Jean-Michel Cousteau & Ocean Futures Society In Partnership with KA’EHU
Aloha Friends,
Ocean Futures Society and I are very excited and deeply honored to be invited to form a partnership with KA’EHU, a non-profit organization managing 64-acres of coastal wetlands at Ka’ehu Bay on the island of Maui in the district of Wailuku, Hawaii. We are in agreement to develop a community-based program to be referred to as Malama ‘Ae Kai (Coastal Caretakers) “Integrating Traditional Hawaiian Coastal Stewardship and Modern Scientific Approaches to Climate Change & Shoreline Restoration” using a community-based, inclusive family-oriented approach to environmental stewardship and cultural sustainable agriculture.
The 64 coastal acres fronting Ka’ehu Bay was once an unbroken expanse of wetlands and fishponds between the mouths of Waiehu and 'Iao Streams and home of numerous Hawaiian cultural sites, including habitation structures, agricultural terraces, former fishponds, shrines, and burials. The coastal wetlands are potential future habitat for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds such as the ae'o (Hawaiian stilt), 'alae ke'oke'o (Hawaiian coot), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck). KA’EHU’s goal is to restore the land and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture using a community-based, inclusive, family-oriented approach to environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture.
The partnership with KA’EHU, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Ocean Futures Society will help to further develop and deepen the existing community-based training programs teaching youth and community members the much needed skills to help restore the shoreline, marine life, coral and reefs, and seaweed at Kaʻehu Bay. Malama ‘Ae Kai will become a model, cultural, educational environmental, outdoor long-term program for local communities throughout Maui and poised to spread throughout Hawaii. Ocean Futures Society and I have been dedicated for over 50 years inspiring local communities & families, schools and students, to benefit from the exploration of the ocean, the land, and cultural traditions through outdoor programs. The most important impact Ocean Futures Society can have on affecting a sustainable future is to reach communities of people inspiring them to pay attention and taking action toward environmental responsibility for futures generations.
I invite you to join us in supporting this partnership by becoming Donors.
Oceans of Thanks,
Jean-Michel Cousteau, President Ocean Futures Society
"Protect The Ocean And You Protect Yourself” — Jean-Michel Cousteau
“And in restoring the shoreline, we restore the land" — KA’EHU
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