MĀLAMA I KE KAI ‘O WAIPI‘O

Community. Connection. Stewardship.

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Our mission is to ensure ocean access for Hawaii Island residents to perpetuate traditional forms of wave riding, fishing, gathering, and other shoreline activities that sustain a thriving Waipi‘o Valley.

Days since Emergency Proclamation. 

  • SIGN THE PETITION
    On Feb. 25, 2022 Waipi’o Valley access was cut off to the community under Mayor Mitch Roth’s Emergency Proclamation. Access was allowed for some while denied to others. Sign the petition to show support for community access.
  • STAY UPDATED
    Visit our News page where you can join our mailing list, link to press articles, and stay informed about community events.
  • LINK TO SURVEY
    If you are a Hawai‘i resident,  have a strong history of connection to Waipi‘o,  and are concerned about being denied access, please link above to submit a testimonial. Itʻs important that the mayor understand the diversity in our community.

TESTIMONIALS

Why is Waipi’o important to you? 

William Showalter

Itʻs a place of sanctuary, surfing, hiking, fishing. We’ve lived in Kohala for 20 years and frequent Waipio at least once a month. We have so many beautiful memories of this sacred place. Our community needs Waipio. It is one of the few direct ocean access points with a sandy beach that local families can go to. It needs to be opened to island residents.

William Showalter
Vasco Freitas

My name is Vasco Freitas and I am 13 years old. Waipio is where I go to surf with my family and friends and where I like to go to get away from the concrete world. It is also important to me because I have been going down there since I was very little. This is where I learned to surf and swim. Surfing makes me feel happy and when I am done I feel energized. The only thing that I wanted to do for my birthday was to go down and surf, but now that the road is closed I cannot. With the road closed it takes over an hour to go surfing. I miss it already.

Vasco Freitas
Sarah Anderson

The ocean is essential to my well-being. Waipi‘o is my closest and dearest access point.

Sarah Anderson