The debate over how tall Lahaina’s rebuilt core should be is about to go public. The Maui County Council will hold a hearing in Lahaina on Feb. 3 to consider raising the allowable building height in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District from 30 feet to 35 feet. County officials say the proposal, which would also let certain rooftop features extend up to an additional 10 feet and would allow some public or quasi-public structures destroyed in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire to be rebuilt to their prior heights, is meant to smooth the rebuilding of housing and civic facilities. Council members will take public testimony before deciding whether to move the measure forward.
As reported by Maui Now, the hearing is set for 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall, 1840 Honoapiʻilani Highway. The outlet notes that the council will accept in-person testimony that evening and will also take written or online submissions through the county clerk’s office.
What the bill would change
Bill 183 (2025) would amend the West Maui Community Plan so that most new construction in the Lahaina landmark district could reach a maximum height of 35 feet, according to Maui County. It would also explicitly allow rooftop elements like elevator shafts, vents, chimneys, antennas, and equipment for small-scale energy systems to extend up to 10 feet above that limit. The proposed ordinance further clarifies that public and quasi-public buildings that stood taller than 35 feet before the Aug. 8, 202,3 fires could be rebuilt to their previously approved heights.
Why height limits matter for rebuilding
County planners and developers say the old 30-foot cap has made it difficult to design rebuilding projects that need a third story to fit enough housing on limited land. The Front Street redevelopment, for example, has been drawn up in the low 30-foot range to squeeze in more units. Hale Mahaolu, the nonprofit selected to help redevelop Front Street, has outlined plans to expand the number of units at the site and held community meetings to walk residents through design options. The Maui Planning Commission recommended that the council approve adjustments to the plan while urging protections for view planes and the landmark district’s historic character, according to Maui Now.
How to testify
The county’s public notice states that oral testimony will be limited to three minutes per speaker. Written testimony may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to 808-270-7171, or mailed to the Office of the County Clerk in Wailuku. Residents seeking more information or disability accommodations are directed to contact the Office of Council Services at 808-270-7748, per Maui County.
What’s next
The hearing gives Lahaina residents a direct say in how the town’s historic core is rebuilt, from rooflines to overall scale. After taking testimony, the council could amend the bill before putting it up for a final vote. Local coverage and state planning documents indicate the decision will shape the pace and intensity of housing projects in the burn zone, including state-led efforts to restore Front Street, which has been treated as a central site in recovery planning, per The Maui News.
