WAILUKU — A master interpretive plan for the Lahaina Historic District, which will include setting up permanent panels at significant locations around town, was unveiled before the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission Thursday.

"We all know the story of Lahaina isn't being told," said Keoki Freeland, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. "Even residents don't know what's there. We just simply want to tell the story of Lahaina not only to the visitors, but especially to the local people."

Freeland's organization has helped spearhead a two-year effort of putting together a blueprint to properly interpret the many chapters of Lahaina's history and make sure that visitors have the kind of experience they came expecting while helping residents learn more about their community.

Others involved in the process were representatives of The Friends of Moku'ula, Hui O Wa'a Kaulua and LahainaTown Action Committee along with Jerry Kunitomo, a Lahaina businessman.

The plan was compiled by Don Bucy, an Oregon planner who has helped design interpretive plans for other communities in Hawaii. Elizabeth Anderson, former Cultural Resources Commission specialist for the Maui Planning Department who is now historic preservation officer for the city of Tacoma, Wash., also assisted in drawing up the document.

Before any panels can be erected around town, the commission must grant Historic District approval. Anderson said she and Freeland expect to return with more specific details for the first phase of the interpretive panels in a few months. She said it's hoped they can be in place by the end of the year.

Chairman James "Kimo" Falconer expressed the wishes of the panel when he said he wanted to guarantee that the project was "preservation backed and not commercially backed."

The first phase of the plan will feature new panels at four historic sites as well as roofed kiosks or shelters at the Lahaina Harbor and the parking lot at Dickenson and Luakini streets.

The first group of historic sites that will get panels are the Lahaina Lighthouse, the Carthaginian, the Baldwin Home and the Master's Reading Room. Presently, those sites, and others, are listed in brochures. But there is no more information at the location.

The kiosks will contain clusters of panels and a map of the town. Anderson said the planning group also thought it would be good to include some of the cultural events around town, but staff planner Ann Cua said the Planning Department was concerned about that.

"We have no problem with signage to illustrate the history of Lahaina, but it's the commercial aspects that would bother us, especially the events," she said. "There are other groups out there who aren't part of (the planning) group who might come in and say 'What about our events?' "

No one disagreed that the promotion of events at the kiosks could become a sticky issue, so more discussions were planned.

Commissioner Lori Sablas, founder of the Po'okela program at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, said an interpretive plan for Lahaina was much needed.

"Are we meeting the visitors' expectations?" she said. "I think we have a lot of improvement to do in this area and I think this is a major step."

Sablas was selected by her colleagues to represent them on the planning group.

Barbara Long, past president of the Maui Historical Society, applauded the project and suggested the group invite leaders of Maui's other small towns to review the Lahaina program to give them ideas they might want to use in their communities.

The plan also calls for more exhibits at the Old Lahaina Courthouse and other museums, "teaser" cards on restaurant tables that promote the town's history, lectures and guided tours. Lahaina Restoration Foundation also has published a new walking tour map and brochure that will be made available around town.

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