Aloha mai kākou,
In the heart of Maui County is Lahaina, a place rich in history and Hawaiian cultural significance. Once thriving under our traditional ahupuaʻa system, this region exemplified a sustainable and harmonious relationship between people, land, and water.
Today, as we face environmental challenges and the need for sustainable development, there is a compelling case to reinstate the values and structure of the ahupuaʻa system in Lahaina.
Central to the ahupuaʻa system is the concept of watershed management – where the land from the mountains to the sea is interconnected, ensuring the flow of water and sustainable resource management.
In Lahaina, the waters of Lele once flowed freely, sustaining agricultural lands and communities. However, over time, the natural waterways that made Lahaina an ʻāina momona were impeded by government zoning, the rise and fall of the plantation economy, and mass development of residential subdivisions and resorts, disrupting this delicate balance.
It is imperative that we look to our past to guide our future.
By reestablishing the ahupuaʻa system and utilizing it as our road map for revitalizing the area, we can restore the natural flow of waters, ensuring that Lahaina thrives sustainably once again.
Let us heed the lessons of our ʻike kūpuna, our ancestral knowledge, that teaches us the importance of respecting and nurturing the environment for future generations.
For thousands of years, the people of Hawaiʻi lived in harmony with akua (the gods), kānaka (the people), and ʻāina (the land). This harmony was not just a way of life but a blueprint for sustainability. This blueprint provides us with invaluable insights into how to rebuild, replenish, and ensure the rebirth of Lahaina.
As members of the Maui Economic Recovery Commission – ʻĀina and Wai Working Group, we are diligently formulating recommendations for Maui County to consider as they look to rebuild Lahaina.
Our working group discussions have focused on the utilization of the ahupuaʻa system to redevelop the town in responsible and sustainable ways based on the area’s unique geography and its natural and cultural resources.
Additionally, we are exploring the development of policies that prioritize watershed management, reforestation, protection and re-establishment of the area’s natural waterways, and promotion of sustainable agriculture and land use practices.
Lastly, there is great support for the restoration of Mokuhinia and Mokuʻula. This wahi kapu was once a vibrant cultural and ecological center, embodying the interconnectedness of spiritual and environmental stewardship. The restoration of Mokuhinia and Mokuʻula will serve as a beacon of hope and provide an instructive path forward for pono sustainable development practices that honor both our Hawaiian ancestral wisdom and future community needs.
Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira
Ka Pouhana | Chief Executive Officer
