Maui's Preferred Alternative Future?

With the last vestiges of plantation agriculture on Maui ending, what will Maui's economy for working families be like in the future?

One future might be like Flint, Michigan which was once a prosperous city with a strong economy built around the automotive industry. The closing and relocation of automotive plants over the past thirty years hurt the city’s economy and tax base, contributing to a shrinking population and resulting in increased unemployment, poverty, and crime. Flint is now a struggling city. More than forty percent of Flint residents live below the poverty level, and more than a quarter of its working-age residents are unemployed.

But, there are other alternative futures--good and bad. Maui could focus efforts and resources on tourism, other high value crops, technology, construction, astronomy, higher education, or something else altogether. A preferred future can be achieved by taking short range actions that are part of a long range plan.

This is not a problem that only government can solve. It won't happen because of one company. It won't be successful if small segments of the community define Maui's future for the rest. Maui's preferred alternative future is the one the community is willing to support and work toward.

In case you think it's not possible to have a shared vision, look back to Hawaii's statewide planning efforts that led to the Hawaii State Planning Act. 

We can do this!