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Foundation to celebrate 50 years of restoring Lahaina’s history

By Staff | Apr 26, 2012

Morrison

LAHAINA – Fifty years and counting… Lahaina Restoration Foundation will be holding its annual breakfast meeting at the Pioneer Mill Company Smokestack on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

An update on new projects undertaken by the foundation as well as a recap of 50 years of restoration will be celebrated. Scholarships for Lahainaluna High School students and alumni will be awarded, and Millie Kahahane will be honored for her many years of service at the Baldwin Home Museum. Reservations and payment of $20 can be made at 661-3262.

In an act of random vandalism, the plaque honoring Front Street as a Great Street in America was torn off its post over the weekend. Fortunately, the thief discarded the heavy plaque in the bushes nearby, perhaps after discovering that the metal plaque was not valuable as scrap metal. We are currently refurbishing the plaque, and it will soon be welded back onto its post so the public can share our community pride in this award.

During the recent “History with our Kupuna,” Lahaina Restoration Foundation (LRF) shared Lahaina’s rich history with Maui’s senior citizens. More than 20 people from Kaunoa Senior Services attended the program. There were another 40 seniors on the waiting list! The program is coordinated by LRF’s Community Education Committee, which is chaired by former Lahainaluna High School history teacher Andy Kutsunai.

The beautiful highway sign welcoming people to Lahaina – first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom – on the north side of town has now been replaced. The restoration work was completed by Saltwater Signs. Due to safety concerns with the proposed new location in the landscaped median on the highway, the welcome sign across from Puamana Park will be refurbished next and returned to the same location where it is now. In the future, a new sign that conforms to the state highway standards will be installed in the highway median.

We are seeking a few motivated volunteers to serve on the planning committee for the popular Lahaina Plantation Days to be held Oct. 18-20. Volunteers will work alongside seasoned event planners who helped conceive and execute Lahaina’s former big events, such as “A Taste of Lahaina” and the International Festival of Canoes. This is a great opportunity to learn how to plan large, successful community events. There are several opportunities open. No experience is necessary. A willingness to learn and work together as a team player are the only requirements. Please call Anela, Lahaina Restoration Foundation event coordinator, at 661-3262 for more information.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation operates six museums in Lahaina, maintains parks and open space in the Lahaina Historic Districts, provides free educational programming through its walking tours and the monthly Ha’ina Hou, and coordinates the annual Lahaina Plantation Days and the monthly Hawaiian Music Series. For more information, please visit www.lahainarestoration.org or call 661-3262.