500 tons of pilings cleared from Lahaina shoreline as part of wildfire debris removal

All 237 nonhistorical, concrete pilings along Front Street in Lahaina have been removed — totaling approximately 500 tons of material. A press release announcement from the County of Maui described the achievement as “a significant step forward in Maui wildfire recovery efforts.”

The County worked in partnership with lead agency US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, contractor SMIT Salvage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete the piling removal ahead of schedule.

The project was initially slated to take about 90 days, but the removal was finished in less than a month “due to the collaboration and dedication of all partners.”

“Clearing the debris was a vital step in ensuring public safety and marks significant progress in Maui’s ongoing recovery,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “We are deeply grateful to USACE and other dedicated partner agencies for their unwavering support throughout this major effort. This milestone reflects the power of hard work and collaboration in building a safer future for our community.”

While the project had engineering hurdles in the water and on land, cultural and archeological specialists carefully monitored work and ensured preservation of any historical pilings, the release stated.

“This project presented unique engineering challenges, requiring specialized expertise and a quick response,” said Donald Schlack, Chief of Staff for the USACE Recovery Field Office. “USACE, along with our FEMA and SUPSALV partners, are proud to have played a key role in safely and efficiently removing these hazardous obstacles, paving the way for rebuilding efforts in Lahaina.”

Pre-wildfire, the pilings supported commercial and residential structures built over the water. The devastation of buildings left hazardous debris, including metal beams, bolts and the pilings themselves, which presented safety risks along the beach and seawall.

While pilings have been removed, the public can expect to see equipment along Front Street while the contractor is completing demobilization, which is expected by the end of this month.

For more questions or more information about the project, contact the Maui County Office of Recovery at 808-270-4343 or email officeofrecovery@co.maui.hi.us  The USACE Debris Hotline is 877-214-9117.