Hanalei Watershed Hui

What Hanalei Watershed Hui does

Hanalei Watershed Hui (HWH) is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Hanalei on the north shore of Kauai, Hawaii. Founded in 1999-2000 and led since inception by Executive Director Barbara "Maka'ala" Ka'aumoana, the organization implements the Hanalei Watershed Action Plan and operates four core programs: the Hanalei Watershed Action Plan (comprehensive mountain-to-sea stewardship guidance), the Hanalei Makai Watch Program (volunteer marine resource monitoring with DLNR), the Hanalei to Ha'ena Community Disaster Resilience Action Plan (zone-captain-based emergency preparedness, updated after the 2018 floods), and the Hanalei Watershed Flood Study (hydraulic modeling and flood mitigation analysis). Supporting programs include weekly and monthly water quality monitoring of the Hanalei River and Bay, coral reef benthic and fish transect monitoring, school and youth education curricula, taro farming support in Hanalei Valley (which produces roughly 67-71% of Hawaii's taro), and cultural education rooted in the Hawaiian ahupua'a framework. The organization has 1-10 employees and an active Board of Directors led by President Micco Godinez (founder of Kayak Kaua'i).

The organization's technology stack is non-proprietary and centered on standard scientific monitoring methodologies (Hawaii Stream Visual Assessment Protocol, QA/QC long-term ecological monitoring procedures, transect studies, USGS real-time flood gauge integration) layered onto a Wix-hosted website with social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, plus a PayPal donation storefront and a Threadless merchandise shop. There are no APIs, SDKs, proprietary software, or AI/ML components disclosed; the primary technical assets are the long-running environmental monitoring data sets and community-produced plans and studies rather than software products.

HWH's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: federal, state, and local government grants (US Forest Service since 1998, EPA 2003-2005, NOAA, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 2018, US Fish and Wildlife Service, NRCS, USGS, Hawaii DLNR), private foundation grants (most recently the Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation announced October 2025), individual donations via PayPal, corporate contributions, program service fees from volunteer coordination and educational services, and merchandise sales. The go-to-market motion is community-led, not commercial: the organization reaches constituents through volunteer programs (Makai Watch), community forums, school partnerships, quarterly newsletters, social media, and earned media coverage in outlets such as Pacific Business News, with no pricing model or commercial sales motion.

Name

Hanalei Watershed Hui

Legal name

Hanalei Watershed Hui

Website

https://hanaleiwatershedhui.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hanalei Watershed Hui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts watershed and marine conservation, water quality monitoring, disaster resilience planning, and cultural education programs for the north shore Kauai communities of Hanalei, Waioli, Waipa, and Waikoko in Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation
• Marine resource management
• Water quality monitoring
• Disaster resilience planning
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanalei

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Funding: The organization receives funding from federal, state, and local government agencies including US Forest Service, EPA, NOAA, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Also receives private foundation grants such as the Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate contributions accepted through PayPal and other channels. Donations are the primary mechanism for public support.
3. Program Services: Revenue from community programs and educational services including volunteer coordination and community training programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hanalei Watershed Hui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community-based watershed and marine conservation programs on Kauai's north shore. Its core offerings include the Hanalei Watershed Action Plan, the Makai Watch marine monitoring and compliance program, the Hanalei to Ha'ena Community Disaster Resilience Action Plan, the Hanalei Watershed Flood Study, ongoing water quality and coral reef monitoring, and school and youth cultural-environmental education programs, all delivered through volunteer engagement, partnerships with government and academic institutions, and grant/donation funding.

Product overview

Hanalei Watershed Hui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that operates as a unified suite of watershed and marine conservation programs rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include the Hanalei Watershed Action Plan (comprehensive watershed management guidance), Hanalei Makai Watch Program (marine resource monitoring and compliance), Hanalei to Ha'ena Community Disaster Resilience Action Plan (emergency preparedness), and Hanalei Watershed Flood Study (flood mitigation analysis). Supporting programs include water quality and coral reef ecosystem monitoring protocols, school and youth education initiatives, taro farming support, and cultural education. These programs work together under a community-based stewardship model guided by Hawaiian ahupua'a principles of mountain-to-sea resource management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hanalei Watershed Action Plan A comprehensive community-driven plan that guides the protection, assessment, and restoration of the Hanalei watershed's natural, cultural, and economic assets from mountain to sea under ahupua'a principles. It is intended for the Hanalei, Waioli, Waipa, and Waikoko communities on Kauai's north shore.
• Hanalei Makai Watch Program A community-based marine resource monitoring and compliance program in which volunteers work with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to observe, report, and educate ocean users about marine regulations and ecosystem protection in Hanalei Bay. It targets ocean users, commercial operators, and the broader north shore Kauai community.
• Hanalei to Ha'ena Community Disaster Resilience Action Plan A community disaster preparedness and climate adaptation planning program that includes response logistics, zone captain training, and resilient recovery guidance for the Hanalei to Ha'ena area. It serves north shore Kauai residents, businesses, and community organizations.
• Hanalei Watershed Flood Study A technical flood mitigation study evaluating strategies for reducing flooding in the Hanalei and Wai'oli Watersheds, including hydraulic modeling and climate adaptation recommendations. It is intended for the Hanalei community and government decision-makers.
• Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring

Quantifiable outcome

• Water quality monitoring data collected regularly since 2001 for bacteria, turbidity since 2003
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Waipa FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Long-standing partnership for Youth Interpretive Program and cultural education. Waipa Foundation leads the Youth Interpretive Program while HWH provides support and collaboration on community initiatives.
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Formal partnership for Makai Watch program where citizens and NGOs work with DLNR in management of marine resources through promoting compliance, education, and monitoring.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Partnership for watershed management planning, flood plain studies, and cooperative river basin studies.
• University of HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Academic partnership for watershed research, water quality studies, and educational programs including Stream Research and practicum projects.
• US Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Technical partnership for flood study, real-time gauge installation, sediment sampling, and upper watershed mapping.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Partnership for sediment control Best Management Practices development, flood study collaboration, and Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge coordination.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Waipa Foundation: Kauai-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in the same Hanalei watershed with complementary ahupua'a-based cultural, educational, and land stewardship programs. Already a HWH partner, making it the closest peer by mission, geography, and beneficiary community.
• Malama Kauai: Island-wide Kauai nonprofit focused on sustainability, food security, and community resilience. Comparable in scale and operating model (small staff, grant-funded, community-led) and overlaps with HWH on watershed, education, and disaster resilience work.
• Surfrider Foundation - Kauai Chapter: Grassroots coastal protection nonprofit with active Kauai presence focused on water quality, beach access, and marine ecosystem health. Directly comparable in volunteer-driven water quality monitoring and ocean advocacy.
• Reef Check Hawaii: Hawaii-focused reef monitoring nonprofit running volunteer transect programs surveying coral and reef fish populations. Directly comparable to HWH's coral reef ecosystem monitoring program.
• Kauai Watershed Alliance: Coalition of conservation organizations managing forested watersheds across Kauai. Directly comparable in multi-stakeholder watershed stewardship and works in the same island geography as HWH.

Regional players

• Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT): Statewide Hawaii land conservation nonprofit protecting natural, cultural, and agricultural resources through land acquisition and stewardship. Comparable in conservation mission and Hawaiian cultural framing, though focused on land rather than watershed management.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy - Hawaii: Hawaii chapter of a global conservation organization running watershed, reef, and forest programs statewide. Comparable in watershed and marine conservation focus but operates at materially larger scale and budget than HWH.
• Sierra Club - Kauai Chapter: Local chapter of a national environmental advocacy organization with overlapping Hawaii outdoor, conservation, and advocacy interests. HWH's president previously led the chapter's outings program, evidencing leadership overlap.

Others

• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR): State agency administering marine, land, and water resources in Hawaii. HWH is a formal DLNR Makai Watch partner, making DLNR both a funder/partner and the de facto public-sector counterpart whose priorities shape HWH's operating environment.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): Major funder of HWH's Hanalei Watershed Flood Mitigation Study under the National Coastal Resilience Fund. As a grant-maker rather than operator, NFWF is a comparator for funding-source scale and program-design conventions rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hanaleihui
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChOSLW-GX6t89SOhkYKDQtA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hanalei-Watershed-Hui-135535903179579
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanalei-watershed-hui

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hanalei Watershed Hui