What can be done to make the Lahaina Harborfront better?

The public is invited to comment through IMAGINE, a nine-month project to develop a community vision and interpretive plan for the heart of the town’s Historic District.

Presented by Lahaina Restoration Foundation and sponsored by the county Planning Department, Pioneer Inn, NPAC and the state Department of Health’s Healthy Hawaii Initiative, the IMAGINE process is already underway.

On Monday, Sept. 10, interpretive planning specialist Dave Bucy will meet with small groups and individuals on Lahaina Public Library’s makai lawn all day to get feedback on the history and culture of the area, as well as current use patterns. Call Lahaina Restoration Foundation at 661-3262 to schedule an informal session.

The focus on establishing a vision for the harborfront continues on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with a workshop to develop a plan for bringing the rich history and culture of the area to life.

Slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pioneer Inn, the workshop will include identifying and discussing key stories, determining potential locations for telling those stories and discussing the role of the storytelling strategies in achieving the vision. The event includes a $12 fee for lunch; register by calling 661-3262.

Bounded by Market Street to the north, King Kamehameha III School to the south and Front Street, mauka, the harborfront is the heart of our historic town.

Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation, explained that a goal of the process is to elevate the area’s cultural and historical significance.

Signs around Lahaina Harbor, for example, could inform visitors about important sites nearby while they wait for their ride to their cruise ship or activity.

The process will also evaluate uses in the area, such as commercial buses, to see if they can be better managed.

For more information on IMAGINE, call Lahaina Restoration Foundation at 661-3262 or visit www.lahainarestoration.org.