New President Invites Community Input on Immediate Priorities
Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i — The Kaua‘i Planning & Action Alliance (KPAA) is pivoting back toward its roots in community-based development and island-wide data and strategy. With the appointment of Morgan Hannan as its new president and CEO this past February, the 24-year-old nonprofit is refocusing its role as an islandwide convener and capacity building partner for the diverse array of challenges currently faced by Kaua‘i communities.
While KPAA was originally founded to bring together public, private, and nonprofit leaders to address the island’s most critical issues through research and planning, its focus over the past decade has been on improving social, health and educational outcomes for island youth and families through the Keiki to Career Initiative and the Kaua‘i Resilience Project – with a successful track record in many areas, including the reduction of teen suicide rates and the establishment of an Early Childhood Education officer at the County. “As Kaua‘i’s communities face shifting challenges, we want to be able to provide the most responsive, adaptable and impactful support that we can” says Hannan.
While the youth focused programs will continue, Hannan has been engaged in a deep listening process with community stakeholders in recent months and believes it’s time for KPAA to return to its role as a provider of islandwide systemic support and targeted technical expertise, evident in major works such as the Community Indicator Reports (used by the Kaua‘i County and other agencies to guide their planning), the first Kaua‘i Tourism Strategic Plan, and direct action collaborations such as the group which led the reconstruction of the Kalalau Trail in 2012.
“Islandwide thinking, local-led solutions” is the approach KPAA will embrace while partnering with a diverse array of business, nonprofit and government agencies to tackle the island’s current challenges.
“Kaua‘i is one island but many very different communities, and I believe it’s essential for each community to participate in addressing its specific challenges, because lasting change can only happen when local residents, organizations and leaders can define their priorities and design solutions to the issues they know best. Because of its history and organizational DNA, KPAA is perfectly positioned to combine long-term, island-scale perspective with locally led action.”
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Hannan brings a diverse and international background in community engagement, policy advocacy, place-based planning, regional economics, and capacity development for governance and civic organizations. His professional journey includes running the Green Economy Program of Westminster City Council in central London providing support to small businesses in adopting more sustainable practices, assisting development of Community Improvement Districts across Sydney, and working with Western Sydney local governments to embed a human-centered, public health approach into their municipal urban planning. Hannan holds a Masters in Urban Management and Development from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Hannan’s approach to regional development emphasizes bridging local voices with global best practices, helping communities improve their built environment, supporting sustainable practices across sectors, and enhancing the collective impact of non-profit networks.
“Today, Kaua‘i faces significant challenges, from socioeconomic transformations to the effects of tourism and climate change. But we have a deeply caring community with strong roots and enormous potential for collaborative planning and action. It’s an honor to build on the remarkable work of past KPAA leaders and I’m excited to work alongside Kaua‘i’s hundreds of community organizations to build a healthy, thriving and resilient future for our island,” said Hannan.
Before defining the projects that will exemplify KPAA’s work in the months ahead, Hannan is continuing to engage with local leaders and residents to develop an islandwide map of priorities, challenges and opportunities.
If you or someone you know would like to share insights on 1) Kauaʻi's most urgent islandwide challenges, 2) creative, community-led solutions, and 3) who needs to be at the table in designing these solutions, please contact Morgan Hannan at morgan@kauainetwork.org or 808.632.2005
For more information, visit www.kauainetwork.org
About KPAA
Founded in 2002, the Kaua‘i Planning & Action Alliance was created as a result of the 1998–2000 General Plan Update process to bring together public, private, and nonprofit leaders to address the island’s most critical issues through collaboration, research, and long-term strategic planning. The coalition-based organization’s past presidents include Diane Zachary, Marion Paul and Alice Luck, and over the past two decades, KPAA has become a trusted convener and catalyst for collective action, helping to guide data-informed initiatives that strengthen Kaua‘i’s communities.
