Planner Chris Hart Asks Hawaiians to Support Lahaina District 1 Restoration

Chris Hart, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Maui planner Chris Hart will lead a forum this month to support the completion of a historic restoration plan for Lahaina Town.

The 49-year-old plan was conceived in post World War II Maui; and in 1962, the Maui County Council formally created Lahaina Historic District 1.

The intent was to preserve Lahaina’s historic land sites and promote historic Lahaina as a tourist destination.

Since then, the County of Maui, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Na Kupuna o Maui and other organizations have implemented parts of the district plan, but many Hawaiian sites still await attention.

Besides preservation goals, supporters say restoration has the potential to increase the uniqueness and Hawaiian authenticity tourists seek in Lahaina.

The February 14 forum, hosted by the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce will address specific sites and opportunities for Hawaiian and community support of the Lahaina Historical District 1 plan.

Hart will appeal to chamber members to support the plan and its completion.  He will be joined by a panel of four Lahaina historians who will also comment on the historic sites, which Hart calls, “the cultural watershed of Hawaii.”

Lahaina was capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the favored re-provisioning port for the Pacific whaling fleet and site of the first Christian mission to Hawaii.

This MNHCC general meeting and forum is open to the public, with cocktails and networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and forum at 6 p.m. at the Maui Tropical Plantation.  Dinner is $20.

Chris Hart, who worked on the Lahaina Historic District 1 Plan, is a former Maui County Planning Director, and CEO of Chris Hart and Partners Landscape Architecture and Planning Firm in Wailuku.

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce promotes Hawaiian culture and works to enhance the socio-economic status of Native Hawaiians in business and as individuals.

Each month members convene to hear community and state leaders report on important topics that affect business on Maui, and for “talk story” meetings that keep members up to date on business strategies, business law, and Maui trends.

To RSVP for the February 14th meeting, those interested should do so by February 9 to Kai Pelayo by phone at 874-2426 or email to [email protected].