Division of Aquatic Resources

Hawai‘i Island residents are invited to attend one more “Talk Story” session on how to best manage the island’s marine resources. As part of the Holomua Marine Initiative, the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will be seeking community input on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 12 – 3 pm in Waimea.

Recently, seven “Talk Story” sessions were hosted across Hawaiʻi Island in May, drawing a strong turnout of more than 400 residents. DAR has organized this
additional “Hana Hou” session in hopes of acquiring
information and perspectives from key community groups and voices that were underrepresented in the original seven sessions.

Community concerns, priorities and input gathered during both the May sessions and the upcoming July 12th Waimea meeting will directly guide the Holomua process.

The Talk Story sessions are part of DAR’s ongoing effort to expand the Holomua Marine Initiative, a program that ensures local and traditional knowledge directly guides marine resource management decisions. The initiative brings together fishers, cultural practitioners and other community representatives to form an Island Navigation Team that will work with a diverse group of experts and resource managers to collaboratively
develop island-scale management actions supporting
sustainable harvesting and healthy reefs.

Meeting Details:

• Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026
• Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
• Location: Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Waimea
• RSVP: Interested participants are asked to RSVP HERE
• Accommodations: If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please e-mail the Holomua Marine Initiative at [email protected] as soon as possible.

View the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ News Release for more details.

To learn more about the Talk Story sessions, visit the Holomua Marine Initiative website HERE.