Twenty years ago, a small goup of committed North Shore residents and partners formed Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea (MPW) to sustain long-standing community efforts to protect the ahupuaʻa of Pūpūkea and Waimea. MPW’s work has since focused its stewardship, education, and outreach efforts on the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), one of only three such state marine protected areas on Oʻahu.

Our goals are to monitor the health of the MLCD’s marine life; educate residents and visitors about how to enjoy but avoid impacting this special area; ensure rules that protect marine life are followed; and to improve management with our agency and other partners so nature can thrive. In the early 2000s, the North Shore community stopped a proposed commercial development across from Kapoʻo (Sharks Cove) that threatened the ecology of this sensitive area. In the aftermath of that successful fight, MPW was formed to take proactive measures to ensure the MLCD and connected ahupuaʻa were protected and well managed, forever.

When I look back at the past two decades of MPW’s hard work in our community and with partners, I feel humbled about what we, as an ʻohana, have accomplished together. Although many risks still threaten the area we love, the steady dedication of MPW board, staff, advisors, partners, and thousands of volunteers who stepped up to kōkua this special place, year after year, has made a difference!

It is not easy for a small non-profit to take on the kuleana of protecting a beloved area that is so heavily used and impacted by humans. But, thanks to generous support from people like you, we have continued our work and have even grown our programs. We are honored to share this 20-year impact report. We hope that we can count on you, our community, and partners for continued support in the decades to come. Imua!

Mahalo nui loa,

Denise Antolini

MPW President 2005-2025