Multiple outlets reported this week that officials have announced the ʻUlu o Lele Marketplace, Lahaina’s first commercial project returning to Front Street since the August 2023 wildfires. The temporary marketplace is expected to open this fall and is designed to help local businesses, nonprofits, and cultural practitioners rebuild while permanent redevelopment continues. The project marks a deliberate shift in Lahaina’s recovery focus from housing toward economic restoration.
- The ʻUlu o Lele Marketplace will be built at the former Outlets of Maui site on approximately three acres near Front Street
- The $8 million project is funded through Hawaiian Council’s Kako’o Maui Fund, the Hawaii Community Foundation, and Maui’s Economic Recovery Office (KITV)
- The marketplace is expected to operate for about two years while permanent commercial redevelopment moves forward
- It will feature retail spaces, food truck stalls, a stage for live entertainment, and community gathering areas (KITV)
- When complete, the marketplace is expected to accommodate 25 to 50 local vendors and support an estimated 90 jobs (KHON2)
- Priority access will be given to Lahaina and Maui-based businesses, especially locally owned companies that reflect Lahaina’s culture and identity
- A five-member committee made up of Lahaina community members will select businesses for the space (KITV)
- Monthly rents are expected to range from approximately $800 to $1,500 depending on unit size (KITV)
- Sources differ slightly on the opening timeline — KITV reported October while KHON2 reported September
Sources
- KITV: Lahaina’s first Front Street commercial project announced nearly 3 years after wildfire
- KHON2: Lahaina’s new marketplace aims to revive local economy
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