Two years ago I was sitting in my back yard in Toronto when I got a text message from my sister.
“So awful about the Maui and Lahaina fires,” she said.
I had been busy and hadn’t been checking the news. I had no idea what she was talking about, so I was dumbfounded when I did a google search and saw the photos and read about the devastation of a town I’ve probably visited 100 times or more. It was a delightful, slightly rowdy, engaging, colourful and somewhat ramshackle town with fine food, engaging shops and an old-time feel that will be nearly impossible to replicate.
Many historic buildings were lost, including the Wo Hing Temple and the famous Baldwin House, home to one of Maui’s original missionary family.
None of that, of course, compares to the loss of 102 lives, including many children. It’s impossible not to get teary eyed as you drive along the Lahaina bypass road and see the memorials to those who lost their lives in the fast-moving fires.
It’s been two years, and I still find myself googling “Lahaina recovery” or “Maui fires” every few days. I regularly go online to read the news or check YouTube for drone updates from a Lahaina realtor who posts footage every month or so.
There is substantial progress, but it doesn’t appear that any new commercial businesses are being rebuilt in central Lahaina. Hawaii Civil Beat reports that, while hundreds of homes are under construction and hundreds more are in the permitting process, only 50 homes had been rebuilt as of this month.
Front Street in Lahaina, Maui before the fires. Hawaii Tourism Authority Photo
From what I’ve read, commercial property owners and homeowners on the mountain side of Lahaina’s Front Street have had some formal procedures waived, allowing them to perhaps move a little faster on rebuilding. What’s still unclear is the fate of homes and businesses that were on the ocean side of Front Street, where some buildings jutted out over the water on pilings.
Environmentalists and many Maui County officials are suggesting the ocean side of Front Street be left alone, with no allowance for old buildings to be replaced. It would certainly open up views of the water and is undoubtedly a better move from an ecological point of view, but it would also take away a lot of old shops and restaurants that locals and visitors enjoyed.
It’s a tough call. But I do kinda wonder what the town would look like if you could walk for blocks along an oceanfront promenade, with unrestricted views of the Pacific Ocean and the island of Lana’i in the distance.
There’s been a lot of talk about restoring some of the ancient feel of Lahaina, including royal grounds. It’s a lovely idea, and I hope that can happen.
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Pexels photo by upgraded points.
In the meantime, there are several restaurants and shops open in north Lahaina, and also down in the very south part of town. That includes Mala Ocean Tavern, Star Noodle (my fave) and the Old Lahaina Luau.
As much as Lahaina was a centre for commerce in west Maui, the destruction of a huge section of the town hasn’t impacted hotels, restaurants and resorts in nearby Ka’anapali, or up the road in Kahana, Napili and Kapalua. I visited all four of those areas earlier this year and had a great experience.
Anyhow, it’s been a very long two years for residents of Maui and those of us who love the island. There seems to be an air of optimism, and I very much hope to see continued rebuilding.
