Progress & Achievements
2012
Click here for our 2012 Annual Report.
2011 was capped by the successful completion of the Great Huki project in which 27 acres of Maunalua Bay were cleared of 3-million pounds of invasive alien algae in what was one of the largest marine restoration projects ever undertaken in an urban area. Thousands of students and community volunteers joined Malama Maunalua and partners, The Nature Conservancy and Pono Pacific.
In 2012, we are working to ensure that the community and conservation gains are maintained and that momentum continues to build in restoring Maunalua Bay.
Mobilizing the Community to Restore and Steward the Bay
We believe that the most effective way to take on the scale of projects in the timeframes needed to restore Maunalua is through a large active base of volunteers. Partially funded by grants from the Hawaii Community Foundation, ABC Stores, Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and First Hawaiian Bank, we are building a Volunteer Leader program that will make and sustain improvements in the Bay over the long term. These Volunteer Leaders will lead other volunteers, thereby significantly expanding our capacity to restore the Bay. By incorporating conservation education in our projects, we are also building the next generation of stewards.
- Trained and deployed eleven Volunteer Leaders in the last 10 months.
- Engaged 1,000 volunteers
- Incorporating conservation education in our community and school “huki” events to increase awareness among the students who come out to remove invasive alien algae.
- Created a Property Run-off Assessment Guide for homeowners who want to make improvements on their own properties and assist others in doing so.
- With UH Sea Grant, we published a Watershed Handbook for the Maunalua Region that highlights the problems of run-off and provides solutions that groups and individuals can undertake.
- Produced and aired two thirty-minute segments for Hawaii Community Television (Olelo 52).
Major Projects
Every Drop Counts – Pulama Wai
Malama Maunalua is implementing projects with businesses, neighborhoods and schools to reduce sediment and run-off across the region. Eight projects are currently underway. Eleven Volunteer Leaders have been trained and deployed.
- Supported by an EPA grant, we’re partnering with Koko Head District Park and Koko Marina Shopping Center to implement a commercial demonstration site of best practices in reducing pollutant run-off.
- Installed a rain garden at Kaiser HS with partners Hawaii Kai Rotary and PBR Landscaping that halted flow of sediment from a campus area into a building and into the storm drain system.
- Launched community action groups to reduce run-off and sediment from Niu Stream, Koko Head District Park and KokoKai/Portlock.
- Working with Kalani HS student leaders to develop a multi-year campus improvement program which includes maintenance and plantings of campus areas.
- Removed 18,000 pounds of sediment and debris from stream channels and storm drains.
Huki – Pulling together to remove the IAA that threatens the Bay
- Our volunteers are monitoring and maintaining the 27 acres cleared of invasive alien algae.
- We continue to teach and lead new volunteers and students in continuing to clear new areas.
- Removed 32,600 pounds of invasive alien algae.
Ho’o Nui I’A – Making Fish Abundant
- Installed signs at Bay access points that encourage compliance.
- Supported formation of a hui of experienced fishermen to develop recommendations for increasing fish in Maunalua Bay.
2011
- Huki – Invasive Alien Algae Removal
- Successfully completed the NOAA-funded Maunalua Bay Reef Restoration Project (The Great Huki). Final numbers of acres cleared exceeded target. Twenty-six acres were cleared and over 2.9-million pounds were removed by the contractors.
- Community Volunteers alone removed 91,500 lbs, clearing another acre and bringing the total to 27 acres cleared.
- All invasive alien algae was turned to productive use as an enriching soil amendment on local farms.
- Airing Public Service Announcements to raise awareness of fishing regulations.
- Community Monitoring Protocol established in partnership with The Nature Conservancy scientists, to maintain a close watch on the 27 acres that have been cleared.
- Community Hukis continue – to preserve and extend the gains of the Great Huki.
- Pulama Wai – Every Drop Counts
- Launched sediment run-off reduction pilot projects that will cumulatively have an impact on Maunalua Bay and will build awareness across the region.
- Partnered with Hawaii Kai Rotary, Interact Club of Kaiser High School, PRB Hawaii landscape architects, Songscapes landscapers, Kaiser High School and Hale Ka Lae to install a Rain Garden demonstration site at Kaiser High School in heavily eroded area.
- Launched first neighborhood Pulama Wai project in Koko Kai/Portlock.
- Partnered with Kona Brew to turn site into a showcase for run-off reduction.
- Partnered with Waldorf School on a weekly clean-up activity aimed at reducing what goes into storm drain
- Published a handbook for reducing run-off in Maunalua Bay with UH Sea Grant. (Downloadable via “Resources” menu)
- Created a home/property Water Runoff Assessment Tool for owners seeking to reduce run-off. (Downloadable via “Resources” menu)
- Ho`o Nui I`a – Making Fish Abundant
- Produced an educational PSA that aired on Channel 16, KHON, and Hawaii Goes Fishing through 2011.
- Installed seven signs at Bay access points to encourage compliance with existing regulations.
- Completed Survey of 58 Experienced Maunalua Bay fishermen.
- Growing our Community
- We were joined by 1,350 new volunteers.
- Produced Maunalua Bay Heritage Festival.
- Hosted the Maunalua Bay Science Symposium.
2010
- Launched The Great Huki project. With partners The Nature Conservancy and Pono Pacific, created 75 jobs and removed more than 2.0 – million pounds of invasive alien algae.
- Established four community huki sites and attracted 4,500 volunteers.
- Developed the Every Drop Counts campaign to educate residents and businesses how to reduce run-off of damaging sediment and pollution from yards and commercial areas.
- Developed Public Service Announcement to encourage compliance with fishing regulations. Airing on television stations throughout 2011.
- Attained independent non-profit 501(c)(3) status.
- Implemented region-wide community outreach, and obtained media coverage on at least 75 occasions.
- Awarded NOAA’s Environmental Heroes Award.
- Developed a plan to reduce sediment and pollutants from Wailupe Watershed, a major watershed that is both the last unlined stream in the region and a significant contributor to damaging run-off in Maunalua Bay.
- Expanded the fund development team and built new partnerships with 8 local businesses.
- Recipient of a $5,000 gift from Duke’s Waikiki annual fundraising for non-profits.
2009
- Developed unprecedented major grant. Awarded (with TNC) American Recovery and Reinvestment grant from NOAA, one of only 50 projects in the country and 2 in Hawaii, out of more than 800 proposals.
- With 1,000 students and approximately 2,000 volunteers, removed another 48 tons of invasive alien algae from the Bay.
- Updated the Maunalua Bay Conservation Plan.
- Established partnership with Whole Foods and received a gift of $4,800. Created and installed a Maunalua Bay exhibit in the Whole Foods cafe, renamed the Malama Maunalua Community House.
- Engaged more than 2,000 people at Malama Maunalua events.
- Expanded marine monitoring program and added land-based water quality monitoring.
- Supported 12 university and agency studies in the Bay and its watersheds, including hydrography, coral health studies, marine resource assessments, invasive species monitoring, stream and ground water monitoring.
- Doubled the number of contributors and supporters.
2008
- Developed a Regional Watershed Plan to guide restoration and management for the 10 watersheds of Maunalua Region.
- Mapped the location of the storm water systems that are the primary conductors of sediment and pollutants and identified the government agencies responsible for each system.
- With The Nature Conservancy, completed the Pakini (creel) Survey to collect catch data, understand current harvesting practices and identify causes and sources of fishing violations.
- Doubled the invasive alien algae removal rate.
- Trained hundreds of volunteers in removal. Monitored cleared areas to determine that, once cleared, the areas stay cleared.
- Received the Kako`o `Aina (Supporter of the Land) award from The Nature Conservancy.
- Motivated scientists to contribute an estimated $250,000 of marine studies in Maunalua Bay.
- Doubled the number of contributors and obtained grants from Department of Health and Hawaii Tourism Authority.
2007
- Launched volunteer invasive alien algae removal project. Initial year’s pull was 1,200 pounds.
- Launched a Maunalua Bay Makai Watch program.
- Built strong network of agency and NGO partnerships. Gained agreement from the US Army Corps of Engineers to use ecologically sound practices in developing their flood management plan for Wailupe Stream (the last major stream not lined in concrete).
- Held 50 outreach events and signed up 250 volunteers.
- With Polynesian Voyaging Society and Hui Nalu Canoe Club trained 30 students over three weekends on the Hokule`a voyaging canoe.
2006
- Formed organization and hired a full-time coordinator.
- Funded by small group of Maunalua Bay residents.
- Worked with scientists from University of Hawaii, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii (TNC) to identify the extent and major causes of deterioration in Maunalua Bay.
- With key partners, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Hui Nalu Canoe Club, TNC and NOAA, developed the Maunalua Bay Conservation Action Plan.
2005
- Founded in 2005 by kamai`aina Maunalua community members. Founders included Bruce and Lita Blankenfeld, Mitch D’Olier, Alyssa Miller, Pauline Sato, Laura Thompson, Nainoa Thompson, and Carol Wilcox
Recognition & Awards
- In 2010, NOAA presented Malama Maunalua with its Environmental Hero Award
- In 2011, the Honolulu City Council presented Malama Maunalua with a certificate recognizing its success with The Great Huki.
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