Maui County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will be asking for input from residents about plans for a new fieldhouse and community center in West Maui.
“The Department of Parks and Recreation is continuing recovery efforts in the Lahaina community, which includes rebuilding and enhancing public spaces,” officials told Aloha State Daily by email. “Developing a site plan now allows the County to thoughtfully incorporate community needs, including features like improved shade structures that extend usability and comfort.”
DPR added: “West Maui residents have been asking for more meeting space for community and individual ʻohana gatherings. Residents will have opportunities to offer feedback on the project.”
A timeline for completion will be determined as planning and design move forward, per the County.
To collect community input on the proposed site’s layout and function, along with facility programs, DPR and consulting partner G70 will host an in-person interactive design workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the Lahaina Civic Center social hall.
“Community members can expect to engage with visual models and share input on how the space should be designed and used,” DPR told ASD. “Community feedback will play an important role in shaping the project, including considerations around site layout and features.”
Additional opportunities to submit comments via an online open house (website coming soon) will take place from May 20 to June 14.
“The Department of Parks and Recreation looks forward to collaborating with the community and stakeholders to create a meaningful, welcoming space that serves West Maui residents for years to come,” DPR said.
Results from this period of public outreach will be shared by the County at a monthly Lahaina Community Meeting this summer, officials stated.
“The Lahaina community has asked for more recreational facilities and community gathering spaces,” DPR Director Patrick McCall said in a statement. “This represents far more than a field house or community center — it is an investment in connection, healing and resilience. These facilities will support not only recreation, but also the long-term recovery and overall well-being of our West Maui neighbors, family and friends.”
As for use, the project team has this in mind:
“The fieldhouse will include two regulation-sized basketball courts that can also be used for other court sports, including volleyball and pickleball,” it stated. “The community center will include a certified commercial kitchen, meeting space for community and individual ‘ohana gatherings, serve as an emergency shelter and provide office space for County staff."
When asked how the project will be funded, DPR said, “Cost estimates will be refined as the design progresses. Funding is typically identified through the County’s annual budget process.”
At Tuesday’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee Meeting by Maui County Council, McCall shared DPR’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, which is $29.9 million in total. He noted that $5 million will go toward West Maui builds, $1.2 million of which is allocated for the new community center and fieldhouse.
“Our budget represents our attempt to preserve our aging facilities, protect our environment and also equip our staff to deliver large scale recreational programs across the board,” he said during the meeting's opening remarks.
According to its website, DPR’s mission is to "provide safe, satisfying and cost-effective recreational opportunities for the residents of and visitors to Maui County".
For more information about this project, email parks.dept@co.maui.hi.us.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
