A project to remove approximately 232 pilings from waterfront properties along Front Street in Lahaina is scheduled to start around April 1. Photo courtesy of Maui County

Work to remove approximately 232 pilings from waterfront properties along Front Street in Lahaina is expected to begin soon.

According to the Maui County Office of Recovery, the concrete pilings used to support structures built over the water, and their removal is a crucial step in the ongoing recovery from the 2023 Maui wildfires.

The structures the pilings once supported were damaged or destroyed in the fire, and their removal, along with other hazardous debris such as metal beams and bolts, will help eliminate safety risks in the area.

The project is expected to get under way around April 1, and vehicle and pedestrian access to the 700 and 800 blocks of Front Street, as well as recreational land and ocean areas within the work zone, will remain closed.

County officials say that for safety reasons, the public is being advised to stay clear of barricaded areas and to keep a distance from construction equipment.

Construction will be focused on the 700 and 800 blocks of Front Street between Dickenson Street and Papalaua Street.

Mobilization of construction equipment is expected to start this week, and the project is scheduled to take about 90 days. The work is anticipated to be complete by June 30.

The removal of pilings will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Navy, along with their contractors, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maui County and the Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.

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