Mauna Kahālāwai Watershed Partnership
History & Mission
Our Partnership was established in 1998 through a voluntary alliance of state, county, and private landowners in a concerted effort to reverse the negative trend of forest degradation caused by threats like invasive species, human impacts, and wildfire. Our goal is to protect our forested watersheds, native ecosystems, and freshwater supply through collaborative forest management.
Our Goals: Protect, Preserve, & Educate
- We educate our community. Do you know where your water comes from? The more you know, the more you can help!
- We protect the unique native species of Mauna Kahālāwai, natural and cultural treasures that exist nowhere else in the world.
- We preserve forested watersheds, native ecosystems, and critical natural resources that generate most of Maui’s freshwater supply.
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Partners
- County of Maui, Department of Water Supply
- Hanaula Ranch, L.L.C.
- Kamehameha Schools
- State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Makila Land Co., L.L.C.
- Kā’anapali Land Management Corp.
- Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc.
- Kahoma Land, L.L.C.
- Kahoma Holdings, L.L.C.
- Kamehameha Schools
- The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i
- Wailuku Water Co., L.L.C.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Our Logo
Lobelia gloria-montis is a proud and unique species of the Campanulacea family found in wet forest habitats at the top of Mauna Kahalawai. Sometimes reaching up to 5 meters in height it seems to tower against a low lying carpet of boggy species. The large flower aggregates of creamy and purplish tones reach into the blue sky on clear days and harken to native honeycreepers with whom they have evolved. In contrast, it can glisten with dew from passing clouds and perfectly exhibit the ability of native species to gather water on a grand watershed scale. It is absolutely the glory of the mountain.
Management Priorities
The major priorities that have been conducted by MKWP include:
- Baseline watershed forest health and threat monitoring
- Fencing to control movement of feral animals such as pigs and deer
- Priority invasive plant control of our worst weed species like strawberry guava, Albizia and alien tree ferns
- Fire mitigation planning, wildfire fuel reductions and forest restoration
In concert with these field activities, MKWP strives to educate the community and build awareness of the importance of watersheds and native forests. We also organize volunteer trips to accessible places like Olowalu Valley and Waiheʻe Ridge Trail giving residents and visitors hands-on opportunities to actively participate in watershed management activities. Beyond these outings, hosting educational booths at annual community events such as the Maui County Ag Festival, Hoʻomau and Whale Tales, provides outreach materials and expertise to the general public about watershed ideals on a daily basis. MKWP also provides educational opportunities such as presentations, interactive lessons and native plant kipuka to schools, community groups, HOAs and other organizations.
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Ecosystem Highlights
The West Maui Watershed is home to thousands of species of native plants, birds, snails, insects and other invertebrates. All native Hawaiian species are relatively rare in the world, and there are at least 18 plant species that are endemic to West Maui in particular, making them especially extraordinary. The watershed encompasses an array of vegetation communities that are arranged across climatic and elevation zones.
Our watersheds recharge the streams and aquifers that provide fresh, clean water to residents, communities, farmers, and businesses. The forests function as slow, vegetated water filters that inhibit erosion and runoff, thereby protecting streams, reefs and oceans for swimming, fishing, and other marine activities. By trapping moisture, healthy watersheds also prevent destructive wildfires.
Many prominent Hawaiian royals made their homes in Lahaina, on the western slopes of Mauna Kahālāwai, and the fertile lands in this region supported a vibrant population. On the coastal lowlands, Kamehameha III made his home on an island in the fishpond called Moku‘ula which was fed by springs charged by mountain rain. Many of the lands to the south of Lahaina, in the ahupua’a of Launiupoko, Olowalu and Ukumehame, contain remnants of ancient Hawaiian villages, agricultural terraces, petroglyphs and heiau sites, as well as many post-contact sites along the Lahaina Pali Trail.
To the north of Lahaina are the six Hono-a-Pi‘ilani, the bays of King Pi‘ilani, (from South to North) Honokōwai (bay drawing freshwater), Honokeana (cave bay), Honokahua (sites bay,) Honolua (two bays), Honokōhau (bay drawing dew) and Hononana (animated bay), all whose upper wet valleys contain vestiges of historic taro cultivation and many important sites, including heiau, examples of historic agriculture and unknown burial sites.
In Central Maui, on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kahālāwai, ‘Ῑao Valley was considered one of the island’s centers of civilization. Similar to Lahaina, prominent ali‘i, or chiefs, resided in this lush area, below which fertile soils and plentiful water supported a large resident population. ‘Ῑao Stream is one of the Na Wai ‘Eha, The Four Waters, which also included Waihe‘e, Waiehu, and Waikapū Streams. With its abundance of fresh water, ‘Ῑao Valley was a sacred place reserved for high chiefs, and for hundreds of years ali‘i were laid to rest in secret burial sites along the valley’s steep walls.
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Top Threats
- Invasive plant species:
- Priority Species: Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum), Cane Tibouchina (Tibouchina herbacea), Koster’s Curse (Clidemia hirta), Australian Tree Fern (Sphaeropteris cooperi), Mule’s foot fern (Angiopteris evecta), Night blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum), Albizia (Falcataria moluccana), Himalayan ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
- Feral ungulates
- Wildfires
- Human Impacts
- Dirt Biking
- Climate change
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How You Can Help
Protecting our native resources can feel like a daunting and huge task. Here are some ways you can help connect and support.
- Volunteer with us. Become a steward of Mauna Kahālāwai https://www.maunakahalawai.org/volunteer-mauna-kahalawaimaui
- Internship with us. Not sure if conservation is right for you. Apply for our internship through Kupu and gain hands-on experience. https://www.kupuhawaii.org/conservation-leadership-development-program
- Work at MKWP. Join our team and be part of the front line of conservation across Maui. https://hr.rcuh.com/psc/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant&
- Our work is never done and our small organization runs on grants. Help support the work we do by donating at https://www.maunakahalawai.org/
- Invite MKWP to present to your students, HOAs, community groups, etc. Our team can present on a variety of topics from what is a watershed, native plants, conservation careers and more.
- Have an event? MKWP is well versed in outreach booths and tabling. We provided interactive activities for all ages to learn about our native forest and how you can help protect them.
- Support Wildfire mitigation in your ahupua’a. Be firewise and reduce the threat of wildfire to our irreplaceable Hawaiian forests. Once they burn, they will never be the same.
- Choose wisely. Pick plants which are pono for your needs and avoid plants that are invasive. Plants should be sourced from stores that care what pests their products may harbor. Making the right choice now can prevent a new forest invader or disease from impacting native species.
- Support biological security of our islands and prevent new threats to our islands from becoming problems to forests, ag and our daily lives. Be wise consumers. Most pests get here from mainland and global sources.
News, Updates, Job/Volunteer Openings:
Check out RCUH jobs: https://hr.rcuh.com/psc/hcmprd_exapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant& to view our current open positions or contact us directly for information regarding job opportunities with MKWP.
MKWP offers paid internship opportunities through Kupu. Check out the Kupu website https://www.kupuhawaii.org/conservation-leadership-development-program to learn more or contact us directly.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the most up to date information, our next volunteer service trip, community events we will be at and more. Visit https://www.maunakahalawai.org/volunteer-mauna-kahalawaimaui to sign up.
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Media Gallery
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Resources:
- Main website: https://www.maunakahalawai.org/
- Volunteer with us: https://www.maunakahalawai.org/volunteer-mauna-kahalawaimaui
- Our Impact: https://www.maunakahalawai.org/impact-west-maui-mountains
Contact Information
Chris Brosius
Program Manager
Mauna Kahālāwai Watershed Partnership
brosius@maunakahalawai.org
808.661.6600
PO Box 13240 Lahaina, HI 96761
Social Media
Facebook: Facebook.com/mauna.kahalawai/
Instagram: Instagram.com/mauna.kahalawai/