The American Planning Association - Hawai'i Chapter is organized to advance the art and science of planning and to foster the activity of planning locally. THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZED TO ADVANCE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PLANNING AND TO FOSTER THE ACTIVITY OF PLANNING - PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL - AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THE APA IS A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING 37,000 PRACTICING PLANNERS, OFFICIALS, AND CITIZENS INVOLVED WITH URBAN AND RURAL PLANNING ISSUES.SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF APA'S MEMBERS ARE EMPLOYED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THESE MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, IN FORMULATING PLANNING POLICIES AND PREPARING LAND USE REGULATIONS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO ENCOURAGE PLANNING THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC WELL-BEING BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND OF SOCIETY MORE EFFECTIVELY.