Multiple outlets reported this week that Maui County and the Hawaiian Council unveiled plans for the ‘Ulu o Lele Marketplace, marking the first major commercial reinvestment on Lahaina’s Front Street since the August 2023 wildfire. The $8 million outdoor marketplace is set to open in September on the former Outlets of Maui site, nearly three years after the fire left the once-bustling corridor largely vacant. County officials also pointed to new commercial permits and public infrastructure projects as signs that a broader recovery phase is underway.
- The ‘Ulu o Lele (Growth of Lele) Marketplace is an $8 million project planned for the former Outlets of Maui site on Front Street, targeting a September opening.
- The project is led by the Hawaiian Council (also known as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement) through its Kākoo Maui recovery initiative, with $4 million in funding from the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.
- The marketplace will feature 17 retail units ranging from 144 to 240 square feet, 8 food truck spaces, and a stage for nightly entertainment.
- Monthly rent for units will range from $800 to $1,500; priority will be given to businesses affected by the 2023 wildfire, with units offered on a rotating interim basis.
- All units will be solar-powered and built from modular structures — allowing faster construction ahead of the larger permanent rebuild. (Beat of Hawaii)
- Separately, the permanent rebuild of the historic core remains slow: five commercial permits have been issued, two are nearing approval, and over a dozen properties are in consultation.
- A blessing ceremony for the Front Street Railing and Walkway Project was held July 1, signaling additional public infrastructure progress.
- The Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, closed for 28 months after the fire, has partially reopened with seven operators back in service, including Atlantis Submarines resuming tours. (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)
- More than 1,200 homes in the affected area are currently in construction or permitting, with residential recovery outpacing the commercial rebuild.
- Named businesses confirmed to be returning to the permanent rebuilt core include Fleetwood’s, the Six Fathoms building at 612 Front Street, and Paia Fish Market. (Beat of Hawaii)
- Mayor Richard Bissen emphasized Front Street’s economic importance to the entire state, as well as its personal and cultural significance to Lahaina residents and business owners.
Sources
- Hawaii Tribune-Herald: First storefronts returning to Lahaina’s Front Street
- Maui News: Outdoor marketplace aims to bring business back to Front Street in Lahaina
- Beat of Hawaii: What’s Actually Coming Back To Lahaina’s Front Street
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