The County of Maui today announced a significant step forward in Maui wildfire recovery efforts with the removal of all 237 nonhistorical, concrete pilings along Front Street in Lahaina - totaling approximately 500 tons of material.

The County worked in partnership with lead agency U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), contractor SMIT Salvage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete the piling removal ahead of schedule. Initially projected to take about 90 days, the removal was finished in less than a month due to the collaboration and dedication of all partners.

"Clearing the debris was a vital step in ensuring public safety and marks significant progress in Maui’s ongoing recovery," Mayor Richard Bissen said. "We are deeply grateful to USACE      and other dedicated partner agencies for their unwavering support throughout this major effort. This milestone reflects the power of hard work and collaboration in building a safer future for our community.”

While the project had engineering hurdles in the water and on land, cultural and archeological specialists carefully monitored work and ensured preservation of any historical pilings.

“This project presented unique engineering challenges, requiring specialized expertise and a quick response,” said Donald Schlack, Chief of Staff for the USACE Recovery Field Office. “USACE, along with our FEMA and SUPSALV partners, are proud to have played a key role in safely and efficiently removing these hazardous obstacles, paving the way for rebuilding efforts in Lahaina.”

Pre-wildfire, the pilings supported commercial and residential structures built over the water. The devastation of buildings left hazardous debris, including metal beams, bolts and the pilings themselves, which presented safety risks along the beach and seawall.

While pilings have been removed, the public can expect to see equipment along Front Street while the contractor is completing demobilization, which is expected by the end of this month.

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

‍