Community celebration will feature a free concert by Common Kings and mark the opening of a new marketplace and gathering space

The County of Maui and Hawaiian Council, with support from Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF), will celebrate the grand opening of ʻUlu o Lele on Tuesday, Nov. 10, with an afternoon of community festivities and a free concert by Common Kings. Located at the former Outlets of Maui site, the interim marketplace will provide a place for local businesses to reopen and for the community to gather as Lahaina’s recovery continues.

The grand opening will begin at 1 p.m., with entertainment and community festivities continuing through 8 p.m. Common Kings will take the stage at 8:15 p.m. The celebration will be held at the corner of Waine‘e and Papalaua streets in Lahaina and is free and open to the public. For the tentative schedule, visit uluolele.com.

“Restoring Lahaina’s commercial district means helping local business owners return and giving people reasons to come back and support them,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “ʻUlu o Lele creates an opportunity to do that while permanent rebuilding moves forward. Mahalo to Hawaiian Council and Hawaiʻi Community Foundation for helping turn this community priority into a place that will serve Lahaina’s families and businesses.”

ʻUlu o Lele is a key part of a broader, collaborative effort to restore commercial activity in Lahaina by creating the momentum needed to bring businesses back to Front Street. By drawing residents and visitors back to the area, the marketplace will help reestablish foot traffic, stimulate economic activity and pave the way for other businesses to reopen. As permanent commercial rebuilding progresses, the County is working closely with property and business owners to remove barriers and expedite permitting. Of the 36 properties impacted on the mauka side of Front Street, two building permits have been issued, four applications are under review, and 16 properties are on a pathway to rebuilding.

Hawaiian Council is leading the planning, development and implementation of ʻUlu o Lele, with funding from its Kākoʻo Maui Fund and a $4 million grant from HCF’s Maui Strong Fund.

The project grew out of community engagement and recommendations from the HCF-funded Maui Business Recovery and Resilience Assessment, which identified steps to support West Maui’s economy during recovery.

“Lahaina’s families and businesses are still working through a long and difficult recovery. They need opportunities to make a living and places where they can come together as a community,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council. “It is our kuleana to help create those opportunities now, while the rebuilding continues. ʻUlu o Lele gives local businesses a place to reopen and families and friends a place to gather again. This celebration is our way of honoring Lahaina’s people, and we invite everyone to come enjoy the music, support these businesses and spend the day together.”

The approximately 3-acre marketplace is being developed as an interim home for local businesses and community activities while long-term rebuilding continues. ‘Ulu o Lele will include retail shops, food vendors, cultural programming, music and space for nonprofit and community events.

"For a small business owner, having a place to reopen is a game changer. It can mean the difference between putting plans on hold and earning an income again,” said Terry George, CEO and president of Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. "ʻUlu o Lele is about more than rebuilding storefronts. It’s about rebuilding lives and restoring more vibrancy to a community. Thanks to the generosity of Maui Strong Fund donors and the leadership of Hawaiian Council and the County of Maui, we're grateful to help support the businesses and livelihoods that are essential to Lahaina's ongoing recovery.”

HPM Building Supply recently completed the construction of 17 modular storefronts in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The storefronts were designed to honor the character and charm of Lahaina’s vibrant culture. Hawaiian Council has arranged private shipping by American Marine Corporation to transport the structures from Hilo to Maui, with scheduled arrival on Wed., Oct.  21.

“We would also like to mahalo HPM President and CEO Jason Fujimoto and the entire HPM team on Hawai‘i Island for stepping forward to support Maui’s recovery,” Lewis added. “They are putting their skills and hard work into building spaces where Lahaina businesses can start again. This kind of care and support from across our pae ʻāina is what aloha looks like in action.”

Hawaiian Council and its partners will announce the selected vendors at a press conference planned for Thurs., Oct. 29, details will be shared once confirmed. The selection process has been informed by the ʻUlu o Lele Advisory Committee, with priority given to businesses directly affected by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires or with a connection to Lahaina.

The Nov. 10 celebration will mark the opening of the marketplace grounds and community gathering spaces. Individual shops will open as they are ready, and some may open after the celebration. Residents are invited to bring their families, enjoy the music and reconnect with friends and neighbors as the community celebrates Lahaina’s people and supports its local businesses.

For event updates and marketplace information, visit uluolele.com.

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