Biden signs bill to study designating Lahaina as National Heritage Area

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed 50 bills into law, one of them directing the National Park Service to assess the suitability of designating Lahaina, Maui, as the “Lahaina National Heritage Area.”

The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono in the U.S. Senate. Both are Hawai‘i Democrats.

The bicameral legislation calls for a study by the National Park Service, in coordination with Maui County and other Hawai‘i state and local partners, to determine the feasibility of the historic leeward Valley Isle community — which was destroyed in August 2023 by deadly wildfires — being designated as a National Heritage Area.

The National Park Service says benefits of receiving such a designation include:

• Leveraging federal funds to create jobs, generate revenue for local governments and sustain local communities through revitalization and heritage tourism.
• Improving water and air quality through restoration projects, and encouraging people to enjoy natural and cultural sites by providing new recreational opportunities.
• Improving quality of life through new or upgraded amenities, unique settings and educational and volunteer opportunities.
• Connecting to natural, historic and cultural sites via educational activities, promoting awareness and fostering interest in and stewardship of heritage resources.
• Strengthening a sense of place and community pride by engaging community members in heritage conservation activities.

The bill passed the House on Dec. 4 and received unanimous approval in the Senate on Dec. 16 before it was sent to Biden’s desk for his consideration.

“The devastating August 2023 wildfires that claimed over 100 lives and destroyed much of Lahaina shed light on how special this town is, not only to the Maui community, but also to Hawai‘i and the country,” said Hirono. “The historic, natural and cultural resources found in Lahaina tell a nationally significant story and this bill will help ensure that story can continue to be told and appreciated for generations to come.”

The National Park Service currently oversees 62 National Heritage Areas throughout the country, none of which are in Hawai‘i. Hirono said it is therefore a fitting tribute that Lahaina is now under consideration to be one of the state’s first.

The House also passed Hirono’s Ka‘ena Point National Heritage Area Act in 2022 to study designating Ka‘ena Point on O‘ahu as a National Heritage Area.

“The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act is about grounding its rebirth and rebuilding in the history, culture and tradition of the ahupua‘a that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i,” said Tokuda. “I am grateful and proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our bill received in the House, and humbled and honored by Sen. Hironoʻs leadership and insistence on getting this passed by the Senate before the end of this Congress.”

The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was also co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Democrat U.S. Rep. Ed Case.

Full text of the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act is available online.