Volunteer Opportunity to Restore & Protect Our Kula Kai Beach Reserve & Wetlands

4/9/2025 #kihei #mauicounty #volunteering

Long before Kihei became the bustling beach town it is today, it was a wetland, teeming with native Hawaiian endemic plants, birds, marine and wildlife species.

Rooted Kekahi Me Ka Aina is a 501c3 nonprofit community organization that is trying to educate our community about the importance of the historical, cultural and ecological value of some of our last remaining wetlands in Kula Kai. They also continue to advocate for the restoration and protection of the Waipuilani Beach Reserve, Waipuilani, and Kūlanihāko’i wetlands and endemic plants, marine and birds species that depend on these natural resources to survive. Hawaii is known as the extinction capital of the world, due to the fact that our endemic species habitats have been destroyed and they only exist in Hawaii and nowhere else in this world. 

The mission of Rooted Kekahi Me Ka Aina, nicknamed Rooted KMKA, is to grow food and family together using place-based education and Hawaiian cultural and traditional practices. They have been organizing clean-ups/restoration and educational cultural events in Kula Kai for five years including Cultural education ‘ohana days, wetland treasure hunts from VFW-Waipuilani muliwai, kilo (observation) practices, native seed collection and propagation, sand dune protections, limu restoration, removal of invasive species, endemic species and natural resource protections, maintenance of our Waipuilani Beach Reserve and homeless and affordable housing advocacy. This is how we build a strong, resilient ‘ohana.

Since the founding of the organization in 2018, Rooted KMKA has helped their ‘ohana communities in Kukaniloko, Oahu, Molokai, and Kula Kai, Maui build community resilience by working together to fulfill their mission. In 2023-2024 they focused their attention on helping those who were affected by the August 8, 2023 fires. They served 532 people through donation drives and supply distribution events. They provided 75 children in need with backpacks and school supplies and coordinated the return of bus services from Kihei to Lahaina schools for our displaced kids. They provided potable water services/supplies to over 200 families and individuals, successfully diverting 54,720 water bottles from being used and put in our landfill. 

They hired small businesses and individuals affected by the fires who worked on the restoration and protections of our natural resources in Kula Kai and ten other ahupua’a. They built partnerships with 43 organizations and community groups that resulted in helping 938 people in 2024.They also saved the county and state thousands in restoration volunteer hours.

Between their volunteering events, awareness-raising projects, and numerous partnerships, Rooted KMKA has educated thousands of visitors and community members by sharing cultural, historical and place-based practices. Some of the practices they share include imu prep and cooking, poi pounding, Makahiki games practice, ulu Maika and Oo Ihe making, block printing, Fishing ‘Ohana days, Ho’okupu, papale and lei making, hale building, ‘ohana building, kuleana and malama ‘aina practices. 

Everyone is welcome to join the Rooted Kekahi Me Ka Aina ‘ohana in their journey of advocating for the restoration and protection of our natural resources in Kula Kai. We need all of our communities’ help to protect our endemic and endangered species that depend on our last remaining wetlands. We should all take on the kuleana of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture and historical practices of this beautiful “place” we all love. Together, we can make a difference in Kula Kai (Kihei) and all across Hawai’i. 

Visit their website rootedkmka.com to see some photos of past events and their calendar for volunteer opportunities. Join their facebook @rooted kekahi me ka aina and instagram @rootedkmka to get involved. “Come grow with us”

As volunteers ourselves, Isaac and I (Olena) had a lot of fun learning about indigenous plants and how they impact the local environment. We also loved learning how to make lei out of Ti leaves, which makes gifting them so much more special! Cleaning up the beach is always so satisfying because it feels great to give back to this wonderful island.