Kipuni Aloha no Maui

In the aftermath of the devastating fires, the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative (HEC) mobilized to support Lahaina’s recovery by way of the relationships formed through Rediscovering Hawai‘i’s Soul (RHS). As part of this initiative, HEC responded to the request made by kūpuna from Maui and organized Kīpuni Aloha no Maui, a statewide, day-long vigil centered on emotional and spiritual healing rooted in Native Hawaiian practices. Leaders from diverse faiths came together for the first time to align with ‘Aha Pule Pualu - the assembly of kumu hula and cultural practitioners - for collective prayer and reflection. This ritual honored those who perished, supported grieving families, and sought to cleanse and heal the land.

Kipuni Aloha no Maui was viewed globally through a first-time partnership between all community media stations on every island – ‘Ōlelo (statewide), Akaku (Maui), Hō‘ike (Kaua‘i), Nā Leo (Hawai‘i Island) – along with local TV partners including Hawai‘i News Now.

Convening

HEC facilitated a convening that included Lahaina community leaders, business, nonprofit, and State and County government leaders to help build bridges and trust to help Lahaina heal and rebuild. The overarching question for the meeting was, “How can the people of Lahaina restore its home to its full stature, by honoring the past and thinking about future generations?”

The effort aimed to honor Lahaina’s rich heritage and sacred places, while advancing the revitalization of the ʻāina, water, and ocean.

The group strengthened relationships and started to build trust amongst Lahaina community, business, and government leaders. They also built a shared understanding of the underlying issues and opportunities being faced including:

  • The long history of challenges and importance of water
  • The deep-rooted feeling of displacement by the people of Lahaina
  • Businesses’ involvement and historical impact in Lahaina


Together, the group identified a shared way forward that included:

  • A commitment to continuing to build bridges – relationship and trust
  • Those not from Lahaina committed to taking actions based on input from Lahaina community members and that the conversation will continue
  • A commitment to restore Moku‘ula and the cultural corridor
  • A shared agreement that this this tragedy should be used to create a stronger, more resilient Lahaina and Hawai‘i
  • Recognition that we can’t do this alone – it’s a kākou thing

Following the convening, the Kūpuna Kāne group - a team of experts in planning, architecture, and law - was formed at the request of the Mayor’s office to provide guidance. Their work included the development of two sets of critical mapping tools to visualize Lahaina’s current state and its potential future. These maps, incorporating data from FEMA, DHHL, Kamehameha Schools, and other key stakeholders, provided a foundation for strategic planning, offering both a real-time snapshot of housing efforts and a vision for restoration.

HEC’s role was to convene, facilitate, and provide strategic resources to help ensure Lahaina’s recovery is guided by thoughtful collaboration, cultural integrity, and long-term resilience. The insights and recommendations from these efforts were shared with the Mayor’s Office to support informed decision-making as Maui moves forward.

Maps: