Multiple outlets reported that construction has officially begun on the first commercial rebuild along Lahaina’s Front Street since the August 2023 wildfire. Arita Poulson General Contracting will lead the six-month reconstruction of 612 Front Street, with a tenant build-out period to follow and an opening targeted for summer 2027.
- A traditional blessing ceremony led by Kahu Wilmont Kahaialiʻi marked the official start of construction at 612 Front Street
- Arita Poulson General Contracting, a firm with a 40-year track record on Maui, was selected to lead the rebuild
- The property is owned by AJI LLC and managed by Pacific Rim Land Company
- Plans call for a one-story, 4,400-square-foot commercial building with four street-level bays and a separate 310-square-foot detached kiosk, both within their original footprints
- Fire-resistant materials — including metal roofing and cement board siding — will be used while preserving the buildings’ familiar appearance
- Pacific Whale Foundation, an anchor tenant in Lahaina since 2004, will return to the location, which previously served as a check-in point for whale watch and snorkel cruises
- Native landscaping and parking lot resurfacing are also included in the plans
- Arita Poulson is donating $5,000 to Treecovery to support reforestation efforts in Lahaina (Hawaii News Now)
Sources
- Maui Now: Arita Poulson selected to lead first commercial rebuild on Lahaina’s Front Street
- Hawaii News Now: Blessing marks start of first commercial rebuild on Lahaina’s Front Street
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