During Phase 2A of the Lahaina Harbor Front Improvement Project, the lawn area on the mauka side of Lahaina Public Library will be landscaped with Native Hawaiian plants and trees with an emphasis on kalo (taro). PHOTO BY LAHAINA RESTORATION FOUNDATION.

LAHAINA – Bringing reverence to the historic and cultural sites in Lahaina is one of the stated goals of the community-based Lahaina Harbor Front Improvement Project. Phase 2A of this multi-phase project will be going out to bid soon.

Maui Friends of the Library developed the landscape concept plan with input from the Lahaina community.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation embraced this plan and is managing the project with grant funds from the County of Maui Parks and Recreation Department. Russel Y. Gushi is the landscape architect.

Phase 2A encompasses the lawn area on the mauka side of the library, formerly the King’s Kalo Patch. In keeping with community goals, the area will be landscaped with Native Hawaiian plants and trees with an emphasis on kalo (taro).

Although in former times the lo’i kalo were irrigated by the stream that ran freely in the area of the present day Dickenson Street, the kalo in this project will be cultivated as dryland kalo.

The phase also includes planting Native Hawaiian plants and trees, and the removal of non-natives. Brick-like pavers will be installed next to the existing sidewalk along Front Street to provide a larger area for pedestrians and a welcoming entrance to the park.

A bike rack will be installed near the mauka door to the library, and a traditional Hawaiian dry stacked wall will be built next to the remnants of an ancient rock wall along Market Street.

An irrigation system will be installed to water the newly-planted lawn areas as well as three large beds of kalo. New benches will be installed along the Front Street sidewalk.

The completion of the project will provide space for free cultural education areas in the park. Working together with Lahaina Public Library, Lahaina Restoration Foundation plans to provide space for small lectures, cultural demonstrations, hands-on education about kalo and more.

School children will be invited to plant the three kalo beds and a community event will be held to celebrate the harvest. An appropriate Hawaiian name will be given to the park when the area is blessed and opened to the public.

The earlier phases of the Lahaina Harbor Front Improvement Project have been completed. These include vine-covered trellises, brick pavers and benches at Keawaiki Park next to the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor.

Banyan Tree Park received new cement paths and an enhanced entrance with an uki uki plant border.

The last and largest phase of the project will be the re-landscape of the area on the makai side of the library.

Licensed contractors interested in bidding on Phase 2A can contact Theo Morrison at Lahaina Restoration Foundation by e-mailing her at theo@lahainarestoration.org.

The opening of the bidding process will be publicly announced soon. The invitation to bid, drawings and all relevant information will be available on a jump drive.