Help Us Choose Next Year’s Sponorships
Mālama Maui Program
Every month, Hawaiian Paddle Sports supports local environmental organizations and nonprofits through our M?lama Maui program. Our guides have identified their favorite Maui nonprofits, and now it’s your turn to help us to choose our nonprofit recipients for 2017!
Learn more about each nonprofit organization that our guides would love to see us support. Use the sliding scale below to help your favorite non-profit get selected for support in 2017.
Only 5 of the 11 entries will be chosen! Please vote daily to make sure your favorite local non-profits are supported.
Learn About Our Favorities
Jason: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Over the past 3 years on Maui, I’ve spent more time in the ocean between Ukumehame and Puamana beach parks than anywhere else. Whales, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and monk seals also frequent the area. Beautiful waves abound, and the mountains that surround the beach are breathtaking. MNMRC is actively working on projects to protect and restore the coral reefs along this stretch of coastline, and are conducting important water quality monitoring in this area that is so special to me. Watch how MNMRC is helping save Maui’s reefs.
Laurie: Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute
Not only is the ocean where we get to work and play, but it is also home to many species of fish, corals, and sea turtles. Without a healthy environment, the future of our underwater world is threatened. MOCMI, a newly formed organization, helps rescue, rehabilitate and release threatened and endangered Hawaiian sea turtles, maintains a repository for rare and endemic Hawaiian corals, and provides educational opportunities in marine science and conservation. Their work aligns with the HPS mission to protect the ocean and create a larger sense of kuleana, so the ocean – and all living creatures – can prosper. Learn more about the new Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute.
Kathi: Hawaii Wildlife Fund
This past year, HPS partnered with Hawaii Wildlife Fund and helped newly hatched Hawksbill turtles make their way to the ocean. It was an experience that cannot be put into words. Turtles are a big part of Maui and Hawaiian culture. Helping HWF aligns with our mission to be ocean stewards and improve the ocean habitat. Having more turtles (especially critically endangered species like hawksbills) is important for a healthy ocean ecosystem. At HPS, we also use sea turtles as a tool and ambassador to teach others about our environment and culture.Watch baby hawksbill sea turtles as they make their way to the ocean for the first time!
Elise: Maui Cultural Lands
Maui Cultural Lands is a land trust organization whose mission is to stabilize, protect, and restore Hawaiian culture. In 2016 we partnered with MCL and visited Hanaula where we learned about the negative impacts of invasive plants in Hawaii. We helped out by getting our hands dirty and clearing a large area where invasive plants had taken over, creating room for native plants to regrow. This service project meant a lot to me because it showed us how important it is to respect and preserve the plants, species and land of Maui. I connected with Maui Cultural Lands’ deep sense of kuleana, and the feeling of responsibility for the land and its gifts. Watch the video of going deep into the West Maui Mountains to remove invasive species.
Rowdy: Maui Huliau Foundation
I believe Hawaiian Paddle Sports should support the Maui Huliau Foundation because they instill similar values in the youth of Hawaii. We share the same passion for protecting our environment and teaching others the importance of doing the same. Through ‘imi ‘ike (seeking knowledge), both HPS and MHF act as alaka’i (leaders) and stewards in m?lama ‘?ina, and will therefore teach our younger generations to perpetuate the same values.Check out how Maui Huliau Foundation is instilling environmental values in Maui’s youth.
John: Save Honolua Coalition
Save Honolua Coalition was formed to protect the open space surrounding Honolua Bay from development. The Save Honolua Coalition aligns with the HPS mission of practicing our kuleana(“responsibility”) to take care of Maui’s coastlines and ocean. We get to enjoy the bay for snorkeling and surfing. Since we get to do that, it’s our responsibility to leave it better than we found it. The wave at Honolua Bay is the reason I moved to Maui. I think that’s the most special place on this island, and taking care of a place I care about is my responsibility. Save Honolua Coalition was an integral part of protecting Lipoa Point and the land surrounding Honolua Bay.
Andrew: Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve
The Pu`u Kukui Watershed Preserve covers over 8,000 acres in West Maui. Pu`u Kukui is a natural watershed that supplies much of West Maui with fresh water. Our values at HPS revolve around many things, but at our core is our collective affection for water and the hydrology of the island as a whole. I believe that it is critical to increase awareness of how the Pu`u Kukui Watershed and local Hydrologic Cycle influence not only what happens on the land, but also in the sea. Supporting the Pu`u Kukui Watershed Preserve is necessary in addressing local issues such as non-point source pollution and pesticide runoff, and gathering a deeper understanding of our place within the conservation of Maui’s delicate ecosystems. Learn more about how Pu`u Kukui Watershed Preserve is helping protect Maui’s important watersheds.
Curtis & Neil: Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is a great non-profit that does large-scale, coastline cleanups, similar to the mini-cleanups that HPS guides do every day. Like HPS, the goal of SCH is not just to organize large scale beach clean-ups, but to help turn participants into life long advocates and coastal clean-up friends. Marine debris – especially plastic pollution – is one of the most pressing issues impacting our oceans. Large-scale, community beach cleanups are an important part of engaging the Maui community and helping people understand how our actions can impact the ocean environment. We need to take immediate action to reduce marine debris along our shorelines and in our waterways, and SCH is actively engaged in addressing the marine debris issue. Last year, HPS partnered with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii to host a coastal cleanup at Maui’s Waiehu Beach.
Molly: Maui Invasive Species Committee
Invasive species are a serious threat to Maui’s native ecosystems. In fact, it is estimated that new species are introduced to the Hawaiian Islands at a rate that is 2 million times more rapid than the natural rate. Many of Maui’s native plants and animals are currently listed as threatened or endangered because of invasive species. The Maui Invasive Species Committee is actively engaged in identifying and controlling he highest-threat invasive species on Maui. Their work is critical to restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems on Maui. Learn more about how MISC is combating invasive species on Maui.
Chris: Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
I chose Maui Nui Botanical Gardens for their work in preserving natural species of plant life and Hawaiian culture. Many of Maui’s native plants are unfortunately threatened by the spread of invasive species. To ensure that native plants remain a part of Maui’s future, MNBG collects, cultivates, and distributes native and Polynesian-introduced plants throughout Maui. I believe it is important to support organizations like MNBG that are working hard to preserve our natural landscape, and whose mission aligns the Hawaiian Paddle Sports mission of preserving the things that we love about Maui and the Hawaiian Islands.Learn more about how MNBG is preserving Maui’s native plant species.
Jesse: Malama Maui Nui
Malama Maui Nui is a local nonprofit that cleans up illegal dump sites and hosts recycling events target tough recyclables such as motor oil. In addition, MMN coordinates invasive species removal, graffiti removal, litter pickups, public education, and beautification projects. I think it’s important to support local organizations that are involved in land-based initiatives, because happens on land directly impacts what happens in the ocean. MMN also closely aligns with our goals at HPS, and recognizes the importance of malama ‘aina (“taking care of the land”). Not to mention, the staff at MMN are incredibly inspiring and dedicated to making a positive difference for Maui. Learn more about how MMN is keeping our island home beautiful.
Lila: Whale Trust Maui
Whale Trust Maui focuses on education and conservation of humpback whales. They actively research the interactions of whales, whale behavior, and whale song. Whale Trust Maui also educates the public through special events like Whale Tales. Whale Trust Maui aligns with HPS values because they are protecting humpback whales – an iconic species that is an important education tool for creating ocean stewards. Furthermore, Whale Trust Maui is one of the few nonprofits on Maui that focuses specifically on protecting and researching humpback whales. Supporting Whale Trust Maui is an important part of meeting the HPS mission. Learn more about how Whale Trust Maui is helping protect humpback whales.
Non-Profit Support Survey Entries
Please indicate your support for each non-profit and submit your answers to have your voice heard.
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81 Halekuai St., Kihei, HI 96753
