With membership way down and attendance at revenue-raising events also disappointing, the LahainaTown Action Committee has slashed its budget and eliminated the position of executive director, The Maui News reported today.

Board members and volunteers were at the offices in the Old Lahaina Court House on Monday, carrying on the core functions.

The most obvious of these is operating the Lahaina Visitors Center seven days a week.

Board member Joan McKelvey said membership is down to 64 from a more typical 200-plus. Board members are taking on the task of rebuilding it, she said.

Ronald Egan, who has worked for the committee for years, has been made general manager. The position of executive director had been held by Rina Samson.

Egan will supervise four other full-time and several part-time employees.

The committee gets revenue from dues - from both business and private members - and from a variety of events.

The recent Maui Chefs Present was disappointing as a moneymaker, and the committee had already canceled A Taste of Lahaina for this year.

McKelvey said the committee intends to continue sponsoring events, when possible. The next will be the lighting of the banyan tree in December, historically a popular and profitable event.

It takes money to stage events, McKelvey said, and although the committee gets some public funds, these are tied to particular events and cannot be used for other expenses.

Besides the visitor center, the committee will continue to greet cruise ships with music and flowers for visitors. Several ships are scheduled for stops at Lahaina Roads in October.

The committee aims to continue to present other popular events, such as the Festival of Canoes and the Fourth of July festivities, income permitting.

The committee was founded in 1988, with a mission to promote, preserve and encourage the historical, cultural, social, commercial and environmental vitality of Lahaina. For more information, go online to www.visitlahaina.com, the committee's Web site.

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