Maui Information Exchanges
Maui Information Exchanges
The Maui Navigation Team, a community-nominated group of Maui residents, has been developing draft management recommendations for the nearshore waters of Maui with support from the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). The proposal includes management actions that promote pono practices, align and expand restoration activities, strengthen monitoring, and continue supporting place-based priorities. In September 2024, the Holomua Marine Initiative and the Navigation Team hosted three Information Exchange sessions to gather preliminary community feedback on the draft recommendations. They then sought additional input on the revised proposal during the summer of 2025.
On September 3rd, the Maui Navigation Team held its fifth information exchange session at Mayor Hannibal Tavares Pukalani Community Center after being postponed due to the tsunami on July 29th, 2025. Members of the Navigation team presented the updated draft of their management proposal. Approximately 50 community members attended, made up of recreational fishers and other residents who were interested in learning more about the proposal. The Navigation team was able to walk through their proposal line-by-line with the community, and the larger turn out created an opportunity for ample questions and feedback to consider. Representation from DOCARE and DAR were also present at these meetings, providing answers to specific questions from community members.
The proposal has been updated since the initial Information Exchanges held last year and will be revised again after this 2025 round of sessions. The most updated draft proposal can be found below. Please check back in November for future revisions.
Draft Maui Navigation Team management Recommendations (PDF)
The Maui Navigation Team has shared their proposal with Maui community members and are now updating based on feedback to advance to the rule-making process.
If you have additional feedback to share or questions on the draft proposal, you may also directly contact the Maui Navigation Team members below:
- Darrell Tanaka: [email protected]
- Maile Shannon: [email protected]
- Greg Czar: [email protected]
- Brian Ventura: [email protected]
On August 6, 2025, the Maui Navigation Team held its fourth information exchange session at the Kīhei Community Center. Members of the Navigation team presented an updated draft of their management proposal. Around 20 community members attended, made up mostly of recreational fishers and other residents who were interested in learning more about the proposal. Since there was a smaller crowd, the Navigation Team was able to walk through their proposal line-by-line with the community answer any questions.
The proposal has been updated since the initial Information Exchanges and will be revised again after this second round of sessions. The most updated draft proposal can be found below. Please check back in November for future revisions
Hāna Information Exchange Session
Fishers, cultural practitioners, and ocean users gathered at Helene Hall on September 24, 2024 to hear the Maui Navigation Team’s draft nearshore management recommendations. After the Navigation Team’s presentation, a collaborative forum for dialogue and conversation was opened where the community members in attendance could share their manaʻo and feedback.
Lahaina Information Exchange Session
On September 25, 2024, DAR Holomua Marine Initiative hosted their second Information Exchange at Lahaina Intermediate School. They were joined by community members who fish for recreation, subsistence, and cultural purposes, as well as a few non-fishers with personal connections to Maui waters. After the Maui Navigation Team presented the draft management proposal, the floor was turned over to the community members in attendance so they could share their thoughts and feedback, helping to strengthen this unique, community-driven approach to nearshore marine resource management.
Kahului Information Exchange Session
On September 26, 2024, the Maui Navigation Team presented their draft management proposal in Kahului at Maui Waena Intermediate. They were joined by nearly 70 community members which included fishers, commercial tour operators, cultural practitioners, and other Maui ocean users. Following the presentation, attendees participated in meaningful discussions that allowed them to voice their concerns and ask the Navigation Team questions on the management proposal.
The Holomua Marine Initiative is designed to support communities that want to effectively manage their nearshore marine resources in collaboration with DAR and other partners. Part of this process is to empower voices across each moku on every island to identify management concerns and develop prioritized solutions. By engaging with community partners, government, and non-government groups, we can work together towards holistic, science-informed, community-led solutions.
Maui community members share more about themselves
Community members were asked to share with us about the various ways they fish and interact with the nearshore ocean during the Information Exchange Sessions. Below are photos of the results that were captured through posters used at the sessions.
Teach Us Boards
Mahalo nui!
The Maui Navigation Team would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to everyone who attended the Information Exchanges and took time to share their perspectives and feedback. Next, based on the comments received during these sessions, the Navigation Team will further revise the proposal to reflect the priorities and needs of the Maui community.
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ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.
No task is too big when done together by all.
– Mary Kawena Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #142
