The Makai Watch Program

The health of Hawaiʻi’s natural environment is rooted in a reciprocal connection to ʻāina, supported by traditional practices that have provided abundance for generations. As the Native Hawaiian ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverb) reminds us: “I ka wā ma mua ka wā ma hope” — “We look to the past as a guide to the future.” Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s (HCF’s) Natural Environment strategy recognizes this truth, aligning social, economic, and environmental priorities to strengthen community stewardship, improve policies, and build workforce capacity that sustains Hawaiʻi’s valuable natural resources.

For years, North Shore community members witnessed the impact of overcrowded beaches, recognizing deteriorating reefs, use of illegal fishing nets, and thinning fish populations. State enforcement couldn’t be everywhere all at once and concerned residents lacked official channels to help protect the waters and reefs they love.

North Shore community organization Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea partnered with state enforcement more than two decades ago to launch Makai Watch, training community volunteers to monitor coastlines, document concerns, and educate visitors. The program revives traditional ahupuaʻa management, where communities held responsibility for the resources within their care. A grant from HCF’s Holomua Marine Initiative Pooled Fund allowed Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea for the first time to be able to pay part-time staff to conduct this work rather than relying on volunteers. This strengthened the consistency, coverage, and impact of the program.

The impacts are clear: healthier fish populations, reduced violations, and visitors who better understand protection rules. However, the real power of this work became evident when the Makai Watch model proved replicable.

In 2025, the state expanded the Makai Watch program to include islandwide coordinators on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, growing the network to more than 20 official member organizations. Today, the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources Holomua Marine Initiative supports 17 Makai Watch groups statewide. Each adapts its own approach to its unique coastline and proves that when communities lead environmental stewardship, Hawaiʻi’s ʻāina, and all who depend on it, can thrive.

To learn more, visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/holomua-marine-initiative.