Blessing marks milestone in Lahaina Front Street restoration

LAHAINA, Maui (HawaiiNewsNow) – A blessing marked an important step for the restoration of Lahaina’s Front Street.

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On Wednesday, about 150 residents and local leaders gathered for the blessing of the Front Street Railing and Walkway project in the ongoing effort to bring commercial activity back to Lahaina, county officials said.

“Today’s project is more than the completion of a walkway and railing; it represents another meaningful step in creating the conditions for businesses to reopen, local jobs to return and private investment to move forward,” Mayor Richard Bissen said.

Maui County’s Department of Public Works finished installing nearly 1,500 feet of new sidewalk with benches and planters, along with 700 feet of new railing from Lahainaluna Road to Dickenson Street.

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The county has also issued five commercial permits for Lahaina town with another dozen in the pipeline.

Officials said permitting and approvals in the Lahaina Historic Districts have gone through a heavily regulated process involving national, state and local rules.

Wednesday’s ceremony involved multiple county offices and departments. It was led by the Department of ‘Ōiwi Resources and facilitated by the offices of the mayor and recovery, officials said.

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