Building off the County of Maui Department of Agriculture 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, this recovery project involves the creation of a Lahaina Moku Agriculture Plan to develop and prioritize agriculture initiatives for Lahaina moku’s agriculture, farms, food systems, and ecosystems.

Goals of the plan include:

• Developing a regional sustainable and diversified agriculture industry
• Supporting local farming initiatives
• Building economic resilience
• Supporting the health of residents and ecosystems through natural resource restoration and stewardship
• Improving food security and access to healthy food

Key example efforts include:

• Supporting emergency feeding needs
• Supporting recovery of farms damaged in the fires
• Establishing new agriculture and agroforestry industry areas in Lahaina to turn former plantation lands into production
• Building agriculture infrastructure such  as cold storage and dry storage

Historically, Native Hawaiians cultivated the land to feed and sustain generations, and Lahaina was particularly favored by ali’i for its abundance of food and ideal climate conditions. Even just 50 years ago, Lahainaluna High School’s agriculture program fed the Lahaina community, with students growing fruits and vegetables and caring for chickens and livestock. Today, the Lahaina community and government agencies have expressed interest in alternative economic industries to tourism and reinvigorating sustainable agricultural practices to reshape Maui’s economy, generate jobs, and feed the community.  Hawai’i’s communities are extremely food insecure and vulnerable to future disasters and supply chain issues and placing economic strain on residents and business owners due to high food costs. After the August 2023 wildfires, thousands of displaced survivors were in need of immediate feeding support, and a coalition of various government and community groups came together to form the Maui Emergency Feeding Task Force to address community needs. Emergency feeding needs are ongoing and future initiatives are needed for future food resilience to disasters and for long-term self-sufficient food security.

• Identify funding and develop the  Lahaina Moku Agriculture Plan
• Implement actions, strategies, initiatives, and programs and establish partnerships  and funding for implementation