erc projects

Lahaina Business Park

Establish a commercial hub to help revitalize the heart of Lahaina and provide a vibrant destination for both local residents and visitors

View the Lahaina Business Park pitch deck

Project Description

Lahaina Business Park is a visionary response to the devastating wildfire that swept through Lahaina on August 8, 2023, for community gathering space for retail shops, food, farmer’s market, entertainment, sports, culture, and convening. It will be a commercial and community hub to promote economic recovery and vitality.

The project brings opportunities for Lahaina businesses to get back to business, and create potential for new entrepreneurs. This place could serve as a satellite location for fresh ideas and innovation in a variety of sectors including agriculture, education and technology.

Purpose
  • Create a commercial hub to help revitalize the heart of Lahaina and provide a vibrant destination for both local residents and visitors
  • Offer a diverse range of offerings, from local vendors and food trucks to local entertainment and cultural events
  • Play a pivotal role in supporting Mauiʻs small businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Create gathering space for families, community groups and visitors on West Maui
  • Provide tangible evidence of progress forward

  Figure: Slide 36 of Lahaina Business Park pitch deck

Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)

Policy 2.4.5 - Encourage culturally appropriate, environmentally friendly, community-supported, legal small businesses, art, historic industries, and wellness as an industry.

Action 4.05 - Create programming, marketing and investment to assist the community in developing a food hub, to help farmers and markers of value-added products with production and distribution, and to increase the number of locally made products bought and sold in the community.

Interdependencies and Roadblocks

ERC Projects: 

  • Infrastructure systems – land, water – ‘Āina and Wai Stewardship
  • Healing Journey 
  • Workforce Development Ecosystem 
  • Policy 

Roadblocks:  Acquiring a site 

Next Steps
  • Land acquisition
  • Building of the structures
  • Landscaping
  • Various interior renovations (electrical, carpentry, AC, equipment) are still needed for the project to open 
Project Details

Cost Estimate:

  • $20 million*
  • Date of Estimate: August 2024

Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)

  • Policy 2.4.5 - Encourage culturally appropriate, environmentally friendly, community-supported, legal small businesses, art, historic industries, and wellness as an industry.
  • Action 4.05 - Create programming marketing, and investment to assist the community in developing a food hub, to help farmers and makers of value-added products with production and distribution, and to increase the numbers of locally made products bought and solid in the community.

Potential Funding Sources:

  • EDA
  • Hawai‘i Community Foundation
  • State of Hawai‘i
  • USDA Rural Development
  • Local Business Development
  • Maui United Way
  • Private foundations

Project Lead:

Maui Office of Economic Development and the Maui Office of Recovery Economic Recovery Support Function in partnership with the LahainaTown Action Committee

Project Partners:

  • LahainaTown Action Committee
  • Maui Chamber of Commerce
  • Hawaii Chamber of Commerce
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce
  • Maui Economic Development Board
  • Maui Economic Opportunity Inc.
  • Maui Hotel & Lodging Association
  • Hawaii Tourism Authority
  • Hawaiian Civic Club
  • Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement
  • FEMA
  • U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration
  • U.S. Small Business Administration
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Hawaii Community Foundation

Other ERC Projects

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Key Highlights

ERC members share from the ERC process:

  • The opportunity to get to know and work with others, who they normally would not meet, in meaningful ways
  • A new way of doing business together for shared goals: Time to build foundations and relationships, to learn, and to think broadly about what Maui needs for long-term recovery has been really appreciated and is crucial for real impact
  • Witnessing a de-siloing of government (across levels) and experiencing working with agencies and across sectors provides hope
  • Mayor Bissen announced that there will be private funding to support two years of project management, so relationships, new ways of doing business together, and the projects will continue through implementation, and our administration will continue to support the people of the Maui and the County after this warm hand-off