Pioneer Inn Hotel in Lahaina Maui Hawaii Destroyed

My name is Kitty and I am tying to raise money to help the 50 staff members at the Pioneer Inn who lost everything in the devastating Lahaina Fire on 8-9-2023. I have spent time visiting this charming historic landmark hotel for the past 30 years, and am deeply saddened by the total destruction of the hotel and surrounding area.

Lahaina's storied Pioneer Inn, a working hotel dating back to 1901, was lost in the Maui wildfire on Aug. 9, 2023

Many of the staff have been working there for decades. Fortunately the guests and staff on site the day of the devastating fire were able to evacuate, also saving the Hotel Parrot Alex. However, most of these hard working employees lost their homes and all their possessions in the fire.

Originally built in 1901 by George Alan Freeland, the Pioneer Inn debuted as a first-class destination for travelers passing through the island. The Pioneer Inn was also the first lodging to ever open in the community of Lahaina.

During the 1980s, Howard Lennon of Dallas, Texas, managed to acquire the lease to the Pioneer Inn. He then immediately began an expansive series of renovations that both modernized the inn, and preserved its historical integrity.

Lennon’s family continued to operate the location. They are deeply shocked and saddened by this devastating Lahaina fire that destroyed a very important part their lives and Maui history. They are concerned for their employees, especially the ones that are now homeless.

The Pioneer Inn has been the background for a number of films.

The film "The Devil at 4 O'Clock." released in 1961, starred Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra, and the Pioneer Inn was cast as a hotel on a South Pacific island.

Other productions using Pioneer Inn as a setting include the TV series "Hawaii 5-0," "Hawaiian Eye," "Adventures in Paradise" and "Baywatch."

The Lahaina fire destroyed lives, residences, businesses and many culturally significant locations and beloved spots of the old Hawaiian fishing village. The losses and damage include Front Street's iconic banyan tree, a fishpond and the Na 'Aikane o Maui Cultural Center. The Pioneer Inn in Maui, Hawaii, was a contributing building in the Lahaina Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark.