Engaging Maui residents on our energy future

In a five-week period in January and February 2015, 435 Maui residents responded to MEDB’s invitation to share their priorities and values about energy on Maui – today and in the future – as part of a project called “MPowerMaui: An Energy Conversation.”

The small group, 90-minute sessions were designed to be engaging, interesting, and informative. “MPowerMaui featured the interactive kind of format used in the Focus Maui Nui visioning process that produced lively discussions and thoughtful responses from our community,” said Jeanne Skog, MEDB President & CEO. Activities enabled participants to learn more about energy, to think about their own actions related to energy, to prioritize issues, to consider what actions they would or would not support, and to develop messages for decision makers.

The results of these MPowerMaui conversations were presented at the “Maui Energy Conference” held on March 25 and 26, 2015 and shared with decision makers. The Final Report is now available.

“This opportunity for public conversation is critical as it can have an impact on the future of our island,” said Skog. “By joining in this conversation, participants helped to bring the public’s voice to the table in front of decision makers and community stakeholders as actions are determined to create a ‘green’ energy future for Maui.”

The MPowerMaui project was presented by the Maui Economic Development Board with sponsorship from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development; State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) Energy Office; and the UH Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI).