Malama Aina Plan for Moku o Lo'e & the 4Site Pacific Transect Collaborative

The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology is located on Moku o Loʻe, an 11-hectare island on windward Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi located in the ahupua’a (land management unit) of He’eia. The Malama ʻĀina Plan for Moku o Loʻe is structured on Hawaiian frameworks of management to develop a community-centered roadmap for adapting to sea level rise and coastal erosion. Based on the eight considerations for pono stewardship, the Plan recognizes that the human uses of the island, e.g. as a marine station, is only one of many roles that must be considered. By directly engaging kupuna (elders), community members, marine lab users, and subject matter experts in joint planning and decision-making for managed retreat, the process serves as a model for other Pacific Islands. Its implementation is also creating demonstrations of nature-based shoreline management.HIMB is a member of the 4Site Pacific Transect Collaborative, connecting four research stations across Oceania to study what makes coral reefs - and the marine stations on their shores - resilient to global change. By sharing ocean data across different island environments, the network aims to identify the most effective conservation interventions and apply those local successes to protect marine ecosystems Pacific-wide.