Photos of Lahaina's historic Pioneer Inn before and after Maui fire 'obliteration'
Lahaina’s iconic Pioneer Inn hotel has been burned down in the major wildfire spreading across Hawaii’s Maui island, among other major tourist attractions.
Thousands have been evacuated in Maui’s historic Lahaina town after a devastating wildfire ripped through the island on Tuesday evening (August 8, 2023). There have been at least 36 fatalities, making it among the deadliest US wildfires in recent years. The fast-moving fires, fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, developed so quickly that some residents were forced to jump into the ocean to avoid danger.
Businesses and homes in Lahaina have been destroyed, including Front Street, the seafront tourist spot. The location is also home to Maui’s iconic banyan tree, which still stands amidst the destruction albeit burned, but the Pioneer Inn hotel is confirmed to have been “obliterated”.
SEE: Photos of Maui’s Pioneer Inn before and after Hawaii fire
The 122-year-old Pioneer Inn has been lost to the wildfires, Best Western Hotels reportedly confirmed. All guests were safely evacuated from the property.
Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, also confirmed that the Pioneer Inn was “obliterated – unfortunately, it was just destroyed.”
The hotel is located on Lahaina’s Wharf Street and Front Street.
Aerial photos of the town have been posted on Facebook by Waiehu, Hawaii resident Richard Olsten showing Lahaina’s situation on August 9.
Images show the once-green landscape transformed into shades of smoky grey as buildings are reduced to rubble.
The sixth photo shows the white Lahaina Heritage Museum still standing, though the exterior and roof are noticeably burned and damaged. To the left of the museum is a large plot of rubble, where the Pioneer Inn stood just 24 hours ago. The entire structure has vanished.
Olsten’s video:
Here are Google Images of the museum and hotel before, compared to the recent images:
The history behind the Pioneer Inn hotel
Originally built in 1901 by George Alan Freeland, the Pioneer Inn is one of the nine contributing buildings that constitute the Lahaina Historic District, a US National Historic Landmark. It is also a member of the Historic Hotels Of America.
The accommodation was the first lodging to open in Lahaina, making it the oldest hotel in the town, on Maui island, and the oldest in continuous operation in the state.
Constructed with Hawaiian plantation-style architecture, it was a first-class destination for travelers and remains a major tourist attraction. It has been featured in various film and TV productions, including Hawaii Five-0, Hawaiian Eye, and Baywatch.
