Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 10, 1 October 1993 — Maui conference introduces CBED framework to Paeiile Islanders [ARTICLE]

Maui conference introduces CBED framework to Paeiile Islanders

Community-based eeonomie development (CBED) is a movement gaining popularity world-wide. It is seen as a more productive and less alienating altemative to present eeonomie models of state or mullinational dominance. Pacific Islanders and Hawaiians gathered at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Maui last August to discuss cultural issues and CBED strategies. Participants eame out of the five- day conference wilh a comprehensive list of strategies that could be used as a framework for future island-based deveiopment. Some of these included: • A eoneem for the host community's culture. Development projects that use the loeal culture in the goods they produce are better accepted by members of the community and increase their ehanee of success. • Sensitivity to the environment. Given the shortage of island resources and land, projects that preserve the natural environment are a more stable and sustainable form of eeonomie development. • Honoring the intuitive and the spiritual. By using spiritual and intuitive aspects of thc community foi insighLs and guidance, community members become more receptive to the project. • Consideration for contemporary versions of traditional practices. Applying modern techniques to traditionaI practices ean make these practices more effective. Techniques should include contemporary management, record keeping and accounting. Conference participants modified the acronym CBED to IBED (lsland-based eeonomie development). "The Pacific Islanders were really excited about what we were talking about," says Christine Van Bergeijk, OHA eeonomie development specialist. "The ideas we were presenling were not foreign to them, but now they have a framework to work within."