The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) developed a plan to prepare Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) for predicted sea-level rise, providing a template for how other islands can do the same. With its comprehensive Mālama ʻĀina Plan for Moku o Loʻe, HIMB is charting a new course for environmental stewardship at UH. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge and practices (ʻike kupuna), the plan positions the university as a global leader in sustainable land and ocean management, offering an example for other islands grappling with environmental challenges.
The plan provides a holistic framework for the care and management of Moku o Loʻe, a 29-acre island in Kāneʻohe Bay that serves as HIMB’s home. Moving beyond conventional conservation, the plan is framed around Indigenous stewardship principles, particularly the eight considerations of pono (values-based) stewardship developed by Hawaiʻi’s ʻAha Kiole (people’s councils) in the pre-aliʻi (chief) era. It addresses critical issues such as shoreline erosion and sea-level rise through both near- and long-term strategies, while emphasizing biocultural stewardship practices to restore a sense of place, expand cultural and physical access, and enrich educational and research legacies.
“This plan envisions our stewardship of the island and the science we do here as fundamentally interdependent and valued,” said HIMB Director Megan Donahue. “It’s about ensuring that our research and education not only advance understanding of the ocean but also contribute to the health and resilience of our ʻāina and our community for generations to come.”
Stewardship walk
UH President Wendy Hensel visited Moku o Loʻe on September 5, to learn more about the institute’s groundbreaking research and new stewardship plan. The visit began with a cultural and historical briefing from HIMB Associate Professor Kawika Winter before Hensel was greeted on the island with a welcoming oli (chant) and lei from the HIMB community. Joined by representatives from the Castle Foundation, which supported the plan’s creation, she was briefed on the Mālama ʻĀina Plan, a first-of-its-kind template for island resilience.
“The work happening on Moku o Loʻe is truly at the forefront of marine science, and the Mālama ʻĀina Plan provides a powerful framework for its future,” Hensel said. “It is inspiring to see how our faculty and students are blending cutting-edge research with vital educational outreach and a deep respect for place. This plan is a prime example of how the University of Hawaiʻi is leading the way in developing resilient, culturally grounded solutions to global challenges.”
Collaborative effort
The plan was led by the UH Community Design Center Principal Investigators Phoebe White ASLA from the School of Architecture and Priyam Das PhD, from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, and included the active participation of HIMB faculty, staff and students; the Kūpuna Council for the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR); and other respected leaders in the Native Hawaiian and local community. This collaborative approach, guided by cultural practitioners and subject matter experts, allowed for the exploration of place-based climate adaptation strategies that are responsive to Hawaiʻi’s unique context.
“Our work at NERR has consistently shown the power of weaving Indigenous Knowledge with university science,” said Winter, who is also NERR director. “The Mālama ʻĀina Plan exemplifies this synergy, demonstrating how community-driven stewardship, deeply informed by ancestral wisdom, can lead to effective and sustainable management of our resources. This is how we bring ʻāina momona—abundant land—back to our communities.”
Moku o Loʻe hosts a living laboratory for biocultural restoration, where research, education and community engagement are inextricably linked to the well-being of the island and its surrounding marine environment.
“Our kuleana, our responsibility, is to care for this special place,” said Aimee Sato, HIMB stewardship coordinator. “The Mālama ʻĀina Plan provides us with a clear roadmap, guiding our daily actions and long-term goals. It’s about perpetuating the Hawaiʻi values of mālama ʻāina and aloha, ensuring that the people and community of Moku o Loʻe thrive.”
–By Maria Frostic
