HAWAI'I WAI OLA

To improve Hawaiʻi Islands' coastal water quality through science, communication, and collaboration to accelerate positive change.

Support Our Work

Comprised of community member volunteers, scientists, government, and non-government organizations, Hawaiʻi Wai Ola recognizes the value of a clean ocean for all of Hawai'i's residents, visitors, and natural resources.

Our work in Hawaiʻi focuses on improving Hawaiʻi Islands water quality, with an emphasis on preventing land-based pollution from entering the ocean. Pollutants from these sources threaten coral reefs, which are vulnerable ecosystems and critical for community resilience to extreme weather events, given their shoreline protection capabilities. Additionally, in the case of sewage, this pollution contributes to high bacterial and pathogen levels in the nearshore marine environment—a serious health hazard to locals, tourists, and coral health.

Citizen science provides a powerful and cost-effective solution to the lack of water quality data and can serve as a vehicle to increase public awareness. Donate today to ensure this valuable program continues and expands.

Malama Kai Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your receipt as your official record. We'll email it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

Our Mission
To improve Hawai’i Island’s coastal water quality through science, communication, and collaboration to accelerate positive change.

Our Vision
The waters of Moku o Keawe are clean and thriving within communities that honor our interconnectivity with the āina.

Our Foundation
We believe that for conservation to be durable, our interventions must align with the cultural and economic needs of our island community and that we can help empower local business to lead the effort.

Frequently asked questions

Is my donation secure?

Do I get a receipt?

Who manages donations for Hawaiʻi Wai Ola?

Hawaiʻi Wai Ola (HWO) operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Mālama Kai Foundation (MKF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 99-0284164). This means MKF provides administrative and financial oversight to ensure all donations are securely processed and used to support HWO’s mission and activities. Contributions to HWO are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, with all funds managed through MKF’s charitable accounts and directed exclusively toward HWO programs.

How is my personal data handled?

Our Values
Hana Kūpono: Demonstrating excellence. Producing high-quality, open-source data that is collected through rigorous science, observation, and ʻike Hawaiʻi to empower communities to care for the aina.
Hoʻokele: Navigating with intention. Through strategic and progressive action, we make deliberate and effective choices that guide us toward our goal of improved water quality.
Laulima: Working together. Valuing our diverse communities to cultivate our individual and collective kuleana for the benefit of future generations.
Hoʻokaʻana: Sharing. We openly provide access to our work - including protocols, data and organizational processes. In this way, we may learn from one another and expand the scale of our collective efforts for clean waters.