The Makai Watch program is rooted in a reciprocal relationship with ʻāina, guided by traditional practices that link community well-being with healthy ecosystems. That principle drives efforts to align social, economic, and environmental goals so communities can steward coastal resources, improve policies, and build the workforce needed to sustain Hawaiʻi’s natural wealth.
Makai Watch program and community stewardship
For years, North Shore residents on Oahu saw crowding on beaches, stressed reefs, the use of illegal nets, and fewer fish. State officers could not be everywhere, and community members had few formal ways to help protect the shoreline they cherish.
More than two decades ago, the North Shore group Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea partnered with state enforcement to start the Makai Watch program, training volunteers to observe coastlines, document concerns, and educate visitors. The approach revives ahupuaʻa-based management where communities care for the resources in their area.
Backing from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Holomua Marine Initiative Pooled Fund enabled Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea to hire part-time staff for the first time, reducing reliance on volunteers and strengthening the program’s consistency and reach.
Results from the Makai Watch program include healthier fish stocks, fewer violations, and more informed visitors who understand protection rules. Its greatest strength emerged as the model proved adaptable and could be replicated in other communities.
In 2025, the state broadened the Makai Watch program with islandwide coordinators on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, expanding 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 community shapes its work to fit local coastlines, demonstrating that when residents lead stewardship, Hawaiʻi’s ʻāina, and everyone who depends on it, can thrive. To see another example of local input driving planning for the future, read the Kailua community survey seeks resident input on town’s future.
To learn more, visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/holomua-marine-initiative.
