This project includes development of an environmentally conscious green workforce and creation of green job opportunities for a sustainable Hawaiʻi and Maui—to provide economic opportunities for local people to stay and live in Maui while also restoring the environment. Key goals of this project include diversification of economy, beyond tourism, towards a circular sustainable economy; return of thriving agriculture industry to Lahaina; increase accessibility and create jobs in conservation, agriculture, environmental science, regenerative tourism, and climate change resilience; create educational programming, career pathways, and mentorship programs for youth to transition from elementary to high school, to college, to careers; create a workforce of local people who can do the natural resources restoration work and maintenance for Lahaina and Maui in the coming years; and create regenerative pono tourism practices through programming, incentives, education and policy.

Challenges include the current economic dependence on tourism, unclear direction for economic future of Lahaina and Hawai’i, education of new workforce and  re-education of current workforce, differences in intentions, purposes, and underlying goals, people (especially younger generation) leaving Maui and Hawai’i due to lack of job opportunities, high cost of living, low wages (typically for service, conservation and ʻāina jobs), and constraints of Hawai’i State Department of Education.

This project includes development of an environmentally conscious green workforce and creation of green job opportunities for a sustainable Hawaiʻi and Maui—to provide economic opportunities for local people to stay and live in Maui while also restoring the environment. Key goals of this project include diversification of economy, beyond tourism, towards a circular sustainable economy; return of thriving agriculture industry to Lahaina; increase accessibility and create jobs in conservation, agriculture, environmental science, regenerative tourism, and climate change resilience; create educational programming, career pathways, and mentorship programs for youth to transition from elementary to high school, to college, to careers; create a workforce of local people who can do the natural resources restoration work and maintenance for Lahaina and Maui in the coming years; and create regenerative pono tourism practices through programming, incentives, education and policy.

Challenges include the current economic dependence on tourism, unclear direction for economic future of Lahaina and Hawai’i, education of new workforce and  re-education of current workforce, differences in intentions, purposes, and underlying goals, people (especially younger generation) leaving Maui and Hawai’i due to lack of job opportunities, high cost of living, low wages (typically for service, conservation and ʻāina jobs), and constraints of Hawai’i State Department of Education.