Multiple outlets including Maui Now, Hawaii News Now, and Maui County reported that the ʻUlu o Lele marketplace — the first project to restore storefronts to Lahaina’s Front Street since the 2023 wildfire — is set to open in September 2026. The $8 million initiative is led by the nonprofit Hawaiian Council and will occupy the former Outlets of Maui site, offering space for local businesses, food vendors, cultural practitioners, and live entertainment.
- ʻUlu o Lele (meaning ‘Growth of Lele,’ honoring Lahaina’s traditional name) will be located at the former Outlets of Maui site between Front Street and Wainee Street
- The marketplace will include 17 retail units, 8 food trucks, and a stage for nightly entertainment — totaling 25 vendor spaces
- The project is funded by an $8 million budget drawn from the Hawaiian Council’s Kākoʻo Maui Fund and a $4 million grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund (Maui Now)
- Priority for vendor selection will go to Lahaina businesses and cultural practitioners displaced or affected by the 2023 fire; a community selection committee — not Hawaiian Council — will make those choices (Maui Now)
- Monthly rents range from $800 to $1,500 depending on unit size, and businesses will rotate out to give others a chance to participate (Hawaii News Now)
- The marketplace is expected to employ approximately 90 people and open in September 2026
- Mayor Richard Bissen described the marketplace as the first phase of a broader commercial recovery effort for Lahaina
- County data show five commercial permits have been issued for Lahaina town (one is currently under construction), with two properties in process and more than 12 in pre-application consultation (Maui County)
- Permitting in Lahaina’s Historic District involves national, state, and local rules and is described as one of the most heavily regulated processes in the state (Maui County)
Sources
- Maui Now: ʻUlu o Lele marketplace to open this fall, a milestone in returning business to Front Street
- Hawaii News Now: New Lahaina marketplace aims to boost local economy
- Maui County: Mayor Bissen and Hawaiian Council welcome major milestone in Lahaina’s economic recovery
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