Despite a county meeting celebrating rebuilding progress, only two commercial permits have been issued in Lahaina nearly three years after the 2023 wildfire. Permit delays tied to unclear documentation requirements, historic preservation reviews, and shoreline setback rules continue to block most projects.
- Only two commercial permits have been issued in Lahaina to date, with dozens more stuck in the permitting queue.
- A 2024 county ordinance allows reuse of permits issued within five years of the fires, but few properties qualify since most destroyed buildings were decades old.
- The State Historic Preservation Division is requiring costly archaeological surveys even for owners rebuilding exactly what was lost, causing year-long delays.
- Properties within the shoreline setback area are excluded from Gov. Green’s SMA rule waiver and must still complete multiple rounds of public hearings.
- State and county agencies have taken some steps to streamline permitting, but significant bureaucratic obstacles remain for most commercial property owners.
Source: Maui News
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