erc projects

Story Mapping and Abundance Planning for Economic Recovery

Create a systems map that will be a key tool to inform a strategy for long-term comprehensive and integrated solutions (e.g., for housing and to describe the ecosystem of Maui's economic recovery)

Project Description

We will learn from communities, capture what is being done, and put collective activities into one interactive, visual story map that will reveal overlaps, interconnectivity, gaps, and opportunities for action-–to help people understand and make informed decisions.

The systems mapping process will aid the community at large to gain both individual and collective clarity and to develop a collective story of the present state of the challenges and opportunities of those affected by the August 8th Maui wildfires. This process will also assist with sense making, interconnections and interdependencies of various dynamics and to produce collateral to attract additional support and to inform long term strategy for Mauiʻs continued recovery and return to abundance.

Purpose
  • Increase the capacity of two Maui organizations and equip them with tools and language to effectively engage a broad cross-section of Maui participants towards collective understanding of the priority systemic barriers to be addressed
  • Create a systems map that will be a key tool to inform a strategy for long-term comprehensive and integrated solutions (e.g., for housing and to describe the ecosystem of Mauiʻs economic recovery)
  • Create a shared understanding of the system to facilitate organizations and individuals in their collective action and collaboration
  • Increase understanding—through a living map—for future job creation and private investment generation 
  • Promote shared understanding of systems mapping, what it illustrates (including who works in different spaces and connections), and how it informs the decisions on priorities, policies, and funding, and how it assists in identifying potential strategic partners 
Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)

Goal 2.4 - Economic opportunity through innovation and collaboration.

Interdependencies and Roadblocks

Multiple state and county departments/offices need to engage in this process to assure accurate information and parameters are understood and available:

  • County:  Planning, Office of Recovery, Mayor’s Office, Office of ʻŌiwi Resources, County Department of Agriculture, Infrastructure – water, wastewater, public works, etc.  
  • State:  Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), Office of Planning & Sustainable Development, University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO)
Possible roadblocks:
  • Securing participation due to meeting fatigue will be addressed by scheduling meetings to accommodate working residents, to provide language translation services, childcare services, and honoraria
  • Participation will be affected by how well this can be made understandable to a lay public (including some elected officials). The end product could come with a user-friendly guide and presentations to end users
  • Lack of youth involvement will be addressed by including the Huliau Foundation, Hoʻoikaika Partnerships and Ma ka Hana ka ʻIke
Next Steps
  • Secure private funding for multiple 2-3 hour workshops with up to 40 participants on Maui
  • Utilize the existing Maui Recovers website to include ongoing data, information and updates from this effort and other Maui ERC projects/initiatives
  • Engage with Dr.Chris Shuler, UH WRRC community engagement speciality,Maui resident, and Hydrologist  
Project Details

Cost Estimate: 

  • $60,000
  • Consultant - 6 months of work@8,000/month
  • UHITS team @11,200 per month
  • Travel for stakeholder consultations and outreach @800

Potential Funding Sources:

  • EDA - FY 24 Disaster Supplemental funding opportunity.  Future workforce development. 
  • Private funding is being sought to support this project. 
  • Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum - $30,000
  • MEDB for workforce development supplemental funds
  • Workshop hosts: Schools, Churches, Community Centers.

Committed/existing funding sources: 

  • Sam Dorios of Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum to provide systems mapping expertise and to produce the map and supplemental documents
  • County of Maui Recovers website

Project Lead

ERC project team

Project Partners

  • County of Maui
  • Maui Non-Profit (tbd)
  • Maui Economic Opportunity

Other ERC Projects

Back to ERC

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