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Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan 2021-2023

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Maui Nui consists of three islands: Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i. Each island is home to diverse communities within each moku and home to a multitude of perspectives on tourism and its impact. To address these varying views, each island developed its own Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) with input and collaboration across sectors and community. These individual plans are part of the larger Maui Nui DMAP, created by the HTA in collaboration with government, community and visitor industry stakeholders, to provide an overarching framework for managing tourism across the three islands while respecting the unique needs of each.

DMAP 2021-2023 Planning Process Graphic

Raising resident sentiment on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi

Destination Management actions seek to expand the benefits of tourism for resident quality of life, and made measurable impacts on Resident Sentiment, one of HTA’s Key Performance Indicators, over the lifespan of this DMAP. From a baseline 45% of Maui County residents agreeing that “Tourism has brought more benefits than problems,” in Fall 2021, destination management activities contributed to a rise to 49% in Spring 2024.

Constituent measures of Resident Sentiment include:

  • Agreement that “Tourism is being better managed on my island”: 31% of Maui residents agreeing in Fall 2021 rising to 43% in Spring 2024.
  • Agreement that “More effort is being made to balance economic benefits of tourism and quality of life for residents”: 39% of Maui County residents agreeing in Fall 2021 improving to 47% in Spring 2024.

Note that sampling was based on Maui County, not its individual constituent islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. Where available, data for Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi specifically still reported relatively high Resident Sentiment by the end of the lifespan of this DMAP: 52% of Molokaʻi residents and 74% of Lānaʻi residents agreed that “Tourism has brought more benefits than problems” in Spring 2024.

Source: HTA Resident Sentiment Surveys Fall 2021, Spring 2024

The Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) was based on the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and community plans for each constituent island. Each of the three islands’ steering committees—made up of community members, visitor‑industry representatives, and other local stakeholders—developed action items for its own island DMAP. The plan served as a three-year roadmap (September 2021–August 2024) focused on tourism recovery and rebuilding efforts. The HTA Board of Directors approved the draft DMAPs for Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, comprising the Maui Nui DMAP, between December 2020 and January 2021.

The Maui Nui DMAP focused on several key initiatives to manage tourism responsibly and enhance the visitor and resident experience. Efforts included pilots to support community-led stewardship programs at hotspots, supporting Maui County’s ordinance banning the use of chemical sunscreens to protect critical reef habitats, and provisioning numerous mineral-only sunscreen dispensers at Maui County Beach Parks and other high-traffic areas. Funding also supported community-driven messaging for the Road to Hāna, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi.

Explore more media coverage on the Maui Nui DMAP actions below:

Click or tap on the cover to read the DMAP.

Maui

Lānaʻi

HTA developed the Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) over the course of five months in partnership with the County of Maui. Four steering committee meetings took place for each of Maui and Molokaʻi, and community meetings were also held to gather further input. Due to COVID, the Lānaʻi Steering Committee met five times. Each Steering Committee met via Zoom, and professional meeting facilitators assisted with bringing out the members’ ideas.

Community members for each of the islands of Maui Nui provided feedback on draft actions through an online webform. The HTA and County of Maui crafted the plan based on community input.

The draft DMAPs for Maui and Molokaʻi were approved by the HTA Board of Directors in December 2020, and the draft DMAP for Lānaʻi was approved in January 2021. To view the Maui Nui DMAP click here.

Resources for Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi’s separate community meetings are available below.

Community Meetings

Maui

A facilitated Maui Community Destination Management Action Plan meeting was held on October 28, 2020. Over 150 residents attended the meeting. The purpose of the two-hour meeting was to explain the DMAP process to the public, share the Steering Committee’s proposed draft actions, and have the public provide feedback to the proposed draft actions. View resources from this meeting below:

Molokaʻi

A facilitated Moloka‘i Community Destination Management Action Plan meeting was held on October 29, 2020. A little over 60 residents attended the meeting. The purpose of the two-hour meeting was to explain the DMAP process to the public, share the Steering Committee’s proposed draft actions, and have the public provide feedback to the proposed draft actions. View resources from this meeting below:

Lānaʻi

A facilitated Lāna‘I Community Destination Management Action Plan meeting was held on November 19, 2020. A little over 25 attended the meeting. The purpose of the two-hour meeting was to explain the DMAP process to the public, share the Steering Committee’s proposed draft actions, and have the public provide feedback to the proposed draft actions. View resources from this meeting below:

Development of the Maui Nui DMAP

HTA worked with the County of Maui and Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau to finalize the plan, including identifying responsible parties and phasing for implementation. All actions were created and developed by the Steering Committee with community input. The individual island DMAPs were approved by the HTA board between December 2020 and January 2021. To view the Maui Nui DMAP, click here.

Steering Committees for each of the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi were comprised of residents of each respective island. They represent not only the communities that they live in, but also the visitor industry, different business sectors, community and non profit organizations. They guided and developed suggested actions for Maui Nui’s Destination Management Action Plan, and supported implementation following approval of the plans. Click through below for each island’s Steering Committee.

Maui Steering Committee

Seward Akahi
General Manager
Hertz

Rod Antone*
Executive Director
MHLA

Matt Bailey*
Managing Director
Montage Hotel

Kathleen Costello
Destination Diva
Wailea Resort Association

Curt Cottrell**
Administrator
State of Hawaii – Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of State Parks

Toni Davis
Executive Director
Activities & Attractions Assoc.

Jim Diegel
Chief Strategy Officer
Maui Health

Sherry Duong
Executive Director
Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau

Kawika Freitas
Sales/Trainer
Old Lahaina Luau

Hokulani Holt-Padilla
Director, Ka Hikina O Ka La
University of Hawaii Maui College

Kaui Kanakaole
Executive Director
Ala Kukui Hana Retreat

Kyoko Kimura*
Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Member
Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Chase Martin
Communications, Community Outreach and Development Manager
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Marvin Moniz
Airport Manager
District Airport Manager

Larry Pacheco**
Maui Superintendent
State of Hawaii – Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of State Parks

Lisa Paulson
Executive Director
MHLA

Jin Prugsawan
Public Information Officer/Chief of Interpretation
& Education
Haleakala National Park

Anne Rillero*
Community Communications
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Andrew Rogers
General Manager
Ritz Carlton

Pamela Tumpap
Executive Director
Maui Chamber of Commerce

Pomai Weigert
AgBusiness Consultant
GoFarm Hawaii

John White*
Director of Sales & Marketing
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Mike White
Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Member
Kaanapali Beach Hotel & The Plantation Inn

Brian Yano
General Manager
Outlets of Maui

* Member of the original Steering Committee, but no longer serving on the Committee.
** Steering Committee member as of Summer 2021.
† Steering Committee member as of Winter 2021.
Steering Committee member as of Summer 2022.

Molokaʻi Steering Committee

Julie-Ann Bicoy
Community Member

Kanoelani Davis
Owner
Pomahina Designs

Sherry Duong
Executive Director
Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau

Butch Hasse
Executive Director
Molokai Land Trust

Ui Kahue-Cabanting
Cultural Practitioner, Community Activist, Homesteader/ Business Owner

Kyoko Kimura
HTA Board Member
Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Clare Mawae
Chair at Youth In Motion
Owner Molokai Outdoors and CSM Management

John Pele
Managing Partner, Hiro’s Ohana Grill
Resident Manager, Paniolo Hale

Greg Solatorio
Halawa Valley Falls Cultural Hike

Rob Stephenson
President
Molokai Chamber of Commerce

The Molokaʻi Steering Committee was superceded by the Molokaʻi DMAP Task Force as of April 2022 to facilitate in implementing DMAP actions.

Clare Albino
Youth In Motion, Molokai Outdoors and CSM Management

Gordon Albino
Community Member

Kui Aldolpho
Community Member

Kanoelani Davis
Pomahina Designs

Rosie Davis
Community Member

Sherry Duong
Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau

Keani Rawlins Fernandez
Maui County Council

Lehua Greenwell
Hulalei Designs

Butch Hasse
Molokai Land Trust

Yama Kaholoaa
Community Member

Ui Kahue-Cabanting
Business Owner

Kaui Manera
Community Member

Christopher Obrien
Sustainable Molokaʻi

John Pele
Hiro’s Ohana Grill and Paniolo Hale

Kilia Purdy-Avelino
Community Member

Greg Solatorio
Halawa Valley Falls Cultural Hike

Rob Stephenson
Molokai Chamber of Commerce

Lānaʻi Steering Committee

Nelinia Cabiles
Managing Editor
Lanai Today

Bill Caldwell
President
Expedition Ferry

Kathy Carroll
Owner
Mike Carroll Gallery

Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil
Senior VP, Government Affairs & Strategic Planning
Pūlama Lanai

Alberta De Jetley
Community Member

Sherry Duong
Executive Director
Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau

Lisa Grove*
Farmer at Ola Kamoku Farm
CEO at Grove Insight

Kyoko Kimura*
Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Member
Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Gabe Lucy
CEO
Trilogy Excursions/Lanai Ocean Sports

Alastair McAlpine
General Manager
Four Seasons Lanai

Diane Preza
Director of Community Development
Pulama Lanai

Shelly Preza
Program Manager
Lanai Culture & Heritage Center

Stan Ruidas
Community Member

Mike White**
Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Member
Kaanapali Beach Hotel & The Plantation Inn

* Member of the original Steering Committee, but no longer serving on the Committee.
** Steering Committee member as of Summer 2022.

Implementation reports for each island of Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi show accomplishments on each island’s Destination Management actions as part of the Maui Nui DMAP 2021-2023. Click through each section below to learn more.

Maui Implementation Reports

Click or tap on each implementation report cover to learn more.

Molokaʻi Implementation Report

Click or tap on each implementation report cover to learn more.

Lānaʻi Implementation Reports

Click or tap on each implementation report cover to learn more.