Cultural Resources Commission adopts Rebuild Lahaina commercial design guidelines with interpretive‑signage amendment

The County of Maui Cultural Resources Commission voted May 7 to adopt a final draft of the Rebuild Lahaina Commercial Architectural Design Guidelines, Revised April 2026, and approved two amendments to the exhibit before adoption.

Staff noted the guidelines had been posted for public review for four months and asked the Commission to correct a footnote and to consider language to encourage interpretive signage in community open spaces. Commissioners and Office of Recovery staff discussed whether interpretive signage belongs in the guidelines versus other planning efforts; staff and legal counsel explained that adding narrowly scoped language to the guidelines would be within the scope of the public hearing. The Commission adopted a staff motion to correct the footnote to reflect precedence of the new guidelines over older material listed in the county code and to add a new item 2.2.D.7 reading: “Recommend placement of interpretive signage that tells the traditional biocultural landscape and history of Lahaina.”

Chair Kapono Kamaunu called the roll on the motion to adopt the rule exhibit as amended; Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the guidelines and the two amendments. Staff said the County will update the exhibit and attach the revised document to the rule amendment record for implementation.

The Commission emphasized it will continue reviewing projects that fall outside the directive’s eligibility criteria (for example, projects proposing non‑like‑for‑like changes) and reiterated that applicants must follow established signage and historic‑district signage application procedures where applicable.