In Hawaii, caring for our home is not a task government can carry alone it’s a shared kuleana held in the hands and hearts of its people. Throughout the islands, community stewards rise early to tend the lo‘i or other food crops, watch the tides and clear forest trails. They are often the first to notice change, on the frontlines of problem-solving, their work carried out quietly and with deep aloha, which has sustained Hawaii for generations. As the state prepares to implement the Green Fee Fund established under Act 96, effective Jan. 1 we must ensure that the people already doing this work benefit from support. The success of this fund will not be measured by the size of its revenue, but by how well those resources strengthen the programs and community networks already working hard to sustain Hawaii’s natural resources today. The green fee is an opportunity to realign the visitor economy with Hawaii’s values. We can be a shining example of true, regenerative tourism. For kamaaina, when we visit another island and enjoy their resources, we also give back with this fee, which will usually amount to the cost of a latte. The Hawaii Makai Watch Program is a collaborative, statewide program where citizens and nonprofits, like Malama Pupukea-Waimea, become directly involved with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in the management of marine resources through promoting compliance to rules, education, and monitoring. The Makai Watch approach is based on the idea that people who use, deal with, or live closest to the natural and cultural resources are in the best position to help in understanding the nature of the area. Community members are the “eyes and ears” that look out for their resources, and their direct involvement reduces inappropriate uses of those resources. The concept is not new, but a modern reflection of the Hawaiian system of ahupua‘a (mountain to sea) management practices by the people and led by konohiki (caretakers) and the aha councils (groups of experts). This system recognizes that the people who use a resource ultimately are responsible for its long-term health. As the Legislature reconvenes in the coming months, we know state leaders from every district want to ensure that green fee funding flows directly into these community-rooted stewardship efforts. The funds will be most powerful when reaching the stewards and experts already restoring lo‘i and loko i‘a, replanting native forests, protecting marine resources, and taking care of wahi pana that hold the history and identity of the island communities. Our kupuna understood that the health of the land and the well-being of the people are inseparable. Today, in the face of climate change, this truth has only become more apparent. Government programs are important, but they cannot succeed without the leadership and practical knowledge found within community. The Green Fee is more than a revenue source. It is an opportunity to reaffirm who we are and how we choose to care for Hawaii. If we direct resources to the organizations and networks already practicing aloha ‘aina, stewardship will remain rooted in reciprocity, respect and shared kuleana. When we uplift the expertise and dedication of our community stewards, the green fee becomes a living expression of aloha ‘aina and a model for how community and government care for this place together.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/11/23/editorial/island-voices/column-communitys-at-heart-of-new-green-fee/