About Us
Aʻohe hana nui ka aluʻia.
No task is too big when done together
What is 'maritime'?
Related to the ocean, sea and waterways.
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Our Mission
The Lahaina Maritime Foundation exists
to advance the spirit, health & understanding
of Lahaina's waterways, shoreline and ocean
through education, programming, and community care
for those with a love for the water and
a passion for our history and culture.​​
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We support and partner with the greater community
for the benefit of Lahaina residents
to advance knowledge, engagement and love
of the surrounding waters.
Photo credit: Tor Johnson/AP
Our Story
The Lahaina Maritime Foundation is a non-profit founded to support water related recovery after the devastating fires of 2023. We support publicly available programs, enabling existing teams to do more, identify and grow capabilities where none exist.
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Currently activities:
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Community center planning with the Lahaina Yacht Club
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Seeking an alliance partner for shoreline and ocean safety programs
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Funding scholarships for local graduates with maritime career goals
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Funding maritime cultural teaching and practice
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We seek local groups alliances to provide greater:
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Resident and watercraft access to the ocean
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Ocean and shoreline safety
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Education for related professional advancement
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Disaster response preparedness
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Economic opportunity
Meet The Team
John has led, consulted and partnered with non-profits around the world for over 35 years, including the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, and the Maui Rescue Mission as co-founder.
He has helped communities design strategies and organizations to care for and connect those who want more from their culture, economy, and each other.
As the inaugural Board Chair for LMF, he enjoys guiding the high-caliber team to find solutions that are practical and promising for those in Lahaina and beyond.
John Savage
Chair
Ashley has been teaching at Lahainaluna High School for over 30 years. She is also a community leader, committed to bringing children to new maritime experiences and preserving Lahaina on shore and off, honoring its cultural and historical significance.
As a proud member of the Lahaina community, she ensures LMF is supporting educational opportunities, preserving traditional sailing practices, and promoting environmental stewardship.
Her goal is that the joys of Lahaina are not lost to future generations.
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Ashley Olson
Secretary
In 1970 the O’Brien family founded the first Maui captained sailing charter business in Lahaina harbor.
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Growing up sailing and diving created skill and courage unusual for girls of the time. She also benefitted from the wisdom and generosity of early Hawaiian Renaissance classes. A Lahaina childhood enabled a career as a pioneering tech leader and global program manager. Today she mentors small business owners.
Her LMF goal is to ensure similar opportunities for Lahaina's residents now and in the future.
Shannon O'Brien
Vice-Chair
Cheri brings over 20 years of non-profit leadership to her role at Lahaina Maritime Foundation. She is passionate about building strong, connected communities through inclusive engagement and local collaboration.
With a background in master plan community development, design and architecture Cheri helps bring people together to create programs and places that reflect local culture and resilience.
Outside of her work and non-profit giving, she enjoys golf and spending time with her 11 grandsons.
Cheri Meyn
Secretary
You might know Trip as the owner of ‘the miracle house’.​ To LMF, Trip brings deep skills in community negotiation, empathetic leadership and trusted financial stewardship. During the 2010s he led a team to save nearly 1000 acres of natural and wild rural land against development.
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As a finance manager and environmental advocate, he is an unusual combination of community and pragmatic vision.
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His goal with LMF is to support the rebuilding of the Lahaina harbor and its seafront, reconnecting the people to their waterfront.
Trip Millikin
Treasurer