MALAMA NA APAPA

What MALAMA NA APAPA does

Mālama Nā ʻĀpapa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Anahola, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, focused on coral reef conservation, restoration, and youth marine education. Its operations center on Hanakaʻape Bay and surrounding waters, where it conducts reef surveys, debris removal, storm-damage repair, and youth SCUBA training. The organization is led by Director Scott Bacon and staffed by a small team of 1–10 including a staff marine scientist (Jenna Budke), a PhD marine biologist (Adriana Santacruz-Castro), GIS and photogrammetry staff (Howatt Peter King), certified divers, and a board member (Makana Bacon), supplemented by dozens of trained volunteer divers.

The organization's technical platform combines permanent transect monitoring, acoustic monitoring, GIS mapping, and 3D photogrammetry of reef survey sites, with more than 50 monitoring locations maintained in Hanakaʻape Bay alone. It maintains partnerships with Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), Atlantic Reef Conservation (ARC), Nā Pali Coast ʻOhana, Kauaʻi Sailing Association, Island School, and the Global Coral Restoration Hub. It is developing an aquaculture coral nursery in collaboration with Island School and runs recurring community programs including Earth Day and World Ocean Day cleanup events.

Mālama Nā ʻĀpapa operates as a donation-funded non-profit, accepting contributions via PayPal, credit card, Venmo, and Zelle, and raising additional revenue through community fundraising events. It does not disclose annual revenue or financial statements. Its addressable context is substantial: 85% of Hawaiʻi visitors engage in ocean recreation, the state's marine sector generates roughly $800M annually, and Hawaiʻi hosts over 1,000 endemic marine species — providing both a funding constituency and a measurable impact thesis.

Name

MALAMA NA APAPA

Legal name

Mālama Nā `Āpapa

Website

https://kauaicoral.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mālama Nā ʻĀpapa is a Kauaʻi-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that conducts coral reef monitoring, restoration, and debris cleanup while training youth SCUBA divers, supported by a small staff and dozens of trained volunteer divers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Coral reef conservation
• Marine debris removal
• Reef monitoring surveys
• Youth scuba education
• Coral restoration programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Anahola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: MNA accepts tax-deductible donations via PayPal, credit card, Venmo, and Zelle. Donations go directly towards protecting and restoring coral on the island of Kaua'i. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2. Donor-Funded Projects: Specific debris removal expeditions and conservation projects are funded by individual donors who cover costs such as boat access to remote sites.
3. Fundraising Events: MNA holds fundraising events including Krispy Kreme donut sales, Molokai Hotbread sales, and concert fundraisers to support Youth SCUBA Club programs and coral restoration activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mālama Nā `Āpapa (MNA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts coral reef conservation work on the island of Kaua'i, Hawaii. Its services include long-term reef surveys with 3D modeling, underwater debris removal (fishing line, lead weights), in-place coral restoration, and training youth and adult volunteers as science divers through the Kaua'i SCUBA Club.

Product overview

Mālama Nā `Āpapa (MNA) is a non-profit organization focused on coral reef conservation on Kaua'i. The organization offers a suite of interconnected conservation services: reef surveys (including coral and fish counts with 3D modeling), debris removal (fishing line and lead from coral areas), coral restoration (in-place repair and planned coral nursery), and youth/adult diver training via the SCUBA Club. The Aquaculture Nursery project represents the precursor to their planned coral nursery and outplanting facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reef Surveys Detailed coral and fish count surveys used to track reef health changes over time. Conducted at over 50 permanent survey locations using 3D modeling, photo documentation, and long-term temperature monitoring to support coral reef conservation on Kaua'i.
• Marine Debris Removal Underwater debris removal service that extracts fishing line, lead weights, and other trash from living coral colonies to prevent coral death and protect marine wildlife such as turtles, monk seals, and fish. Delivered via organized community dives such as World Ocean Day and Earth Day events.
• Coral Restoration In-place coral restoration service that repairs storm-damaged coral, including a planned land-based coral nursery and outplanting facility for future coral propagation. Conducted in coordination with the Kaua'i Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).
• Youth SCUBA Club SCUBA club program for youth ages 10 and up across Kaua'i, providing dive certification and hands-on participation in reef monitoring, clean-ups, and coral restoration activities.
• MNA Aquaculture Nursery Aquaculture nursery for limu (seaweed) developed in collaboration with Island School students, functioning as a precursor to an approved coral propagation nursery where broken coral can produce new formations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Removed 30m of fishing line and lead debris during World Ocean Day clean-up with 6 high school and college students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nā Pali Coast 'OhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMNA worked closely with the Nā Pali Coast 'Ohana on the Nu'ualolo Kai coral surveys project, combining traditional knowledge with scientific monitoring techniques at this culturally significant north shore location.
• Archipelago Research & Conservation (ARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Nu'ualolo Kai coral surveys project, contributing scientific expertise to the multi-organizational effort at this special location.
• Kaua'i Sailing AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MNA on the Nu'ualolo Kai coral surveys project, providing support for access to this remote north shore location.
• Kaua'i Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAR collaborated with MNA on coral surveys and observed MNA during a coral repair/restoration project. DAR divers responded to reports of broken coral from Kona Low storms. MNA and DAR will monitor restored formations over time. Work is closely regulated by DAR.
• Island SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with a group of 15 students at Island School to create an aquaculture nursery for limu. This project is a step towards an approved coral nursery where broken coral can be used to produce new coral formations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Maui Nui Marine Resource Council: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on nearshore coral reef monitoring, water quality, and restoration in the Maui Nui region. It is a regional peer operating in the same Hawaiian islands context with overlapping reef monitoring and community-based conservation activities, but serves Maui rather than Kaua'i.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii: Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is a Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on coastal cleanup, education, and reef/ocean conservation. It is a direct peer in mission (marine debris removal and coastal conservation in Hawaii), volunteer-driven operations, and event-based GTM (community cleanups). It does not focus specifically on coral restoration, making it a closely adjacent rather than identical peer.
• The Reef Institute: The Reef Institute is a nonprofit coral conservation organization in Florida that combines coral propagation, reef restoration, and educational programming. It is a direct peer in nonprofit mission, coral-focused restoration activities, and youth education programming, though operating in a different ocean/coastal environment than MNA.
• Coral Restoration Foundation: The Coral Restoration Foundation is the largest coral reef restoration nonprofit in the U.S., focused on restoring coral reefs in Florida and beyond through active coral propagation and outplanting. It is a direct peer to MNA in mission (coral reef restoration), nonprofit structure (501(c)(3)), and core activity set (reef surveys, restoration, education), though at substantially larger scale.
• Reef Relief: Reef Relief is a Florida Keys-based nonprofit dedicated to coral reef protection through education, advocacy, and citizen science. It is a direct peer in nonprofit marine conservation mission, community education programs, and reef monitoring/advocacy activities, though MNA is more focused on active restoration while Reef Relief emphasizes policy and education.
• Hawaii Marine Animal Response: Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is a Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on marine animal rescue, response, and conservation education. It is a direct peer in Hawaii-based marine conservation nonprofit operations, volunteer-driven field work, and educational programming, though its primary focus is marine animal response rather than coral reef restoration.

Emerging players

• Kupu Hawaii: Kupu Hawaii is a Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on environmental education, conservation internships, and youth workforce development in natural resource management. It is an adjacent/emerging peer that overlaps with MNA in youth conservation education and Hawaii-based field training, but with broader environmental (not marine-specific) focus.

Broad incumbents

• NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program: NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program is a federal government initiative that funds and coordinates coral reef monitoring, restoration, and conservation across U.S. waters including Hawaii. It is a broad incumbent in the same mission space (coral reef conservation) and is a partner/regulator that MNA already engages with via DAR, making it both a peer and an ecosystem participant.
• The Nature Conservancy Hawaii: The Nature Conservancy is a large international environmental nonprofit with active Hawaii programs covering coral reefs, watersheds, and marine protected areas. It is a broad incumbent in marine conservation in Hawaii — operating at much larger scale than MNA but in overlapping subject matter (reef health, restoration, community engagement).
• Surfrider Foundation: Surfrider Foundation is a national nonprofit focused on beach access, coastal protection, and ocean conservation including reef health. It is a broad incumbent in coastal/marine conservation with active Hawaii chapters — overlapping with MNA on coastal ecosystem protection and volunteer-driven beach/underwater cleanups, but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100069185494929
• Instagraminstagram.com/malama_na_apapa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/malama-na-apapa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 MALAMA NA APAPA