Condition of Pioneer Mill chimney raises concerns

Officials on Maui have closed a portion of Lahainaluna Road due to concerns about the structural integrity of the Pioneer Mill smokestack.

The county said in a news release that structural assessments of the chimney “have documented concerns about its condition.”

The Maui Department of Public Works (DPW) closed Lahainaluna Road between Honoapi’ilani Highway and Kuhua Street at 3 p.m. today, but said there is no “imminent danger of collapse and the road closure is being done as a precaution.”

There are cracks and crumbling around the base of the chimney.

“There is no visual evidence that the chimney has been compromised by fire damage, but the recommended action at this time is to establish an exclusion zone 1.5 times the height of the tower while further structural assessments are conducted,” said DPW Director Jordan Molina.

The chimney was built in 1928 and is 69 metres high.

DPW said it is working with landowner Ka’anapali Land Management Corp. and tenant Lahaina Restoration Foundation to schedule additional structural assessments and develop a plan to monitor the condition of the historic chimney.

According to the foundation on its website, a lease for the chimney was signed in 2008 and a four-month restoration project was completed in 2010. The work, called the foundation days, included the installation of carbon steel tie-downs, a steel door, exterior concrete repairs, a waterproofing layer and restoration of the 14-foot carbon steel “crown” atop the chimney.”