The Nature Conservancy
Pilina Olowalu
Fostering ‘āina relationships mauka-makai
Aloha mai kākou! We invite you to explore the multiple mālama ‘āina and kai efforts happening in Olowalu-Ukumehame. We, the numerous partnerships and projects taking place in this area, created the Pilina Olowalu website to provide a space for information and resource sharing for those who live, work, play in and care for these places.
Our vision is: A thriving Olowalu-Ukumehame where healthy ahupuaʻa support resilient reefs, cultural relationships to ʻāina are strengthened, and the community leads long-term stewardship for future generations.
Pilina Olowalu Map
This map of Olowalu-Ukumehame features efforts happening in the area including but not limited to: cultural stewardship, conservation, education, and relationships with this ‘āina.
Please hover over the map or visit our Projects Page to learn more.
Kipuka Olowalu
Kipuka Olowalu is an organization seeking to preserve the Olowalu Valley, a Native Hawaiian cultural site located on the island of Maui.
Mālama Pono
Mālama Pono is a community-focused volunteer initiative that invites residents, visitors, and staff to take part in meaningful conservation activities across Maui.
Marine Debris Rapid Response
This critical program responds to urgent reports of large-scale marine debris, such as derelict fishing gear and ghost nets, that pose a significant threat to marine wildlife and coastal ecosystems.
Super Reefs
Super Reefs is a global collaboration project that aims to boost coral reef resilience by identifying and stewarding “super reefs” — coral communities that can survive heat stress and support nearby reefs with resilient larvae.
Hui O Ka Wai Ola
Hui O Ka Wai Ola: Maui's Clean Ocean Team is a group of water quality champions dedicated to measuring and sharing the status of Maui Nui's nearshore waters, collecting "slow" data to reveal long-term trends, hotspots, and sources of pollution.
Olowalu: The Road to Resilience
The planned Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment provides a unique opportunity to restore the area’s coastal zone by incorporating park spaces, traditional biocultural practices, and nature-based solutions via a participatory planning and co-design process that re-envisions the old right-of-way.
Mauna Kahālāwai Watershed Partnership
With a 50,000-acre management area encompassing Mauna Kahālāwai, our mission is to protect and preserve Maui’s native ecosystems and freshwater supply and prevent further degradation through collaborative forest management.
Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Hawai'i Forestry and Wildlife strives to restore native landscapes and species by controlling feral grazing animals, protecting seabirds and rare invertebrates, fighting and preventing fires, and replanting native species.
LEARN MORE.
Limu Monitoring
The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council conducts ongoing limu monitoring across Maui, including four sites in the Olowalu area, to better understand nutrient dynamics and nearshore water quality.
Aqualink Buoy Monitoring
MNMRC manages an Aqualink smart buoy offshore of Olowalu that provides continuous, real-time oceanographic data directly from the reef environment.
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Join Us
Are you an individual, project, or organization active in the Olowalu-Ukumehame area and are not currently featured on pilinaolowalu.org? Would you like to be?
Contact Us!
Olowalu
The Olowalu reef is a vital “mother reef” who seeds larvae to neighboring nearshore areas in Maui Nui. The splendor of this reef speaks to us of aloha, legacy, and resiliency. While the Honoapi‘ilani Highway connects West Maui to the rest of the island, the proximity of the highway to the ocean is a concern. © Kelly James