History and community make Front Street great
BY MARK VIETH - EDITOR
LAHAINA - There are few streets in the United States that can match Front Street - what David Allaire calls "the heartbeat of Lahaina."
Front Street's history, incredible oceanfront setting, people of diverse cultures and architecture all make the area special and worthy of recognition as one of the American Planning Association's 2011 "Great Streets in America."
Lahaina Restoration Foundation (LRF) held a ceremony last week Thursday afternoon at the Baldwin Home to honor the Lahaina community for this achievement and unveil a bronze plaque designating Lahaina's focal point as a "Great Street" for 2011.LRF Executive Director Theo Morrison said the Lahaina community deserves credit for preserving the history and integrity of Lahaina Town.She called Front Street a collage of Lahaina's fascinating history, with the King's Taro Patch; Spring House, the primary source of water supplied to the whaling ships docked in the Lahaina Roadstead; missionary home of Rev. Dwight Baldwin; and sugar plantation-era buildings all within sight of her podium.
LRF President Allaire said the "Great Street" honor belongs to the whole town and the 500-900 block of Front Street.
He said the historic corridor on the seaside is a "wonderful place" with great weather, eclectic architecture reflecting the town's cultural and historical eras, and fantastic people from Lahaina and all over the world.
Lahaina has its characters, but the town is full of good people that are kind and love their family and community, Allaire commented. Read more...
