Casting shade: Maui County breaks ground on new Lahaina playground
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As the midday sun beat down on the Lahaina Recreation Center, the shade beneath two pop-up tents brought much-needed relief to those attending Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for a new playground -- a fitting reminder of one of the community's priorities for the project.
Maui County officials and members of the public gathered Thursday to celebrate the start of construction on the $2.4 million playground project, which Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin described as "community-led and county-supported."
Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
"In the future, this playground is yours because it's been built with your vision, your voice," said Patrick McCall, director of the Maui County Parks and Recreation Department.
Patrick McCall, director of the Maui County Parks and Recreation Department, speaks Thursday during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center. The playground, shaped by community input, will feature more than 9,000 square feet of shade when completed in fall 2027. Eli Pace/The Maui News
Once completed, the playground will feature the largest shade structures at any Maui County park, a point several speakers noted as they stepped into the afternoon sun to deliver their remarks.
"Your input has shaped the features of this playground -- the ADA access, the shaded areas and natural structures for keiki," McCall said. "Did I mention shade?"
The blueprints call for three shade structures. One will be 60 feet by 90 feet. Another will be 50 feet by 60 feet, and the smallest will be 45 feet by 15 feet. Altogether, they will provide more than 9,000 square feet of shade.
In addition to the shade, the new playground will feature ADA-accessible pathways, family seating and separate play areas for children 2 to 5 years old and 5 to 12 years old.
The play areas will include slides, climbers, play panels, steppers, poles and chinning bars. Comparable play elements will be included for children with special needs, an intentional effort to make the playground more inclusive for all keiki.
A rendering shows plans for new playground equipment at the Lahaina Recreation Center. Photo courtesy Maui County
"There are few things that, I think, bring us more joy than the laughter of children," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at the groundbreaking. "To be able to have that sound return here to Lahaina is not something to take lightly, but something to look forward to, and the reason that we're really all here."
Kumu Kapono'ai Molitau, director of 'Ōiwi Resources, provided the blessing, and Paltin, who holds the West Maui seat, delivered the closing remarks.
"This playground is so heavily used, and it's just another project that is community-led and county supported," Paltin said. "It's not just the largest shade cover in the County of Maui, it's play equipment for different age groups, it's seating areas for the parents and grandparents to watch their children play and it's the heart and soul of our community."
Kumu Kapono'ai Molitau, director of 'Ōiwi Resources, delivers the blessing during a Thursday groundbreaking ceremony for a new playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center. Eli Pace/The Maui News
County officials also thanked the community, Blazy Construction, Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Kukumoto Engineering and the county's Parks and Recreation Department for their work on the project.
In expressing his gratitude, Bissen said that as Lahaina continues to move forward from the 2023 fire, a project like this restores more than a park, it restores community.
McCall said the project has been years in the making and "shaped by the strength and spirit and resilience of this community."
"Today we celebrate this playground, but the good news is this is just the beginning," he added.
Three other parks are also scheduled to receive new playgrounds by the end of summer 2027, including the Eddie Tam Memorial Center in Upcountry, Kahului Park in Central Maui and Hale Pi'ilani Park in Kihei. Additional shade structures are also planned for Kelawea Mauka and Pau Nau Park in West Maui.