Supporting the development of priority species lists and the exploration of different management options.
Kīholo, located along the coast of the historic Puʻuwaʻawaʻa land division on Hawaiʻi Island, is home to a thriving coral reef and fishpond that has long supported the local community. In recent years, increased tourism and easier coastal access led to a rise in fishing activity, raising concerns about the reef’s health and the sustainability of local fisheries.
The local community group, Hui Aloha Kīholo, wanted to understand and protect its fisheries and the livelihoods of its people, so when they saw how FishKit was helping the neighboring community of Kaʻūpūlehu, they began to explore the option of using it to develop their own fisheries management plan. In 2021, they asked The Nature Conservancy to provide support in the fisheries management planning process. Using the FishKit toolkit, TNC supported Hui Aloha Kīholo, community members, and state representatives in identifying priority species to achieve their shared goals—ensuring food security, preserving ecological health, honoring traditional practices, and integrating community-based and state-led management.
Using FishKit’s Size Limit Builder and Bag Limit Builder, the community explored various management strategies and reviewed projections of their long-term impacts. TNC continues to support Hui Aloha Kīholo as they refine and finalize the plan via the state’s rulemaking process, actively working to ensure that all voices are heard and reflected in the proposed management options.
