Town
At the town scale, the thesis analyzes Lahaina’s zoning classifications, land ownership patterns, pre- and post-fire building footprints, and infrastructure networks. This is where the four-buffer system — coastal, riparian, peri-urban, and water collection — takes shape as a spatial framework for recovery.
Drawings at this Scale
Coastal Buffer Map
Plan showing the coastal buffer zone defined by sea level rise projections and the inland retreat boundary
Buffer Framework Base Plan
Base plan showing the coastal, riparian, and peri-urban buffer extents with the primary circulation framework
Buffer Framework - Mauka to Makai
Conceptual section showing four buffer zones from hinterland to nearshore: coastal, peri-urban, riparian, and hinterland catchment
Riparian Buffer
Riparian buffer design principles with section detail showing stream corridor restoration
Complete Buffer System
All four buffer zones overlaid — coastal, riparian, peri-urban, and water collection — in one comprehensive plan
Burnt vs. Unburnt Overlay
Map showing burned and unburned structures across Lahaina after the 2023 wildfire
Coast to Peri-Urban Plan
Full transect plan showing the relationship between coastal buffer, urban core, and peri-urban edge
Coastal Buffer Section
Sectional strategy drawing showing retreat, public access, dunes, and coastal park interventions along the shoreline
Integrated Framework Plan
Integrated plan linking buffers, circulation, the school, redensification, and the peri-urban park in one framework
Design Principles
Core design principles including residential rebuilding rights, public access, buffer edges, multi-functional spaces, and cultural preservation
Diagnostic Overlay — Systemic Vulnerabilities
Composite analysis showing overlapping infrastructure, water, and fire vulnerabilities across Lahaina
Displacement & Redensification
Map showing 6,000-7,000 displaced residents and the scale of the proposed redensification response
Existing Green Infrastructure
Pre-fire map showing fragmented green spaces and limited tree canopy in Lahaina
Existing Water Systems
Map of streams, ditches, collection pools, retention areas, and water infrastructure across Lahaina
Fire Footprint: Before & After
Pre-fire urban fabric compared to post-fire footprint with 1-foot contour intervals
Existing Mobility Network
Pre-fire street network showing single-spine road system and evacuation bottlenecks
Historical Mapping
Town-scale map locating Lahaina's key heritage sites and historic districts along the coast
Historical Timeline - 1795 to 2023
Visual timeline of major events in Lahaina from pre-contact era through the 2023 wildfire
Housing Typologies
Matrix of proposed housing types including townhomes, stacked apartments, and mixed-use buildings
Community Hub Network
Three community hub locations positioned within walkable distance of all residential areas
Community Hub Typology Matrix
Matrix comparing the three community hub types, their daily uses, emergency roles, and spatial distribution
Lahaina Base Map
Base map of Lahaina showing topography, road network, runoff, and building footprints before analytical overlays
Five Key Problems
Diagram identifying five systemic problems: urban risk, weak coastal protection, displacement, lack of structure, and disconnected recovery
Peri-Urban Buffer Map
Plan showing the peri-urban firebreak and agricultural transition zone between the rebuilt town and the highway
Post-Fire Aerial View
Satellite image of Lahaina after the 2023 wildfire showing extent of burn damage
Pre-Fire Aerial View
Satellite image of Lahaina before the 2023 wildfire showing coastal development and agricultural land
Design Principles - Overall & Urban
Diagram showing overall recovery principles and their spatial translation into Lahaina's urban section
Proposed Green Infrastructure
Expanded green network connecting coastal promenade, riparian corridors, and agricultural edge
Proposed Mobility Network
Redesigned street hierarchy with new boulevard, pedestrian promenade, and multiple evacuation routes
Redensification Plan
Proposed high-density housing plan showing 2,200 units centered on the new boulevard with typology breakdown
Proposed Recovery Framework
Hypothesis diagram showing four-buffer framework with coastal, peri-urban, riparian, and hinterland zones surrounding a protected urban core
Riparian Buffer Map
Plan showing the riparian corridor running mauka to makai through Lahaina as a restored ecological and public-access spine
Sea Level Rise Projections
Projected coastal encroachment scenarios from 2040 to 2300 along Lahaina's coastline
Water Capture Network
Proposed water capture network showing collection zones, channels, and directional flow from the hinterland toward town
Sections
Abstract
Thesis scope, methods, and broader implications for disaster-resilient urbanism.
The Four-Buffer Framework
Coastal, riparian, peri-urban, and water collection zones forming the backbone of the recovery plan.
Community Anchors - Node-Based Urbanism
How distributing essential functions across multiple nodes prevents simultaneous loss and serves both daily life and crisis response.
Cultural Heritage & Preservation
Lahaina's cultural significance, the Moku'ula restoration, and how Hawaiian identity shapes the recovery framework.
Three District Typologies
Boulevard District, Riparian Edge District, and Coastal Edge District, how housing character varies across the recovery zone.
Disaster Gentrification & Equitable Recovery
How post-disaster recovery can displace the communities it's meant to serve, and policy mechanisms to prevent it in Lahaina.
The 2023 Wildfire - Cause, Spread, and Damage
How the August 2023 wildfire ignited, spread through Lahaina, and exposed systemic infrastructure failures.
History of Lahaina
From royal capital to tourism economy, key spatial events that shaped the town.
Street-by-Street Mobility Design
Detailed design for each corridor: the New Boulevard, Coastal Promenade, Lahaina Luna Avenue, Kahoma Boulevard, and Wainee Street.
Pioneer Mill Water Infrastructure
Historic ditch systems, aquifer designation, and the water crisis blocking Lahaina's recovery.
Multi-Scalar Diagnostic
A framework analyzing Lahaina from regional to neighborhood scale to identify intervention points.
Redensification & Community Hubs
A plan for 2,200 new housing units within a walkable core, anchored by three community hubs.
Research Questions & Hypotheses
Five primary questions framing the investigation into Lahaina's recovery.
Results & Discussion
Evaluating the recovery framework against the five hypotheses and assessing feasibility, scalability, and limitations.
The Water Crisis
Stage 2 water shortage, aquifer designation, and the infrastructure blocking Lahaina's recovery.
Proposed Systems - Water, Green Infrastructure, and Mobility
Integrated urban systems connecting water capture, green corridors, and a new mobility network.
Water System - Zone by Zone
The five water capture and distribution zones from mountain hinterland to coast, with specific strategies for each.
Zoning & Land Use
How Lahaina's land use patterns concentrated vulnerability and complicate recovery.