Overview
In October 2025, the Public Finance Initiative (PFI) partnered with the East Maui Water Authority (EMWA) to convene the "East Maui Water Authority Community Workshops: From Vision to Implementation" (the "Workshops") in Keʻanae, Wailuku, and Haʻikū to gather input on priorities for the water system and watershed. The Workshops are part of the support EMWA receives through PFI's Rural and Small Cities Program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Workshops convened residents, community leaders, and officials to co-create a community-led strategy for investing in the East Maui watershed. EMWA and PFI engaged community members in participatory processes to identify, prioritize, and learn how to fund potential projects that EMWA could invest in to deliver community benefits and water system improvements. The Workshop was designed to position EMWA to translate community needs into tangible action and ensure local knowledge is central to co-creating solutions.
"By moving at the speed of trust, every incremental milestone, from advancing financial literacy to employing cultural knowledge to upgrading water systems, moves us closer to a more equitable, sustainable and resilient future."
-Gina Young
Director, East Maui Water Authority
The Action Plan endeavors to summarize select Workshop findings that reflect the collective input of Workshop participants and areas that could form the basis for EMWA to adopt new practices and take action, in alignment with its objectives. Rooted in the core commitment to equity, EMWA considers this to be an Action Plan for community-centered decision-making. Read the full Action Plan here.
Acknowledgements & Disclaimer
This resource was created for educational purposes only as part of the Rural & Small Cities Program, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views and perspectives presented in this resource are those of the authors and the Public Finance Institute team.
