Kilo limu with Wally ItoNeed to balance out your hectic schedule? Connect with the ʻāina and join us! Second Saturdays focus on wetland enhancement for the ʻalaeʻula, the endangered waterbird endemic to only Oʻahu […]
Year of Our Coastal Kuleana
2026 is Makahiki Kuleana Kahakai: the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana. We’re celebrating the richness of our coastal ecosystems, the ways that coasts connect us as people, and our role in helping to care for our coasts.
What kuleana do we have to our coasts? As island communities, we are stewards of our shores, helping ensure that our coastlines are clean, that we recreate responsibly, and that our coastal ecosystems and species can be sustained into the future. Explore below to find coastal volunteer opportunities or ways in which you can help care for our coasts through everyday practice.
2026 Year of Our Coastal Kuleana is brought to you by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, divisions of Forestry & Wildlife, Aquatic Resources, State Parks, Boating and Ocean Recreation, and Climate Change Commission, in collaboration with partners including the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Bishop Museum, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Audubon Society, Hawaiʻi State Library System, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center, Hui o Koʻolaupoko, ʻĀina Hoʻola, Ka Ipu Makani, the Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Livable Maunalua Hui, Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, NOAA Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center, Nene.org, Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, and the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant.
How will you celebrate the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana?
Click any of the category buttons below to jump to your celebration of choice.
Learn about Hawaiʻi’s coastal resources
Hawaiʻi has over 1,000 miles of tidal coastline with an incredible variety of habitats, including wetlands, dunes, beaches, tidepools, nearshore ocean waters, coral reefs, and offshore islets. These habitats are rich with life, including coastal plants, limu, coastal birds, insects, fish, and coral. Learn about coastal species and ecosystems with the links below.
Meet Hawaiʻi’s Coastal AnimalsVisiting the coast means more when you can identify the species around you. DLNR provides species profiles to help you learn about habitat, diet, and more, alongside photos and multimedia of our native species. These species profiles are great for student research or for lifelong learners.  |
Hawaiʻi’s WetlandsHawaiʻi’s wetlands serve important hydrological functions and provide habitat to many native species. Learn more from the StoryMap below.  |
Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline StorymapThe Kaiwi coast on the southeast shores of Oʻahu includes amazing beaches, tidepools, and coastal trails. It also provides important habitat for nalo meli maoli, the native yellow-faced bee. DLNR State Parks, which manages this area, created the storymap below to explain the cultural history of this coastline and the importance of protecting the nalo meli maoli.  |
Hawaiʻi’s Wildlife SanctuariesMany of our State Wildlife Sanctuaries managed by DLNR Forestry & Wildlife are found along the coast or on offshore islets, and for good reason: coastal habitats are important for waterbirds, migratory birds, and seabirds, and our offshore islets often provide nesting locations for seabirds where they can be free from predators like rats, cats, and mongoose. Some Wildlife Sanctuaries are closed to entry, while others have restricted access that allow people to walk in certain areas and sneak a peak at native wildlife. Learn which sanctuaries allow access and what is allowed at the link below.  |
Aquatic Resources PSAsThe DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources produces public service announcements to inform residents and visitors about the nearshore marine environment. Visit their page below to see an archive of PSAs.  |
UH Sea Grant Sea Level Rise ViewerOur coastal ecosystems face drastic changes in the future due to climate change and sea level rise. UH Sea Grant developed the Sea Level Rise Viewer to help residents understand the impacts of sea level rise in their neighborhoods or at their cherished sections of coastline.  |
Hawaiʻi Climate Change PortalThe Hawaiʻi Climate Change Portal compiles resources and strategies for dealing with climate change in Hawaiʻi. At the portal, you can review Hawaiʻi’s climate mitigation strategies, learn how to take action, and find climate-related events.  |
Seabird Recovery Projects on Kauaʻi and Maui NuiSeabirds rely on coastal ecosystems to nest, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. These seabirds are an important component of these ecosystems, as they cycle nutrients by harvesting food in the ocean and then depositing nutrient-rich guano on land. Due to coastal development and the introduction of predators, many of our seabirds are at risk. The Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project and the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project are collaborations of DLNR Forestry & Wildlife and the University of Hawaiʻi and are leaders in seabird conservation and recovery. Visit their pages at the links below to learn about their incredible work and the seabirds they protect, or click the button labeled “Seabird Projects” to find even more wildlife projects in Hawaiʻi..  |
Coastal Videos from DLNRThe videos below highlight natural and cultural resources across our coastal landscapes: the recovery of nēnē (a waterbird that frequents coastal areas), protection of nalo meli maoli (yellow-faced bees), and two entries from our ʻIke Kaiāulu series featuring knowledge from cultural practitioners: loko iʻa with Hiʻilei Kawelo, and kilo limu with Wally Ito.  Nēnē: A Recovery Story Native yellow-faced bees get a new home at Kaʻena Point
Loko iʻa with Hiʻilei Kawelo
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Classroom Resources
We provide general educational information in the above section “Learn more about Hawaiʻi’s coasts,” including species profiles, ecosystem information, and more. Those resources may be of interest to your class or to learners of any age. The additional links below are specifically designed for Hawaiʻi-based educators and classrooms.
Request a Classroom Presentation or Field TripDLNR and our many partners employ Education Specialists who can visit your classroom to discuss coastal plants, animals, or ecosystem functions, or to share information about what it’s like to be a coastal biologist in Hawaiʻi. Use the links below to contact education staff at various DLNR divisions, or contact one of our campaign partners to request a visit. Field trips may also be available.  |
Free to Hawaiʻi educators: Coastal Kuleana classroom posters & water bottle stickersDLNR Forestry & Wildlife offers a free classroom poster and one classroom sticker pack (about 20 stickers) to Hawaiʻi-based educators who are teaching a unit on coastal resources. For the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, we worked with local artist Malia Heimuli to create a new classroom poster highlighting coastal species and activities, and a set of water bottle stickers that feature coastal birds, insects, and plants. Visit the link below for information on how to order. DLNR Forestry & Wildlife: Free “Coastal Kuleana” classroom posters and water bottle stickers  |
Aquatic Species PostersDLNR Division of Aquatic Species offers educational posters that feature marine species. These include pelagic fishes, bottom fishes, Hawaiʻi’s jacks, marine invertebrates, marine fishes, sharks, tidepool and reef guides, and a native stream poster. These are available for $5 at DAR offices.  |
New Virtual Field Trip: Journey to Lehua Islet with the Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery ProjectFor Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, weʻve created a new virtual field trip to Lehua Islet. Join the Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project on a helicopter flight 17 miles west of Kauaʻi to Lehua Islet, a State Seabird Sanctuary that is home to many adorable (and noisy) seabirds. Students will learn why Lehua is a perfect home for seabirds, and what types of tools and strategies biologists use to keep seabird populations healthy. The field trip also explores pre-contact use of Lehua by Native Hawaiians, and tells the story of how invasive rats and rabbits were removed from the islet. DLNR Forestry & Wildlife creates virtual field trips using 360˚ images filled with clickable hotspots that contain videos, photos, and audio about plants, animals, and ecosystems in Hawaiʻi. Our field trips are aligned to NGSS, Nā Hopena Aʻo, and ʻĀina Aloha standards.  |
More Coastal Virtual Field Trips: Coastal reserves of the main Hawaiian Islands and, coming soon: HōlanikūWe have more virtual field trips to coastal reserves around Hawaiʻi, and coming soon, we’ll release a new virtual field trip to Hōlanikū. Also known as Kure Atoll, this tiny island is 1,400 miles from Honolulu, found at the northern end of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This island is an State Seabird Sanctuary managed by DLNR Forestry & Wildlife and the Kure Atoll Conservancy. Explore the island, meet the birds, and hear from the biologists who stay months at a time in one of the most remote locations on Earth, and why they do it all for the birds. In the meantime, enjoy virtual field trips to Oʻahu’s Kaʻena Point, Kawainui Marsh, Hāmākua Marsh, Pouhala Marsh, and Kanahā Pond on Maui. Our field trips are aligned to NGSS, Nā Hopena Aʻo, and ʻĀina Aloha standards. All field trips are at the link below.  |
Curriculum: “Way of the Wedgie”This five-lesson curriculum is designed to help educators who want to teach about ʻuaʻu kani, also known as wedge-tailed shearwaters. The curriciulum was developed by the Hawaiʻi Audubon Society in partnership with Hawaiʻi Pacific University and Oikonos.  |
Curriculum: Hōʻike o Haleakalā’s Coastal & Marine UnitsYou don’t need to be based on Maui to use the Hōʻike o Haleakalā curriculum, an environmental education package containing 73 activities separated into biomes including alpine, rain forest, coastal, marine, and invasive species. The coastal unit of the curriculum includes 12 activities about erosion, invasive species, and anchialine ponds. The marine unit includes 13 activities on reefs, marine biology, and ocean biology.  |
Curriculum: A Teacher’s Guide to Nēnē & Nēnē Board GameThis 28-page guide provides educators with background information about nēnē, as well as activities including bird behavior bingo, a game about nēnē eggs, and a coloring book featuring plants that nēnē eat. We also have a printable board game called “Growing Up Nēnē: Journey from Egg to Adult” that your students can play to understand the challenges nēnē face in modern Hawaiʻi. Printable board game: Growing Up Nēnē: Journey from Egg to Adult  |
Classroom Activity: Finger puppets and masks featuring coastal speciesDownload and print these paper craft activities so your students can become sharks, rays, monk seals, and more. You can download marine species from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (like uhu, sharks, and more), or terrestrial species from DLNR Forestry & Wildlife (like nalo meli maoli, pinaoʻula, and more).  |
Classroom Video: Lessons from the Sea- Always Remember K.A.IThis 8-minute video from Nā Kama Kai is designed for young students and uses a mixture of cartoons and live-action to teach kids about ocean safety. The video uses the acronym K.A.I.: Know your limits, Always ask a lifeguard, and Identify the hazards. Nā Kama Kai on Youtube: Makaʻala Bay: Lessons From the Sea – Always Remember K.A.I.  |
Be Pono at the Coast: Guidelines for Homeowners & Beachgoers
Residents and visitors love visiting Hawaiʻi’s coasts for surfing, boating, hiking, or just hanging out at the beach. Our coasts also provide important habitat for native species and cultural practice. There are lots of ways you can be pono with recreating at Hawaiʻi’s coasts. If you have a home near the shoreline, your help is especially needed to ensure we minimize impacts to our coastal ecosystems.
Report Marine DebrisYou can help our coasts by reporting large quantities of marine debris on land or in the water (or any debris too large to remove by hand). Call DLNR DAR’s Marine Debris Rapid Response Program hotline: 833-4-DA-NETS (833-432-6387). Learn more at the link below.  |
Seabird Fallout: Use Seabird-Friendly Lighting & Report Downed BirdsSeabirds can become disoriented by our artificial lighting (lights in homes, businesses, street lights, etc.) and either circle lights or collide with structures, and may fall to the ground due to exhaustion or injury from collision. This fallout occurs most often during September to December when young birds leave their nests for the first time. You can help prevent fallout any time of the year by installing seabird-friendly lighting or reporting downed birds. DLNR Forestry & Wildlife: Seabird Fallout & Seabird Friendly Lighting  |
Be a Pono Cat ParentHumans love their pet cats, and cats at home can be a great companion. Outdoors, cats can harm Hawaiʻi’s wildlife and ecosystems through predation (even fed cats will prey on birds) and through disease. Cats are the only reproductive host of the parasite that causes the disease Toxoplasmosis, which is deadly to monk seals, coastal birds, and causes health issues in people who are immunocompromised or pregnant (Toxoplasmosis is associated with birth defects and miscarriage). Pet cats should be kept indoors, and people should not feed outdoor or feral cats. The Hawaiʻi Veterinary Medical Association and partners created the Pono Cat Parent Pledge, which you can take to be a responsible pet owner. If you take the Pono Cat Parent Pledge, email us at [email protected], and weʻll send you a free “My Indoor Cat Saves Lives” bumper sticker.  |
Don’t Let it Loose: Promoting Responsible Pet OwnershipOne of the major pathways for aquatic invasive species introductions is when owners of turtles, fish, or other aquarium species no longer want their pets. Rather than turning them in to an amnesty location or finding another owner, they release their pets into the wild, causing harm to our native ecosystems. You can be a responsible pet owner by using amnesty drop-off locations and following one simple rule: Don’t let it loose! DLNR DAR: Don’t Let It Loose Program and Amnesty Drop-off Locations  |
Reef Friendly Landscaping Certification on MauiThe way you landscape your yard can impact Hawaiʻi’s coral reefs. The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council offers this certification to help you maintain healthier plants in your yard and contribute to a better Maui Nui. Learn how to save costs, promote plant health, decrease pests, and lower your water usage, all while protecting coral reefs from chemical runoff. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council: Reef-Friendly Landscaping Certification Course  |
Homeowner guide: Rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable surfacesLearn how to create a rain garden, install a rain barrel, use permeable construction materials, and build a healthy native landscape using this collection of resources from Hui o Koʻolaupoko.  |
How to Support Native Hawaiian Waterbirds on Your PropertyHawai‘i has five unique waterbirds that are found nowhere else in the world. Their numbers are falling, but property owners with ponds, golf courses, riverine areas, wet meadows, and even lawns near water can make a real difference to their survival. Learn how with this resource from Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture. Pacific Birds: How to Support Native Hawaiian Waterbirds on Your Property  |
Be Pono Near Threatened & Endangered SpeciesWe share our coasts with threatened and endangered species that were here long before us. It is our responsibility to be careful around at-risk species and ensure that they’ll be here for the future. We have guidance to help you follow conservation laws and keep coastal species safe, like waterbirds, seabirds, ʻōpeʻapeʻa, plants, honu, and ilio holo i ka uaua.  |
Fishing Around Protected Species & I Fish PonoDLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has guidance on how to fish near protected species, and guidance on how to be a pono fisher. You can help Hawaiʻi’s fish by using barbless hooks, taking the right size of fish, leaving male uhu, following fishing laws and rules, and more.  |
Mālama O Ke Kai: Take Care of the OceanYour behavior in the water and on land can make an impact to our coastal ecosystems. DLNR DAR reminds you that corals are alive and that standing on or touching corals can kill them. Remember that all ahupuaʻa lead to the ocean, and keeping trash and chemicals away from water ensures that we keep our oceans clean.  |
Help Collect Data on Hawaiian Waterbirds with eBird!Anyone can help provide data on the presence of native Hawaiian waterbirds. Since these birds move around and some species are rare, biologists need your help in recording your sightings. You can use the eBird mobile app, and data will be made available to partners like Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture. Learn more in their flyer.  |
Get Your Boating Certifications, Vessel Registration, and TitleWhen out on the waters, it is important to be safe. The best way to do that is to arm yourself with knowledge. DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has information at the link below can make you a safer boater, and some of the education is required to operate certain vessels. DOBOR also handles required vessel registration and titling.  |
Merch & Donations
Show your love for our coasts with some free swag, shop coastal merch from our partners, or donate to one of the many organizations helping to protect Hawaiʻi’s coastlines.
Free: Download Coastal Virtual Meeting Backgrounds & Phone WallpapersDLNR Forestry & Wildlife provides free tools to bring coastal plants and animals into your next Zoom meeting or to your phone’s wallpaper. This year’s backgrounds feature artwork by local artist Malia Heimuli as well as photos taken by our staff as they work to protect our coastal birds, plants, and insects. Download your free virtual meeting backgrounds & phone wallpapers here  |
Shop or donate: Bishop MuseumBishop Museum is one of our key partners in our “Year of” campaigns by bridging academic research, museum collections, and public education. You can support Bishop Museum while learning about Hawaiʻi’s coasts by exploring options to visit the museum, visit their Shop Pacifica, or explore educational books by Bishop Museum Press.  |
Shop or donate: Hawaiʻi Audubon SocietyThe Hawai’i Audubon Society was established locally in 1939 by a small group of dedicated birders to further the protection and conservation of Hawai’i’s native wildlife and ecosystems. Their online shop has a donation tool, as well as books, shirts, and calendars featuring coastal birds. Visit Hawaiʻi Audubon Society’s online shop & donation portal  |
Shop or donate: Hawaiʻi Wildlife CenterThe Hawai‘i Wildlife Center is a state- and region-wide 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife response and conservation organization. They provide medical and rehabilitative care to all species of native birds and ʻōpeʻapeʻa. Their online shop has earrings, stickers, bags, books, and stuffies featuring coastal birds and the ʻōpeʻapeʻa. Visit Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center’s online shop & donation portal  |
Shop or donate: Nene.orgNene.org, or Nēnē Research and Conservation, is dedicated to the preservation and recovery of nēnē. By collaborating with government agencies and local groups, their mission centers on leveraging community-sourced data to enhance conservation strategies, support predator management, and inform policy-making. Visit Nene.org’s online shop or donation portal  |
Donate: Department of Land and Natural ResourcesDLNR now has a donation portal where you can support our work to enhance, protect, conserve, and manage Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources.  |
Donate: Maui Nui Seabird Recovery ProjectMaui Nui Seabirds is a project of The Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii at Manoa in association with Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and Pacific Rim Conservation (501C3). MNSRP works to help DLNR fulfill its constitutionally mandated responsibility for the protection and management of seabirds and their habitats in Maui Nui.  |
Donate: Livable Maunalua HuiLivable Maunalua Hui (formerly Livable Hawaiʻi Kai Hui) is a nonprofit connecting the community to the ʻāina of Maunalua through volunteerism, stewardship, and education. As part of their work, they manage Keawāwā wetland, providing important habitat for coastal birds.  |
Donate: Big Island Invasive Species CommitteeBIISC works to prevent, detect, and control the establishment and spread of invasive species threats to the Big Island environment, economy, and way of life. They work island-wide protecting our native forests, communities, and agriculture from new and ongoing threats. Visit the Big Island Invasive Species Committee donation portal  |
Donate: UH Sea GrantThe University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant) works for the people of Hawai‘i. It funds targeted, leading-edge research on the challenges and opportunities facing our coastal communities. Extension faculty apply the results of this research to improve our quality of life, now and for future generations. Your generous support helps Sea Grant reach out to more people in our community, educate students and fund the highest-quality research.  |
Events
Embrace your coastal kuleana by joining a beach cleanup, volunteering to remove weeds, or helping to plant native plants. Or, join one of our celebratory events and come connect with campaign partners and learn more about our connections to coasts. If you’re a nonprofit hosting coastal volunteer events and would like your event listed on our calendar, contact us here.
We’re looking for partners to host events on June 6, 2026 as part of a Statewide Community Restoration Day. Click here to learn more and sign up to host an event. For participating partners, click here after your event to record your data.