East Maui Seeks Public Input to Help Shape Future of Honomanu
HONOMANU, MAUI – June 25, 2025 – East Maui Land Restoration (EMLR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ecological and cultural revitalization of
East Maui, is inviting the public to participate in shaping the future of Honomanu Bay. Now in its seventh year of stewardship in the valley, EMLR is developing a community-informed management plan for the County Park at Honomanu, and is seeking input from Maui residents.
East Maui Land Restoration has launched a public survey to gather insights on current park use, long-standing concerns, and ideas for improvement. Collected responses will be compiled and presented to the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation to guide future upgrades and management decisions.
“Honomanu holds varying significance for many people, and we want to ensure the management plan reflects the voices of all those who have a connection,” said Nāpua Hu‘eu, President of East Maui Land Restoration.
Despite its popularity for activities like surfing, fishing, and beach recreation, Honomanu currently lacks essential park amenities such as trash receptacles, restrooms, picnic areas, and formal camping accommodations. The absence of basic park infrastructure has contributed to ongoing issues, including excessive camping and occasional concerns about overfishing.
Hu‘eu, who has been making near-daily observations at Honomanu for the past six years, emphasizes that many of these issues, especially those linked to unmanaged camping, have led to community concerns and growing tension around park use. “There have been scenarios where a large number of tents and vehicles are blocking public access to the stream, and that overcrowding creates barriers for subsistence fishermen and those doing stewardship work in the area.” she explained.
Another serious matter for EMLR is the lack of restroom facilities given the nature of large groups, often camping for days at a time. Kiliiohu Thomas, a lifelong resident of Ko‘olau Moku, said, “The challenges at Honomanu are serious environmental issues. Honomanu is not only a gathering place for our families here in Ko‘olau, but also a resting place for our Kupuna. Honomanu holds so much history, and yet it is desecrated by many visitors who use the bathroom here, and leave their waste. We are often cleaning up after others before we can even carry out our own cultural practices.”
Thomas comes from one of many families with deep generational ties to the area, and lives in a neighboring community where residents have voiced growing concern about Honomanu’s condition. She hopes this survey and management plan will help find balance.
For years, EMLR’s volunteers have worked to take care of the area through grassroots efforts. Their services include waste removal, invasive species control, stream cleanup, native tree planting, and the restoration of traditional lo‘i kalo (taro patches) in the valley. Now, EMLR looks forward to a collaborative relationship with the County to establish a long-term vision that honors Honomanu’s cultural legacy and meets the community’s needs. Residents with a connection to Honomanu, past or present, are especially encouraged to participate in the online survey now available at www.EastMauiLand.org
The survey will remain open for public feedback through the summer of 2025.
Email any questions to admin@eastmaui.org
Survey Link
https://www.eastmauifarm.org/honomanu-survey-1
East Maui Land Restoration
Nāpua Hu‘eu, President
eastmauilandrestoration@gmail.com
Other Details
East Maui Land Restoration’s mission is to perpetuate ahupua‘a (regional) principles by harnessing the people of the place to engage in the active management of the ‘aina (land). EMLR’s goal is to teach children about the East Maui watershed; its ecosystem, various habitats, and their associated functions through nature-based and cultural education. EMLR implements watershed restoration projects such as invasive species mitigation, agricultural asset development, ecosystem optimization efforts, and mechanisms for visitor management.
Media Included
HonomanuLookout.JPG = Honomanu bay, East Maui
NapuaHueu.JPG = Napua Hueu, President of East Maui Land Restoration has organized weekly stewardship efforts at Honomanu since 2019.
HonomanuStewardship.JPG = East Maui Land Restoration volunteers assist with the construction and maintenance of wetland taro patches at Honomanu.
HonomanuTaroFarm.JPG = Wetland taro farm at Honomanu.
PortableRestroomsHonomanu = Portable restrooms were stationed at Honomanu by East Maui Land Restoration through the 2024-2025 winter season to gauge park needs.
HonomanuBayBeachAccess = A sign painted by East Maui Land Restoration conveys community policies that help to mitigate impacts.
