spaces over shoreline development. Ekolu Lindsey, whose family home at 393 Front St. was destroyed in the blaze, shares a similar view. He plans to move his home inland of the shoreline erosion hazard line when he rebuilds, but he does not oppose rebuilding if owners are willing to assume the liability.
The county has allocated substantial funds for Front Street's infrastructure, including hardening the seawall, a critical step towards redevelopment of the commercial district. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its partners have cleared all commercial and residential lots in Lahaina, and more than 40 homes have begun to emerge from the ashes.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen secured a $1.6 billion Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to aid in the recovery. With cleared debris, restored water and sewer systems, and plans for improved evacuation routes, the next phases of redevelopment and community stabilization should gain momentum in the coming year.
Many formerly vibrant businesses on Front Street have either relocated elsewhere on Maui or have not yet returned, and numerous lots remain vacant or in early stages of construction. The community continues to honor those lost, with memorials and ongoing healing efforts.
Officials express cautious optimism, noting that with the cleared debris, restored infrastructure, and plans for improved evacuation routes, the next phases of redevelopment and community stabilization should gain momentum in the coming year. However, Lahaina remains at one of its hardest recovery stages, reflecting a mixture of progress, ongoing hardships, and hope for the future.
John Smith, Maui County's Office of Recovery administrator, is adjusting county standards to meet the community's request for rebuilding Lahaina Town, taking into account zoning, setback, and utility issues. Design guideline documents are being developed to help commercial property owners know exactly how much land they will need to give up to rebuild and make the town come back.
G. Warren Freeland, a representative of the Front Street Recovery, hopes to rebuild his family's historic Pioneer Inn, which was leveled by the fire. The Di Bari couple, owners of Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina, temporarily reopened their restaurant at 157 Kupuohi St. in March and still hope to return to Front Street. Jack Starr, assistant general manager of Kimo's and now of Leilani's on the Beach, hopes to rebuild TS Restaurants' flagship restaurant on Front Street's waterfront location.
The county sought to ease rebuilding by waiving the SMA (Special Management Area) major permits for wildfire-affected properties mauka of Lahaina. However, many properties on the shoreline and in the historic districts do not qualify for the waiver. The Maui Planning Commission granted an SMA major permit to Michele Long at 21 Kai Pali Place, the first home on the makai side of Front Street to get one. Three other applications for SMA major permits are in the hopper, including 1045 Front St., Stanley & Dilara Deal Trust's home rebuilding project, which goes back to the planning commission on Tuesday.
The county has sent 16 letters to property owners on the makai side asking them to consider selling properties to the county that have been identified as key to providing additional beach access. As the town moves forward, the hope is that Lahaina will once again become the vibrant and historic destination it once was.
Small-business owners on Front Street, such as G. Warren Freeland of the Pioneer Inn, the Di Bari couple of Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina, and Jack Starr of TS Restaurants, are determined to rebuild their establishments. Businesses are crucial for the community's recovery and the restoration of Lahaina's historic charm.
