Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (the NWHI) are a network of coral reefs, islands, atolls, and shoals that arches through the Pacific for 1,200 miles northwest of the Main Hawaiian Islands. Celebrated in stories of creation as the place where Hawai'i began, the survival of these ancient islands as one of the earth's last remaining large-scale coral reef ecosystems is a critical issue for the Pacific region and the entire planet.

Years of dedicated public grassroots advocacy by cultural practitioners and environmental advocates ultimately helped win a committment from both the State of Hawai'i and the U.S. Federal government for full conservation of this fragile, wild, and uniquely Hawaiian place in 2006.

Despite years of proposals to expand commercial fishing, introduce new recreational fisheries, expand cruiseship tours, and develop other commercial tourism interests--Papahānaumokuākea Marine Monument and the NWHI State Refuge stand today as two of the most protective marine reserves on the planet.

Today, KAHEA is working to see these visionary laws fully and faithfully implemented. We want to see the promises made for the Northwestern Hawaiians kept in full!

Poor implementation, watered down rules, and inadequate enforcement threaten the promised protections for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands--putting the 3.5 million acres of ancient coral colonies and priceless cultural sites within the NWHI at risk.

Join the call to uphold the promise of full conservation for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Sign the petition today!