Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 12, 1 December 1991 — Encouraging eeonomie growth on Lanaʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Encouraging eeonomie growth on Lanaʻi

OHA Eeonomie Development Division Officer Linda Colburn believes that residents of Lana'i need alternative business opportunities to the golf course and resort developments planned for the island. "I think there may be individuals who are reluctant or unable to adjust to those specific types of employment," she says. "There need to be other meaningful and diverse employment opportunities created to accommodate any and all residents who wish to remain on the island and be gainfully employed." To encourage that diversification Colburn says OHA should give its support to the Community Development Corp., a group formed after negotiations between Dole Food Co. and community representatives. Members are currently studying ways to "stimulate" a eom-munity-based economy on Lana'i. From a business perspective, Colburn describes Lana'i as "less buffetted by urbanization and as a result less jaded by traditional eeonomie development." Yet despite the laek of large-scale corporate growth opportunities, the eeonomie officer has found through her work on the island that

residents are both gifted and innovative. "The island's assets include a lot of sophisticated and knowledgeable people," Colburn says. One of the projects underway at the eeonomie development division is the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund program. It provides Native

Hawaiians whose applications have been approved with loans to expand or start a business. Thus far, no applications have been submitted by residents of Lana'i. "If someone can't get a long-term lease for a business, it's difficult to predict the future activities of a business. It makes it difficult to award a loan," explains Colburn. Among the projects she would like to see put in motion on Lana'i is to create a centralized marketplace setting that would be "appropriately designed and scaled" to house various residentinitiated businesses. "I'd also like to encourage initiatives that are already underway that relate to diversified ag. (agriculture)," she adds. Another proposal Colburn recommends for the island is to incorporate a planning process that would include community, corporate, county and state input. She says she is concerned that with Lana'i at a crossroads decisions will be made in a vacuum without loeal residents' opinions. "I think the real challenge is to find ways for everyone who is concerned to articulate their needs," she says. "Anybody who cares ought to have a shot at shaping the future."

Linda Colburn