A volunteer-based non-profit

He‘eia Bay Forever is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization organized by volunteers committed to understand, respect, protect and preserve the cultural and natural resources of He‘eia Bay .

Our Values

Kuliana: We accept our collective responsibility to care for the land air and water where we live, work and play.

Hawaiian self-determination: Our bylaws say that at least half of the Board members must be of Hawaiian descent with close ties to the Keauhou-Kahalu‘u corridor of which He‘eia Bay is a part.

Inclusiveness: We want to make He‘eia Bay accessible to people in wheelchairs, strollers, walkers . . .

Our Volunteers

Volunteers include local residents, neighbors, surfers, beach visitors, and native Hawaiians with special connections to this place. See our projects page for how you can be involved

Our Board of Directors

Shannon Hao Co-founder, Program Director  Leads all landscape related efforts – clearing debris, weeding out invasive plants, trimming back overgrowth, supporting healthy growth of native planting. Brings Hawaiian style, quiet leadership to the effort.

Ben Keana‘aina, Co-founder, Vice President  Leads the effort for all things to do with rocks – making the path to beach more accessible for elderly, very young, and disabled beach users, restoring the rock walls around the ancient anchialine pool. A master of dry stack, he inspires youth with his skill and strength.

Lew Brentano, Co-founder, Secretary/Treasurer Manages the web site. Talks story with volunteers. Keeps track of volunteer hours and donations. Handles the budget. Experienced technologist and advocate for the disabled.

Alice Ray, Co-founder, President  Gets things started. Invites forth the leadership and gifts of everyone else. A Tom Sawyer kind of leader.

Our Advisors

We are happy to have the advice and support of folks from the Hawaii Wildlife Fund and State Parks, especially regarding how to protect and preserve the anchialine pool, one of a limited number that are unique to the Big Island of Hawaii.  We also listen carefully to the experience of the elders whenever and wherever we have the opportunity.

Paid local workers

Some jobs are too big, or too technical for us to do with all volunteers, so we hire local Hawaiians, who generously work at modest rates, below what it would cost commercially, often donating valuable equipment in the process.  Whenever it is an option, we hire underemployed native youth.