Getting involved in caring for Hawaii's Coastal Resources: A community guidebook

Abstract

Mauka (toward the mountains) and makai (toward the ocean) are not just directional references; they embody our fundamental natural and cultural resources, land and ocean. Hawaiians believe there is a balance between ocean and land. In traditional times, the ocean and its marine life were as well known as the life attributes of the upland areas. This intimate relationship with nature resonates today in the modern principle of sustainability. We continue a strong interconnected, interrelated and interdependent relationship with our natural and cultural resources. Some call it ecosystem-based stewardship.