Passing the torch in protecting Hawaiʻi’s shores

Hawaiʻi is known for its white sand beaches and turquoise ocean, where surfers glide along O'ahu’s North Shore. These waves are living classrooms, shaping generations with the rhythm of the sea. Rooted in Mālama ʻāina, the native Hawaiian practice of caring for land and ocean, young Hawaiians learn to protect reefs, beaches, and marine life while honoring traditions passed down through families and communities. Here, the next generation learns that the ocean is both a playground and a responsibility, where culture, nature, and stewardship meet.

Dolphins glide gracefully beneath the waves off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. These intelligent creatures share the ocean with countless other species, all part of a delicate ecosystem. Their presence reflects the health of the surrounding waters and the interconnected life that depends on them.

In Hawaiʻi, indigenous perspectives understand the ocean and land as deeply connected, with that relationship beginning high on the islands’ iconic green volcanic mountains. Rain falls on these peaks, filters through forests and streams, and flows downhill to the sea, carrying nutrients that sustain reefs and marine life. These volcanic landscapes shape not only the islands themselves, but also the health of coastal waters.

Below Hawaiʻi’s volcanic peaks, streams and waterfalls carry freshwater from the mountains to the sea. These waterways nourish forests, farms, and communities before flowing into coastal ecosystems, where they help sustain reefs and marine life. In indigenous Hawaiian knowledge, the health of the ocean begins upstream, shaped by how land and water are cared for together. Rain, rock, and forest form a continuous system, linking mountain and shoreline.

Loko iʻa are traditional Hawaiian fishponds, built centuries ago along the coast where freshwater meets the sea. Carefully engineered with stone walls and sluice gates, they were designed to raise fish sustainably while strengthening the connection between land, water, and community. In this image, photographer David Matt documents these living cultural landscapes, capturing how ancient practices continue to shape Hawaiʻi’s relationship with the ocean today. Loko iʻa show how careful stewardship of coastal and freshwater systems can support biodiversity, food security, and cultural heritage.

Porous walls divide the loko iʻa ponds from the open ocean, carefully designed to harness tides and freshwater for sustainable fish farming. This pond is cared for by Jayten Galario, who continues the centuries-old tradition of maintaining these living cultural landscapes. By monitoring water flow, repairing walls, and protecting the fish, Jayten ensures that the pond remains healthy for both the ecosystem and the community.

The carefully crafted gates in the loko iʻa walls serve an ingenious ecological purpose. Small fish slip in with the tides, while predators are kept out, creating a protected environment where the fish can grow and thrive. Here, Titouan Bernicot observes this living classroom in action, witnessing how centuries-old engineering supports sustainable fish farming while preserving the delicate balance of Hawaiʻi’s coastal ecosystems. Each gate demonstrates the sophistication of traditional knowledge, showing how humans have long worked with, rather than against, nature to feed communities and nurture thriving marine habitats.

While restoring the gates of a loko iʻa, the children let out surprised shouts after stepping on something squishy in the tidal waters. Even in these unexpected moments, they are learning hands-on about the gates’ role—allowing small fish in, while keeping predators out—and the delicate balance of Hawaiʻi’s coastal ecosystems. Many fish gates have been lost over time, but programs like Blue Schools, supported by SEA BEYOND, empower young people to help restore and maintain them. These unforgettable experiences connect kids to marine life, cultural heritage, and the importance of caring for the ocean.

Titouan Bernicot—National Geographic Explorer and SEA BEYONDer, Goodwill Ambassador of the project—guides a group of children through hands-on lessons about ocean health. He explains how these ecosystems shelter marine species and why their protection is vital. The children also learn about the growing threat of microplastics, which can harm fish, turtles, and the delicate reef systems. Through these immersive experiences, young Hawaiians are gaining practical knowledge about conservation, while developing a personal connection to the sea. By combining observation, education, and stewardship, programs like this empower the next generation to care for Hawaiʻi’s ocean and coral habitats.

Hawaiʻi reveals the seamless connection between mountains and sea. Turquoise waters lap against shores shaped by volcanic peaks, where freshwater flows from streams and waterfalls into coral reefs below. This aerial perspective highlights how land and ocean are intertwined, supporting ecosystems, communities, and culture. Programs like Blue Schools engage children to understand and care for this living network.

The next generation of Hawaiians returns to the ocean, wading through waves with curiosity, energy, and purpose. Through programs like Blue Schools, children are reconnecting with the sea that has sustained their communities for centuries. From restoring loko iʻa and cleaning beaches to learning about coral reefs and marine life, the sea becomes their classroom, their playground, and their responsibility, a vibrant world they are learning to protect.

Find out more about how understanding our ocean can be the very thing to help save it; and more about Prada Group’s work with UNESCO here.