Zoning

Lahaina’s zoning classifications create a regulatory landscape that both enables and blocks recovery. Single-family R-1 lots sit adjacent to commercial strips without transition, while multi-family R-3 developments occupy isolated pockets disconnected from pedestrian networks. Pre-fire density achieved neither the efficiency of compact urbanism nor the fire-safety benefits of low-density separation — with 83% renters and fragmented housing interspersed among tourist accommodations, the town was structurally vulnerable. This topic covers the zoning analysis and the policy changes needed to prioritize housing for returning residents.