Episode 1603: Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai

Embark on a journey across the breathtaking landscape of Maui, where scientists, land restorationists, and passionate volunteers are drawing upon the ancient wisdom of the Hawaiian people to breathe new life into their cherished ecosystems. Even amidst profound loss in the wake of recent wildfires, these resilient islanders are unwavering in their commitment to revive traditional watersheds, safeguarding the invaluable coral reefs that define their coastline. Rooted in the principles of aloha ʻāina—love of the land—and mālama ʻāina—caring for the land—they are reconnecting water pathways from mauka to makai—from the mountains to the ocean—and working together to heal their island home.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

Changing Seas

1 / 28

Director of Photography Sean Hickey films along the waterfront in Olowalu on Maui.

Changing Seas

2 / 28

Andrea Kealoha, Ph.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa collects samples to study the impacts of the Lahaina wildfire on coastal water quality. Since the fire, they have collected hundreds of samples.

Changing Seas

3 / 28

Researchers retrieve sensors from multiple study sites along the Lahaina coast which are measuring the health of the coral reef.

Changing Seas

4 / 28

Andrea Kealoha, Ph.D. works with the team from Sea-Bird Scientific to retrieve data off their sensors which have been deployed on the reefs near the Lahaina wildfire site since October 2023.

Changing Seas

5 / 28

At the Kauluwehi Biocultural Garden at the University of Hawai'i Maui College, they have transformed the space into a “pu’uhonua," or refuge, where they are growing native tree starts to help replent fire-impacted areas across Maui.

Changing Seas

6 / 28

Videographer David Diez films volunteers as they work in the Kauluwehi Biocultural Garden at University of Hawai'i Maui College.

Changing Seas

7 / 28

High above the Lahaina waterfront, up the mountain, these tree starts from Kauluwehi are being planted by local community members to help heal the landscape from former clear cutting.

Changing Seas

8 / 28

Aiding them is restoration ecologist Dustin Palos, who is committed to applying indigenous Hawaiian wisdom to the restoration of native lands.

Changing Seas

9 / 28

Director of Photography Sean Hickey flms the work being done above Lahaina to replant the landscape with more fire-resistant plantings.

Changing Seas

10 / 28

Videographer David Diez films volunteers as they remove invasives and replant with native species.

Changing Seas

11 / 28

This work to remove invasives and replant with native species is just one small step in working to heal the landscape and bring the traditional watershed back to Lahaina.

Changing Seas

12 / 28

Just east of Lahaina, the Olowalu Valley is thriving after more than two decades of dedicated restoration efforts. Here, videographer David Diez crosses the Olowalu stream after filming its banks.

Changing Seas

13 / 28

Everything that happens along the Olowalu stream up above in the valley impacts the Olowalu Reef below. This vast "mother reef" seeds not only Lahaina and all of West Maui, but also neighboring islands.

Changing Seas

14 / 28

Our film team headed up the Waihe'e River canyon with the work crew from the Hawai'i Land Trust, which is working to restore traditional watersheds across the Hawaiian islands.

Changing Seas

15 / 28

When out in the field filming, we always have to be careful where we tread!

Changing Seas

16 / 28

High up the mountain, the wild flow of the Waihe‘e River is harnessed by ancient irrigation canals to nourish traditional Hawaiian farms lower down.

Changing Seas

17 / 28

These traditional Hawaiian farms grow kalo, a plant of profound significance in Hawaiian culture.

Changing Seas

18 / 28

The kalo plants require fast, cool water flow as it is crucial for nourishing the plants as they grow.

Changing Seas

19 / 28

The Hawai'i Land Trust is working with local farmers to repair the irrigation canal that feeds these kalo plants.

Changing Seas

20 / 28

First, the team clears the irrigation canal of ovegrown invasive plants which are blocking the flow of the water.

Changing Seas

21 / 28

Videographer David Diez films as the Hawai'i Land Trust clears the canal of invasives.

Changing Seas

22 / 28

Once the invasives are removed, the water is able to move more swiftly to reach the kalo plants, after which it is rerouted down the mountain back toward the ocean.

Changing Seas

23 / 28

After clearing invasives on another section of irrigation canal, the team must dredge it by hand to remove accumulated sediment, ensuring the faster, cooler water flow crucial for nourishing the kalo plants.

Changing Seas

24 / 28

This waterway will one day be reconnected to the wetlands and inland fish pond at the Waihe'e Refuge. However, restoring this ancient watershed still requires years of work ahead.

Tom Pierce

25 / 28

Farther afield, in Nu'u, on Maui's remote Southeast coast, the Hawai'i Land Trust is working to protect another crucial wetland. Here, Scott Fisher, Ph.D. tells the crew about the bioshield they are buidling.

Tom Pierce

26 / 28

Our crew discusses how to film the bioshield and the Pupuka Pond. The forested bioshield is designed to slow down an incoming tsunami and capture sediment so as not to damage the delicate pond habitat.

Changing Seas

27 / 28

Volunteers from across Maui join the Hawai'i Land Trust to clear invasives and plant new layers of forested bioshield.

Changing Seas

28 / 28

These small plant starts will grow into a naturally protective barrier that will one day protect the pond from water inundation events, like tsunamis.

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Derick Walker

Walker Wildlife Films

Hawaiʻi Land Trust

Special Thanks:

James Crowe

Tom Pierce
Hawaiʻi Land Trust

Greg Masessa
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Natalie Zielinski

Kristyn Keefe
Sea-Bird Scientific

Captain Patrick Grady

Annalouise “Wizzie” Kahalekai

Patricia Smith

Ronald Tobias

Web Extras

Learn Hawaiian | Mauka to Makai

Learn Hawaiian | Aloha ʻĀina, Mālama ʻĀina, Kilo ʻĀina

Episode 1603: Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai

Experts

Scott Fisher, Ph.D.

T. Kiaʻi Collier

Edwin "Ekolu" Lindsey

Karin Osuga

Andrea Kealoha, Ph.D.

Cody “Koko” Nemet Tuivaiti

Dustin Palos

Episode Photos