ISD Fellow Lynn Knight's Work with the Maui ERC Implemented in the Lahaina Long-Term Recovery Plan

ISD Fellow Lynn Knight was the lead economic developer of the Maui Economic Recovery Commission (Maui ERC), a coalition of community leaders focused on rebuilding and uplifting the county following its 2023 wildfires.

A number of the Maui ERC's projects, including Lahaina Business Park, Regaining Lahaina's Harbor for Economic Resilience, and Expanding R-1 Water System to Lahaina, have been incorporated into the county's official Lahaina Long-Term Recovery Plan.

The Lahaina R-1 project has recently been awarded a $15.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. The organization's Imua Maui Community Healing project, intended to build local capacities for community gatherings, has also received a $75,000 grant from the Hawaii Leadership Forum to begin launching events for West Maui residents.

In December, the Maui ERC organized the Grinchmas Lahaina Who-liday Fest for students and families of Lahainaluna High School and Lahaina Intermediate, which garnered over 400 attendees, including over 100 volunteers and vendors.

The Maui ERC has been initially funded by Maui Economic Opportunity and is working with SR Partners LLC (formerly Skog Rasmussen LLC) to continue project implementation and facilitation.