The staff at Lahaina Carpet & Interiors includes (from left) Aldrin Benito, Alessandra Stout, Darla Phillips, Dave Byars (owner/president), DJ Jordan, Lisa Langello, Sharon Foley and Kimberly Welch.

LAHAINA – Lahaina Carpet & Interiors is celebrating a major milestone in 2019, with several sales planned throughout its 50th Anniversary Year.

A select Hunter Douglas Window Treatment Sale is underway through June 1, and the store at 1036 Limahana Place, Suite 3L, will host an Open House Week from May 6-10 with refreshments, gifts and giveaways.

Owner and President Dave Byars expressed “an ENORMOUS thank you” to customers “for their amazing loyalty and countless recommendations and referrals over these past 50 years.”

Recognizing the need for a carpet installation business on the West Side, the venture was founded as Lahaina Carpet Company in 1969 by Byars and Cliff McQueen.

The former owner of McQueen’s Interiors in Hollywood, McQueen was experienced in interior design and carpet.

McQueen and Byars started laying carpet together. When McQueen opened his own furniture store on Maui – and later went on to real estate fame – surfing/golf buddy Doug Poseley joined Byars.

Lahaina Carpet Company’s warehouse was located in the old cannery along with Ole Surfboards, Christina’s Laundry and Raden Boats, before it was torn down and rebuilt as Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Their office was located in Poseley’s house on Wahikuli Road and consisted of a desk, phone, file cabinet and a dog named Puka.

As Maui grew, Lahaina Carpet’s commercial and residential accounts expanded, along with the partners’ knowledge and expertise.

In the late 1970s, weary with the physical demands of laying carpet and wanting to better balance their labors, Byars and Posely moved the operation to its present location at Limahana Place and began selling carpet.

In the 1980s, they added a larger showroom – rather than continue to show samples and sell carpets out of their cars.

Staff was expanded to keep up with Maui’s continuing commercial and residential growth and demands for decorating services.

The 1990s brought even more tremendous growth and change for the company, with continued expansion to the showroom and staff.

The company name was also changed to Lahaina Carpet & Interiors to reflect its diversified products and services.

So, how did an informal venture launched by young, ambitious waiters at the old Black Rock Terrace Steak House at the Sheraton Maui last for five decades?

“Hard work and perseverance by our loyal staff and customers,” Byars explained.

Like Byars, employees Darla Phillips, Aldrin Benito, Alessandra Stout and Lisa Langello have literally been with Lahaina Carpet for decades.

New facets at the store include Rainier Solar Shades, a popular lanai shade treatment for both outdoor and indoor use, and the wood and Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring showroom.

“Flooring products are changing and improving every year, so we are constantly updating our showroom to stay current with those changes in an ongoing effort to meet demands of our clients,” Byars said.

Even though he “retired” seven years ago, Byars is still working at Lahaina Carpet & Interiors in its 50th year.

We asked what made Lahaina Carpet successful over its long history. “Our wonderful, loyal customers who have returned to us time and time again over the years and have become our friends; and, of course, our dedicated employees who welcome every customer that walks through our door,” Byars concluded.

For information, call 661-4268 or visit www.lahainacarpets.com.