The Lanai Rural Development Project (LRDP) is a component of the Maui Community College RDP, which is is a Department of Labor (DOL)-sponsored effort to bring sustainable jobs to the Island of Lanai through workforce investment and training. The LRDP continues to partner with the DOL, the Maui County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), Maui Community College, Lanai High and Elementary Schools and Lanai businesses and agencies. The Lanai Community Advisory Committee (LCAC), composed of representatives from various sectors of the community, provides invaluble input and guidance to the the LRDP, and makes recommendations on areas of needed training. The LRDP also works in cooperation with the WIB when developing and providing training projects on Lanai.
The island of Lanai is approximately 141 square miles, 13 miles wide and 17 miles long, with only a few miles of paved road. Lanai is the third most remote island in the main Hawaiian islands. Formerly known as the "Pineapple Isle," Lanai was once the largest single pineapple plantation in the world, and now grows no pineapple. Today, over 95% of the land is owned by David Murdock of Castle & Cooke, making tourism the major source of income. Lanai is now home to two world-class resorts.
The current population of the island is approximately 3,300 residents. There is one high school on the island. Maui Community College outreach at the Lanai Education Center provides classes for this population. By partnerisng with Maui Community College, LRDP can build a bridge to bring in other courses and workshops to enhance the educational learning environment and encourage more Lanai workers to continue on to college-level courses.
The population of Lanai has become increasingly dependent upon the hotel operation and Castle & Cooke is the primary source of employment. Lanai youth with limited education continue to need job skills in order to be marketable and competitive. The challenge for Lanai is to bring added educational resources and training opportunities to the island to create a trained workforce. The youth of Lanai must be provided support, education and training in order to be a part of a sustainable future for the island of Lanai, the County of Maui and the State of Hawaii.