Lahaina rebuilt

Question

When will the Governor and Mayor of Maui rebuild Lahaina’s Front street stores and restaurants?

Answer

Good question. As of late 2025, the rebuild of Lahaina Front Street (and the broader commercial/ historic core of Lahaina, Maui) does not have a fixed “open-by” date — but there is a clear and ongoing planning and rebuilding process with hopeful timing targets.

Where things stand now (as of late 2025)

The county and state have cleared major regulatory hurdles: for example, a waiver of certain coastal- and shoreline-zone permits (the “Special Management Area” rules) for many properties mauka (inland) of Front Street, which allows former businesses and property owners to apply to rebuild as they were before the 2023 fires.
In 2025 the county launched public-planning workshops and open houses to solicit community input on how Front Street and the surrounding commercial core should be rebuilt — street layout, sidewalks, mixed-use zoning, parking, resilient infrastructure, and public-space design.
As of October 2025, the county announced a major policy shift: it will not require widening Front Street to a standard wide roadway as previously mandated — a big step toward preserving the “narrow-street, walkable, historic-town” character of old Lahaina. That clearing of the road-widening requirement removes a major obstacle that stalled rebuilding applications for months.
Architects and some property owners have already begun submitting rebuilding applications under the new guidelines — so the process is moving from planning to permitting and (eventually) reconstruction.

Projected Timeline & What “Rebuilt Lahaina” Might Look Like

Because the rebuild depends on many factors — property-owner decisions, design finalization, permitting, financing/insurance, and infrastructure (water, sewer, roads) — there is no firm public date when the shops, restaurants, and the “Front Street vibe” will be fully restored. That said, the published recovery plan outlines a rough multi-phase schedule:

Short-term (2024–2025): Infrastructure (water, sewer, roads) restoration, permit waivers, updated zoning/permit processes — many of these steps have been completed or are well underway.
Mid-term (2025–2027-ish): Private businesses begin rebuilding under new codes; some storefronts, restaurants or hotels may re-open during this period, depending on owners’ resources and choices.
Long-term / full recovery (2027+ and beyond): Rebuild of full commercial core, mixed-use development, possibly new layout/design for some areas (parks, public spaces, resilient infrastructure), while trying to honor the historic character.

What the Government (Governor & County) Have Promised / Committed So Far

The state (governor) and county jointly waived certain shoreline-related permit requirements for many properties, making rebuilding legally and bureaucratically easier than under previous coastal-zone restrictions.
The county has committed to preserving the “feel” of Front Street — narrow lanes, walkability, shaded sidewalks, mixed-use small buildings — rather than redeveloping it into a modern wide-road commercial strip.
They are engaging community input on street design, public spaces, zoning and redevelopment plans, in hopes that rebuilding reflects residents’ and former business-owners’ vision for a resilient, culturally rooted town.

Why There Still Isn’t a Firm “Reopen” Date

Each property is privately owned — rebuilding depends on owners or business-operators being willing and able to reconstruct (insurance, financing, interest, labor availability, cost, etc.). Not all may choose to rebuild.
Even with permit waivers and new design standards, many steps remain: final street-design approval, historic-district compliance review, building permits, infrastructure upgrades, inspections, and actual construction.
Due to scale — dozens of buildings, utilities, roads, sea-level and resiliency considerations — rebuilding will likely take several years to complete.

What You Should Expect if Visiting in the Next 1–2 Years

If you visit Lahaina in 2026–2027, it’s possible you’ll start to see some rebuilt storefronts and a few new or returning businesses along Front Street, especially in blocks where owners move quickly and financing/permits are secured. But don’t expect the full “old Lahaina experience” — full rebuild is still several years away. Some areas may remain vacant for years, while some businesses may relocate elsewhere or rebuild with different layouts. The street design might be updated too, so it may feel a bit different than before the fire.

Bottom Line

The leadership of the county (and support from the state) has committed to rebuilding Lahaina’s Front Street — but they’re taking a careful, phased, community-informed approach rather than rushing to “put up buildings.” Some permits and design approvals are now in place, so private rebuilding is possible, and a mid-term window (next 2–5 years) is when you’re most likely to see actual re-opening of shops, restaurants, and small businesses. A full restoration of the district — in a way that honors its history while incorporating resilience and safety — probably takes longer, perhaps into the late 2020s.