Rooted in ancestral wisdom and built on the foundation of cultural stewardship, community empowerment and responsible governance, the County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources’ 2025-30 Strategic Plan was recently released. To view the full strategic plan, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/oiwiresources.

The department’s inaugural strategic plan is informed by community voices collected through surveys, in-person interviews and cultural consultations, ensuring alignment with the values and priorities of Maui County residents. It details new initiatives, including language revitalization efforts, cultural training for County employees and the planned restoration of wahi pana (sacred places) such as Mokuʻula and Mokuhinia.

“This plan is our kahua — our foundation — for reconnecting our people with the ʻike kūpuna (ancestral wisdom) that continues to shape our collective future,” Department of ʻŌiwi Resources Director Kaponoʻai Molitau said. “Through this framework, we aim to strengthen relationships between community and government, ensuring that Hawaiian culture is not just preserved, but honored and practiced.”

“The Department of ʻŌiwi Resources' new strategic plan represents our collective kuleana and a profound commitment to our past, present and future through cultural integrity, educational empowerment and environmental stewardship,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the formation of this Department and this strategic plan – especially the community advocates who worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.”

The strategic plan outlines five key goals:

• Loina Hawai‘i – Strengthening cultural protocols and integrating Hawaiian language and values into County practices.
• Kūkala Kaiāulu – Establishing meaningful and consistent community engagement touchpoints.
• He ʻUmeke Kā‘eo – Providing educational opportunities and cultivating community empowerment.
• Kahe Wai Ola – Developing grant and funding initiatives to support ʻāina-based organizations and cultural practitioners.
• He Aliʻi ka ʻĀina – Advancing natural resource advocacy and ʻāina (land) stewardship.

With guidance from Director Molitau and Deputy Director Kekai Robinson — both esteemed cultural practitioners — the Department of ʻŌiwi Resources was created to safeguard and uplift the ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) resources that define the identity and vitality of Maui Nui.

The new Department of ʻŌiwi Resources, established after the 2022 voter-approved Maui County Charter amendment, launched July 1, 2024, representing a historic step toward integrating Native Hawaiian knowledge systems, values and language into County of Maui operations.

For general department information, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/2810/Department-of-Oiwi-Resources.