What We're Creating
We are transforming the historic Pa‘ia Sugar Mill into Hawai‘i’s first Advanced Manufacturing Village — a place where innovation, workforce training, and real production happen side by side. By connecting entrepreneurs, educators, industry partners, and community leaders, we are building the shared infrastructure Maui needs to create high-quality local jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and grow a more resilient island economy.
Advanced Manufacturing Village
Transforming the historic Pa'ia Sugar Mill into a flagship innovation and production site.
Center of Innovation
A coordinated network for talent development, R&D, and scalable production
Career Pathways
Building training pipelines with UH, DOE, and local manufacturers
Strategic Plan
Establish Business Accelerator
Establish a network of local business resource support that ensures tenant and manufacturer success.
Create & Nurture Innovation Alliance
Establish a thriving network of Alliance members who fuel collective learning, innovation, and growth while supporting manufacturing workforce development.
Strengthen Organizational Capacity & Governance
Professional the operation, completing foundational start-up tasks, building out right-sized staffing & governance plans, and establishing vital standards & systems that drive the work.
Ensure Fiscal Health & Longevity
Establish a network of local business resource support that ensures tenant and manufacturer success.
Execute Effective Marketing, Public Outreach & Advocacy
Earn community support and industry investment through meaningful site planning engagement, low-cost gathering space provisions, and community-driven cultural programming.
Build Physical Innovation Ecosystem
Transform the former Paia Sugar Mill site into an advanced manufacturing hub through building renovation, land & infrastructure improvements, and robust tenant & trainee recruitment initiatives.
Center of Innovation
The Center of Innovation is the core hub of the Advanced Manufacturing Village — supporting research, prototyping, workforce training, and early-stage production. By connecting industry, education, and local entrepreneurs, it provides the shared infrastructure and technical expertise needed to move ideas from concept to commercially viable products — built on Maui, for Maui.
Advanced Materials & Testing Lab
A shared lab for materials research, durability testing, and product validation. Focused on advanced materials and extreme-environment applications, it enables local innovators to design, test, and refine products on-island.
Workforce Training &
Certification Hub
In partnership with UH, DOE, and industry leaders, this hub delivers hands-on training and technical certifications aligned with Maui’s manufacturing needs. It builds clear career pathways into high-quality, resilient local jobs.
Prototyping & Additive Manufacturing Studio
Equipped with additive manufacturing and precision fabrication tools, this studio helps entrepreneurs move efficiently from digital design to physical prototype. It expands access to technology that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for small businesses.
Industry Collaboration & Pilot Production Space
A flexible space for small-batch production, applied research, and industry collaboration. It bridges innovation and scalable manufacturing, helping companies test, refine, and bring products to market from Maui.
Pilot Program:
Waste Plastics to Products
The Waste Plastics to Products Pilot Program converts locally generated plastic waste into high-value materials and manufactured goods. Designed as a circular, island-based solution, the program reduces landfill impact while strengthening local supply chains and creating new workforce opportunities on Maui.