Makai Watch Program – Puako Marine Life is One Focus of the Community

Wow! I didn’t know what to expect at the Makai Watch Incident Reporting Training in Puakō on 8/25. Jan Nores, (RS) and myself were there to represent Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers and the Networking Wahine’s. The Makai Watch Program provides interested Puako community members with opportunities to become involved and help monitor/manage Puako’s marine resources.

The meeting was geared to help participants be a partner in protecting the Puako/Waialea coastal and marine life community (fish, honu, reef, coral, etc)! The awesome and authentic hands-on training was from Kainoa Keawe (Officer, DLNR’s DOCARE) (Division of Conservations and Resources Enforcement) and John Kahiapo (Division of Aquatic Resources), plus two adorable menehune.

They showed us how to distinguish a throw net from a lay net. They told us which types of devices were allowed to catch fish, which were prohibited, how dogs might react to honu, what you can do if you see a violation, etc. (forms are available).

Chad Wiggins (Nature Conservancy) and Janice Yoshioka (Hawaii Community Stewardship Network) shared interesting and valuable information! Chad seemed excited about the large turnout (over 52 participants!) and the diversity of knowledge and experience focused on solutions instead of problems. As I understand it, a goal of the Puako community is to have Puako designated as a Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), like other communities in Hawaii such as Pupukea-Waimea MLCD.

(From left to right) Me, W Robby, Atticas, Chad Wiggins, Alex, and Blu (behind the camera is Cynthia Ho)

Shown above are several participants and the presenter at the “Puako Human Use Activity Data Sheet” training a few weeks ago. What a beautiful classroom!!

The meeting was held at picturesque Hokuloa Church, built in 1859 and located near the entrance to the Puako community.

It is so encouraging to know that these agencies/groups are educating and helping people appreciate and protect the ‘aina!! You are encouraged to click on any of the links in this post for more details! Be on the lookout for future posts about this subject, or if you’d like to get more familiar with Puako, my team and I would love to introduce you! A hui hou!

Special thanks for the success of the meeting was extended to the representatives of the Puakō Community Association, the Hokuloa Church, Get the Drift and Bag It, the Hawaii Community Stewardship Network, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, DLNR/DOCARE, and community volunteers.