Project Lead

Ha Sustainability and National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly National Renewable Energy Lab or NREL)

Project Website

Project Type

Infrastructure

Planning

Plan Alignment

Lahaina LTRP

Funding Sources

FEMA

US Department of Energy

Brief Description:

This project will assess current energy infrastructure and identify ways to improve power resilience, backup systems, and energy independence in West Maui.

‍

Milestones:

The Lahaina Energy Partnership is providing technical assistance to explore options to build local energy resources and support implementation planning.
Throughout the project, the Lahaina Energy Partnership (LEP) project partners (Lahaina Strong, Hā Sustainability and Shake Energy Collaborative) have met regularly with key stakeholders to obtain guidance and input. These include regular meetings with: a Hui of Lahaina community leaders, various departments within the County of Maui (including Office of Recovery and Office of the Mayor), Hawaiian Electric, the State of Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and the Hawai'i State Energy Office.
Aug 2024-May 2025: Community Engagement & Priority Setting
July 2025: National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) and local partners held an in-person community workshop including a presentation highlighting partner-reported community energy priorities and NLR technical assistance to be completed by January 2027.
Nov-Dec 2025: NLR and local partners held virtual community workshops to request input and share updates on in-progress technical assistance. Lahaina Community Workshops on Technical
‍
Assistance Task Updates and Discussion:‍
- Workshop 1 Topics: Hydropower resource potential, building energy modeling, workforce development (Nov. 2025)
- Workshop 2 Topics: Microgrids, electric grid hardening, funding and financing (Dec. 2025),
  ‍
May 2026: LEP Community Co-Design Workshop

Community Priorities Report: https://www.wearelahainastrong.org/lahaina-energy-partnership#report

Project Location:

Additional Resources:

Community Priorities Report: https://www.wearelahainastrong.org/lahaina-energy-partnership#report

“Improving the infrastructure is key. Need better water, sewer, solar power and streets Bury power lines in and just above the town.”

Community Quote from Long-Term Planning Recovery Survey

BACK TO ALL PROJECTS

NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES

HOUSING

INFRASTRUCTURE

COMMUNITY PLANNING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

Energy Resilience and Redundancy

participation

Consult

Complexity

Medium

Cost

Low

Phase

Implementation

Kuleana

County

State

County & State

Private

timing

1-2 years

6+ years

3-5 years

Estimated
completion

Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan

The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources is currently working with Group 70 International, Inc. (G70) to develop the Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan. The project scope includes hydrology and water policy; wildfire resiliency and risk planning; biological and ecological assessment; cultural landscape architecture; community engagement protocol; transportation circulation planning; topographical survey; cultural and archaeological studies; soils and geotechnical studies; and boundary mapping.

View Presentation

Maui Windmills

“Improving the infrastructure is key. Need better water, sewer, solar power and streets Bury power lines in and just above the town.”

Community Quote from Long-Term Planning Recovery Survey

Purpose

Power and energy are priorities for the County of Maui and the impacted community. Studies and assessments will help provide deeper understanding of the current State of the infrastructure and determine next steps toward achieving resilience. These studies will identify potential projects that can be implemented at various locations to enhance redundant power supply for critical services and infrastructure, improve self-sufficiency and increase resilience to mitigate the impact of future disasters.

Project Description

This project includes studies and assessments to provide data about the current state of energy infrastructure and evaluate opportunities to improve resilience, redundancy and independence. These studies and assessments will produce projects for implementation that the County can promote to achieve more resilient power and energy systems in West Maui.

Interdependencies and Roadblocks

This project requires coordination with Hawaiian Electric.

Contact

Project Details

Cost Estimate:

$100,000

Existing Funding Sources:

Current FEMA mission assignment
Previously funded research
U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

Project Lead:

Ha Sustainability and National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly National Renewable Energy Lab or NREL)

Potential Funding Sources:

Project Partners:

County Department of Public Works
Lahaina Energy Partnership

Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)

Goal 2.4 Economic opportunity through innovation and collaboration
Policy 2.4.8 Support expansion of renewable energy that is broadly supported throughout the community, including small-scale community options, all of which include plans for disposal that does not burden County landfills and decommissioning at the end of the project’s intended use

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Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C

Extension of the Lahaina Bypass to Kakaalaneo Drive from its current terminus at Keawe Street.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Lahaina Royal Complex

Cultural corridor and restoration of Malu 'Ulu o Lele, Moku'ula, and the Loko o Mokuhinia Complex.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Lahaina Harbor Restoration

Reconstructing Lahaina Harbor to restore recreational, commercial, and cultural maritime activity.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Enhance Emergency Communication Networks

Upgrading emergency communication systems to close gaps and strengthen islandwide response capacity.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Ke Ola Hou

Multipurpose West Maui community center providing affordable space for health, education, and services.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Kuhua Street Extension

New public roadway mauka of Honoapiʻilani Highway extending two miles east from Keawe Street.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Advancement Program

Improving the County's ability to identify, mitigate, and respond to all-hazard threats islandwide.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

National Historic Landmark District Update

Preparing an updated National Historic Landmark District nomination for Lahaina to NPS standards.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

R-1 Recycled Water Expansion

Improving and expanding recycled water distribution infrastructure across West Maui communities.

Long-Term (6+ years)

West Maui Greenway

Phase 1 is a 5.25 mile segment of the full 25-mile alignment multiuse trail from Lahaina Civic Center to Launiupoko Beach Park in West Maui.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Rebuild the West Maui Senior Center

Rebuilding the West Maui Senior Center facility in Lahaina to restore programs and services for kūpuna.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Wahikuli Subdivision Gravity Sewer System

New sewer system for Wahikuli replacing cesspools serving approximately 231 area households.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Stormwater Resilience and Flood Risk Management

Updating drainage plans and developing flood control improvements to protect Lahaina and West Maui.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Street Connectivity and Extensions

Fire evacuation connectivity across roadways to support public safety and future emergency response.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Watershed Planning for Revegetation & Reforestation of Lahaina & Kula

Watershed and water recovery planning uniting agencies and communities across Lahaina and Kula.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Water Source Development

Expanding water access through new groundwater sources and connections to the County potable system.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Affordable Rental Housing Programs

Rebuilding affordable rental housing lost in the wildfires across ten multifamily developments.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Wildfire Risk Reduction and Mitigation

Reducing wildfire risk through prevention, updated protection plans, and West Maui resilience work.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Agriculture Planning & Long Term Food Security

Planning to develop and prioritize agriculture, farms, food systems, and ecosystems in Lahaina moku.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Asset Management and Acquisitions Program

Program acquiring real property in the impact zone, including shoreline parcels facing rising seas.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Building Resilience Incentives

Incentivizing stronger building codes to increase community resilience against future hazards.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Creation of Lahaina Memorial

Creating a Lahaina Memorial honoring lives lost and providing a healing space for the community.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Community Facilities

Replacement planning for the King Kamehameha III Elementary School and the Lahaina Public Library.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Sampling Plan (CEMSP)

Monitoring environmental conditions and improving public access to environmental health data islandwide.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Economic Innovation and Development

Targeted funding and training for tech, manufacturing, workforce, and infrastructure development.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Green Workforce Development

Green job opportunities in Maui supporting environmental restoration and sustainable economic growth.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Healthcare Service Expansion

Assessing gaps in health, behavioral health, and social services to guide expansion across West Maui.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Homeowner Support Programs

Expanded financial assistance and long-term housing support for residents affected by the wildfires.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

Maui County Ferry

Supporting ferry service to Lanai, reviving Lahaina service, and expanding routes to Moloka'i.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Lahaina Business Project

Site development to reopen local businesses with retail, community gathering, and cultural space.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Lahaina Water Infrastructure Firefighting Capacity

Upgrading Lahaina's water storage, pipelines, and flow capacity to strengthen firefighting response.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Long-Term Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP)

Disaster Case Managers guide residents through needs assessment, recovery planning, and long-term care.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Lahaina Water Infrastructure Resilience and Hardening

Hardening Lahaina's water system with backup power, added supply, and upgraded critical facilities.

Mid-Term (3-5 years)

Preservation, Revitalization, and Reconstruction of Historic and Cultural Spaces

Rebuilding historic sites, supporting cultural programs, and documenting oral histories of Lahaina.

Long-Term (6+ years)

West Maui Business Center (WMBC)

Continuing the West Maui Business Center to provide tools, resources, and support to local businesses.

Short-Term (1-2 years)

West Maui Hospital

New Critical Access Hospital in West Maui offering emergency, surgical, and inpatient care services.

Long-Term (6+ years)

Clear Search

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BACK TO ALL PROJECTS

Energy Resilience and Redundancy

Project Lead

Project Type

Plan Alignment

Funding Sources

Brief Description:

Milestones:

Project Location:

Additional Resources:

“Improving the infrastructure is key. Need better water, sewer, solar power and streets Bury power lines in and just above the town.”



BACK TO ALL PROJECTS

Energy Resilience and Redundancy

1-2 years

6+ years

3-5 years

Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan

“Improving the infrastructure is key. Need better water, sewer, solar power and streets Bury power lines in and just above the town.”

Purpose

Project Description

Interdependencies and Roadblocks

Contact

Project Details

Cost Estimate:

Existing Funding Sources:

Project Lead:

Potential Funding Sources:

Project Partners:

Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)

Explore projects

Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C

Lahaina Royal Complex

Lahaina Harbor Restoration

Enhance Emergency Communication Networks

Ke Ola Hou

Kuhua Street Extension

Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Advancement Program

National Historic Landmark District Update

R-1 Recycled Water Expansion

West Maui Greenway

Rebuild the West Maui Senior Center

Wahikuli Subdivision Gravity Sewer System

Stormwater Resilience and Flood Risk Management

Street Connectivity and Extensions

Watershed Planning for Revegetation & Reforestation of Lahaina & Kula

Water Source Development

Affordable Rental Housing Programs

Wildfire Risk Reduction and Mitigation

Agriculture Planning & Long Term Food Security

Asset Management and Acquisitions Program

Building Resilience Incentives

Creation of Lahaina Memorial

Community Facilities

Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Sampling Plan (CEMSP)

Economic Innovation and Development

Green Workforce Development

Healthcare Service Expansion

Homeowner Support Programs

Maui County Ferry

Lahaina Business Project

Lahaina Water Infrastructure Firefighting Capacity

Long-Term Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP)

Lahaina Water Infrastructure Resilience and Hardening

Preservation, Revitalization, and Reconstruction of Historic and Cultural Spaces

West Maui Business Center (WMBC)

West Maui Hospital