Our Path Towards Stewardship

Dedicated to Hawaiian fishponds, Hui Hoʻoleimaluō was founded by Kamala Warren, Manoa Johansen, and Nāhōkū Kahana in 2014. Our mission to restoring loko iʻa along the Keaukaha coastline continues to foster a thriving community through the stewardship of these vital ecosystems. In 2019, the organization achieved official nonprofit status further solidifying its commitment to hands-on education, community advocacy, and place-based natural resource management.

Hui Hoʻoleimaluō’s practices are guided by the teachings of the Malo ʻohana of Waiuli, the original caretakers of Honokea Loko in Keaukaha. This deep connection originating from David Kauikoaole Malo’s family legacy ensures that cultural practices are preserved and passed down here in Hilo.​ The families ancestral knowledge rooted in traditional resource stewardship and sustainable marine management, help shape the organization’s approach to caring for loko iʻa.

Since its inception, Hui Hoʻoleimaluō has engaged thousands of individuals, including local community members, international visitors, students and educators. Our initiatives primarily provide outdoor classroom space and learning opportunities for grades 3-12, organize community maintenance events, and programs that build STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) skills through activities like water quality monitoring and species repopulation.