Second Lahaina sign that was stolen has since been recovered and will be reinstalled

The second of two Lahaina Gateway signs that were stolen shortly after the August wildfires, was returned to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation on Friday.

“We are so glad to have the second sign returned” said Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  “These signs are important to the Lahaina community and everyone will be happy that both of them are now home.”

According to Morrison, Peter Elkins found the sign in a house in Pāʻia he was cleaning out after the tenant had to leave suddenly for a family emergency on the mainland. Elkins did not know the sign had been stolen, but when he saw it on a table he recognized it immediately as the Lahaina sign and knew it did not belong in Pāʻia. He called a trusted friend who told him to call Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

“I called y’all up and you helped. I’m so glad you will take good care of it and give it back to the community where it belongs,” Elkins reportedly told the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

“Although Elkins said he is not from the island, he showed true aloha spirit by returning the sign to the Lahaina community. We are truly grateful for his kindness. Once we make some repairs to the signs, we will re-install them at the north and south entrances to Lahaina,” said Morrison.

The sign was found in three pieces, but Foundation executives say they can easily fix it. The other sign was recovered in January and had some damage to the top.

The signs will be re-installed at the north and south sides of Lahaina along the Honoapiʻilani Highway.

According to earlier reports, the signs were taken in mid-October 2023, two months after the Lahaina wildfire, and the poles that held them in place were sawed through.

The signs were installed in 1998 and were a community project. Over the 26 years that the signs have stood at the entrances to Lahaina, LRF reports several individuals and groups have maintained them including the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise, Jesse Neizman of Lahaina Restoration Foundation and Saltwater Signs.