Our Projects

First: to understand 

In order to know how to respect, what to protect, and what to preserve, we need to more deeply understand the physical and cultural history of He‘eia Bay. We want to find out what is authentic from the oldest times, and what is the result of intervention at various points in time. One of our projects is to use this web site to document as much as we can about He‘eia Bay’s physical and cultural history. We are relying on a combination of the collective memory of the people, especially elders, and professional and scientific knowledge bases to get the fullest picture of “then” and now.

Earned wisdom of the community – an oral tradition

Here’s who we are talking story with to learn what they can teach us about the Bay:

  • Hawaiian elders and those who have local knowledge of native history
  • Cultural advisors who have specific knowledge in areas related to this Bay
  • Long time residents in the immediate neighborhood
  • Surfing community
  • People we see using the beach for fishing, rock stacking, swimming and snorkeling

Legal, scientific and professional books and documents

We also access published scientific studies, professional books, legal documents and a variety of popular literature to ty to figure things out. These include:

  • Bishops Estate Website (King Kamehameha Education Trust)
  • Cultural history published on the web, including through Wikipedia
  • A variety of books, extensive bibliography being created
  • Legal documents and  tax maps that show changes in ownership
  • Professional archaeological reports – done for the Trust or developers

Non-profit organizations

We are grateful to non-profits and other organizations that have helped us better understand both natural and cultural resources at He‘eia Bay.  We especially want to recognize Hawaii Wildlife Fund for sharing both environmental/natural resources science, especially about anchialine pools, and the nuts and bolts of running a non-profit organization in Hawaii.

 IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD OR CORRECT, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW TO LET US KNOW

Second: To respect

Here are some things we will be doing to show our respect for the aina (land), makai (sea) and native culture:

  • Ask permission before entering the space
  • Observe traditional rituals asking for guidance
  • Clean out trash
  • Post signs against cigarette butts
  • Direct beach users to Keauhou Bay for bathrooms
  • Post information that will motivate support of the bay
  • Help visitors understand it is a sacred place

Third, to protect and preserve

Nothing is forever, so our name is more a direction, than an assured result. We can’t control tsunamis and earthquakes, but can partly control our reaction to them, and use crises as opportunity. We can work together to make the ancient place and traditional ways of life more relevant to modern times. For instance, there were no wheelchairs originally, and only royalty could use this place, but a spirit of aloha, true hospitality toward all, is perhaps the core Hawaiian value today. We want to make sure He‘eia Bay extends the spirit of aloha to more than immediate property owners.; but we also need to prevent it from becoming overused, which could destroy a fragile ecology.

Our current projects

With the above goals in mind our current projects are focused on:

  • Maintaining access to the beach for elders and the disabled. This is an ongoing maintenance project.
  • Restoring the ancient anchialine pool that had been overgrown with invasive plants and out of control native ones, and had been torn apart by the tsumani. We are delighted to say this major project is now almost complete.It required removing from the pool all vegetation (which introduces excess nitrogen into the water), rebuilding the protective wall that was smashed by the tsunami, and removing literally tons of rock, gravel and dirt that the tsunami had dragged in.  As a result of our collective efforts, the o pae ula, tiny, intensely red, pond shrimp that live only on this side of this island have returned in large numbers.
  • Clearing debris and removing invasive plants. Some debris was created by the tsunami; some has been brought in with storms; much is the result of  human intervention, including some by people having used the previously uncared for area as a dump. Much of the debris has been removed.  Keeping up with the invasive weeds is an ongoing job.
  • At least for the time being, keeping this website password protected.  The last thing we want is for every person who googles “best beach on the Big Island” to be led to He‘eia Bay and overwhelm it

Kokua – How you can help

If you would like to be notified of how and when you can join in this community effort, please use the form below to leave your contact information.  Meanwhile, anytime you are here we hope you will help with any of the following small things that can make a big difference to the health of this beach:

  1. Send us your pictures

We are looking for both historical pictures of the bay, and contemporary pictures of the underwater area and the sea creatures who live in it.  We will try to create a gallery to serve as a visual record of the state of He’eia Bay through time.

  1. Pick up trash and recycling

It’s a given that you should pick up your own trash and use the recycling bin, but if you see things other people have left, please consider picking that up as well. A really clean beach is more likely to inspire people to keep it clean.  We love that a common refrain among people who visit He’eia Bay now is “It feels so cared for.”

  1. Pull invasive weeds

Even a few minutes helping us to clear out the invasive weeds that are growing between the rocks is a big help. We don’t want to use poison, and pulling the weeds by hand takes more energy than any one or two people can do on their own. But if everyone who has just a little extra energy does their part, we can stay on top of this.

  1. Dig up hale koa and opiuma stumps.

These two vicious invaders are very hard to get rid of.  We cut them down as they grow, but need strong people, to dig down and pull them (including stumps) up by the root

  1. Stay clear of the brackish pool

You may not even have noticed the mostly filled in, shallow brackish pool behind the beach on the south side. It is home to o pae, teeny tiny, intensely red shrimp. This deep red variety are found only on the Kona coast, and are rapidly disappearing in most other pools like this due to invasive tilapia and guppies. If you step into even what looks like a dried out pond, you may step on the tiny creatures, who otherwise might live to be 20 years old!

  1. Join an occasional volunteer work party

Just send us your texting or email address so we can let you know when the next one is scheduled. We are a small non-profit with no paid staff. You can be part of the Old Folks Brigade, who do light work, but still get a lot done, or the younger, stronger folks who haul logs, pull up thorny stumps and carry out debris. Use the form below, to tell us what you know about this special place, or to sign up for work parties.

  1. Make a donationYou can mail your check to our secure Post Office Box:He‘eia Bay Forever
    Box 390115
    Kailua Kona HI  96739
  2.  Share your experiences: