Honolua Bay Needs Real Protection

Once again, tragedy has struck Honolua Bay. Another commercial boat has run aground, desecrating this, one of Maui’s most treasured and sacred places. We have witnessed this too many times. And yet, meaningful improvements to prevent and respond to these  incidents have not materialized.

For years, Save Honolua Coalition has worked in solidarity with our community to protect Honolua Bay, Hawaiʻi’s second Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD). In 2007, the Coalition succeeded in organizing a grass-roots movement to stop development around the Bay.  The Coalition has been the watchdog for this area since then, and participated in the state management planning process for the last 8 years. While this management process was conceived to codify protections through an official plan, it is not keeping pace with the speed of deterioration of the Bay.  This latest incident proves what we’ve been saying all along: Honolua cannot continue to be exploited for profit at the expense of its cultural and environmental integrity.

Honolua Bay is Sacred, Yet Unwelcoming to Its Own People:
In addition to its own intrinsic value, Honolua is a place of profound importance in Hawaiian culture. It was from these waters that the legendary wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled canoe) Hōkūle‘a embarked on her maiden voyage to Tahiti in 1976. This historic journey was a defining moment in the Hawaiian Renaissance—a cultural awakening that reignited pride in Hawaiian identity, language, and traditional knowledge. Honolua’s significance as a cultural piko (center) cannot be overstated.
Yet today, cultural practitioners feel unwelcome in their own ancestral waters. 

“Hui O Waʻa Kaulua has a very difficult time mooring our wa’a in Honolua, for cultural practices and bringing our keiki to learn on our floating classroom. Hui O Waʻa has also partnered with Kuleana Coral, training our crew about coral restoration. We are at a critical point and it is imperative that we protect the mana of Honolua for future generations.”
Amy Hanaialiʻi Gilliom  - President, Hui O Waʻa Kaulua

“Imagine a place that holds the very heart and soul of Hawai‘i—where children learned to paddle and families lived with the rhythms of the sea—now overrun and defiled”, said SHC President, Paele Kiakona. “Our own people feel like outsiders in a place their ancestors nurtured for generations. Together with our community, we refuse to stand by and allow this to continue.”

Tourism Pressure is Degrading  Honolua's Health:
The health of Honolua Bay has  declined significantly since it was designated as a Marine Life Conservation District in 1977.  Since 1994 to the present, coral cover has declined drastically from 42% to ~8% under the weight of unchecked tourism and land-based runoff. The truth is, most tourists want to respect the land and ocean. They would be horrified to know they are inadvertently supporting an industry that harms what they love, and in fact when surveyed at the Bay in 2003, nearly 80% of respondents said they would “feel good” about donating above the cost of a standard snorkel or dive trip to “protect coral reefs, reef fish, sea turtles and other reef animals in Hawaiʻi.”.

Here is the reality of what commercial tourism has done to Honolua:
* Wa‘a communities displaced from ancestral waters
* Marine life harmed by boat activities, including stress and displacement of dolphins, turtles, and other wildlife
* Toxic sunscreen contaminating the water
* Guests standing on and damaging the fragile reef
* Severe overcrowding

And most devastatingly, boats literally running aground, endangering the reef ecosystem. The recent Nakoa yacht grounding is a prime example. In 2023, the 94-foot vessel damaged over 19,000 square feet of reef. The state filed a lawsuit, resulting in a settlement of $1.8 million based on reef damage, irreparable harm to our marine environment and  pain inflicted on our community  But this money wonʻt bring the coral reef back.

This is not an isolated incident. The Hula Girl, another commercial vessel, has grounded at the Bay, in fact has grounded three times in recent years—twice in the past year alone. Whether these incidents were the result of negligence or circumstances, the outcome remains the same: Honolua suffers the damage. Our places of natural and cultural importance cannot continue to bear the cost of unmanaged commercial gain.

Conservation Districts Are Not Enough:
Honolua Bay is part of a Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), yet it continues to suffer from human exploitation. Too often, conservation districts like this are protected only to a limited extent and not managed properly. When commercial operators make mistakes, it’s the environment that bears the brunt of the damage, while operators merely pay fines. These fines are inadequate deterrents; companies may recoup their losses quickly, perpetuating a vicious cycle of exploitation.
This paradox must be addressed through stronger regulations and enforcement. Our environment—which commercial operators showcase to attract tourists—is simultaneously being destroyed by the very activities that are meant to celebrate its beauty. With the support of our community, we call for breaking this destructive cycle once and for all.

Not All Boats Are the Problem—But Silence is Complicity
While not all commercial operators disregard the sacredness of places like Honolua, stewardship varies widely. Some operators demonstrate genuine care for the lands and waters they depend upon, balancing business with a sense of kuleana. Yet, there remain those who exploit these places purely for profit, with little regard for the damage left behind. It is this lack of respect that poses the greatest threat to Honolua's survival. This is their moment to stand with us. If they truly care about Honolua, they too must speak out and demand stronger protections and management

The System Isn't Broken—It Was Built This Way:
This is the second time in two years that a commercial boat has grounded in Honolua Bay. Our regulatory framework was deliberately designed to prioritize financial negotiations over environmental stewardship, which continues to leave places like Honolua vulnerable. If these agencies cannot rise to the challenge of adequately protecting critical areas like Honolua, then we must question the viability of allowing commercial activities in these regions at all. Precious days are lost while agencies wait for owners to resolve the issue, leaving the environment at further risk. Meanwhile, we are left praying that the vessel does not break apart in a storm.

This destructive cycle must end. When a boat runs aground, immediate action must be taken by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) or the Coast Guard—no delays, no bureaucratic hurdles. Major reform is necessary to ensure that such incidents are met with decisive protection of our environment rather than administrative stagnation. Community efforts, such as Save Honolua’s Makai Watch program, strive to combat these challenges, but they cannot do it alone. Regulatory agencies must fulfill their responsibilities to protect our sacred places.

The Future of Honolua Must Be in the Right Hands:
For too long, state agencies have prioritized financial interests over environmental and cultural stewardship. It is time for a new model—one that puts Honolua Bay into the hands of those who will truly care for it.  True ʻahupuaʻa management is what is needed, which would include a few key components:
* The kupuna who hold the history of this place should feel welcome and honored to return. 
* The wa‘a community should not have to “ask permission” to enter their own sacred waters.
* The mooring system must be prioritized for cultural and educational use, not for profit-driven ventures.
Tourism can coexist with preservation, but it requires a thoughtful balance to protect Honolua's future. Our surveys show overwhelming support from both locals and visitors for Honolua Bay becoming a cultural preserve or sanctuary. Visitors want to be part of something real. They do not want to contribute to destruction.

Take Action: Sign the Petition to Protect Honolua:
Honolua Bay deserves better. Enough is enough. We are calling for:
1. A complete ban on commercial boats in Honolua Bay
2. Moorings to be reserved for cultural use
3. Immediate action protocols for boat groundings—no delays
4. Stronger protections to ensure Honolua remains sacred instead of desecrated

We invite you to stand with us and our community in reclaiming this sacred place for our people, our ancestors, and future generations. Sign the petition at SaveHonolua.org. Stand with us. Protect Honolua Bay—for real this time.