Maui County OUV Resources unveils 2025–2030 strategic plan, highlights grants and cultural stewardship

The Department of OUV Resources presented its 2025–2030 strategic plan to the Maui County Council Committee on Aloha ʻĀina on June 19, saying the plan will guide the new department's work on cultural stewardship, community communications, arts and grants.

"It serves as the kahua or the foundation, the stones upon which our department itself will stand," Kapona Aye Molitao, director of the Department of OUV Resources, said during the presentation. She described the plan as a framework to center Native Hawaiian perspectives in county decision-making.

The plan, the department said, sets five broad goals to guide its work over the next five years: reestablishing OUV (observed, remembered and cared for) perspectives in governance and cultural protocols; creating regular community touchpoints and communications; developing cultural learning spaces and programs (the presentation named "Halau OUV Arts" as an example); standing up grantmaking and funding programs; and formalizing processes for natural-resource advocacy. The department noted it was established by charter on 07/01/2024 and secured county funding in fiscal 2025 to produce the strategic plan.

As part of its first-year actions the department said it had run a competitive grants process for the new program, receiving about 25 applications and awarding nine grants in the first round. Amira Lagayo, introduced as the department's grant coordinator, told the committee an outside panel and county staff reviewed submissions and selected projects that align with the department's three divisions (named in the plan as Kipuka, Kumuweola and Paikaleo).

Public testimony generally supported the plan. Jen Mather, who identified herself as connected to Haneo'o and other local sites, praised the plan's emphasis on updating the county's Cultural Resource Management Plan (last revised in 1984) and asked that department staff coordinate with Planning Department commissions and the State Historic Preservation Division on archaeology and permitting. "That was a wonderful presentation and a great strategic plan to be put in place," Mather said. Kai Nishiki urged the department to address coastal hazards and shoreline public access in future work.

Committee members pressed department leaders on coordination with other agencies and on specifics. Councilmember Tom Cook asked how the department would coordinate with existing water-management entities in West Maui; Molitao said OUV views water from a "cultural holistic standpoint" and described ongoing efforts to integrate traditional knowledge into resource-management conversations. Members also discussed the need to update the Cultural Resource Management Plan and whether responsibilities should remain with Planning or be more closely coordinated with the new department.

The committee noted the item was posted for information only with no legislative action; the committee deferred further formal action on the presentation. The department said it plans regional outreach across Maui Nui and to develop implementation benchmarks for the plan, with additional community-led work and workshops to follow.

The presentation and public comments will be available in the committee record; department staff said they will share a one-year implementation timeline and continue to coordinate with Planning, Office of Council Services and other county partners.