Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana

Secretary

Barbara Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana was born in Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i in 1948. Educated throughout the Pacific and California, she pursued careers in both nursing and public-school teaching before returning home in 1989. Always active in environmental education and conservation organizations and activities, she soon became involved in local projects supporting community management of cultural and environmental resources. In 1999 she was elected by the Hanalei community to head the newly formed Hanalei River Hui. Maka‘ala believes in community participation and transparent process and has continued to guide this organization through the founding of the nonprofit, Hanalei Watershed Hui, and the development and implementation of the Hanalei Watershed Action Plan, the Targeted Watershed Initiative project, the Hanalei Makai Watch Program, Hanalei Watershed Management Plan, and the Hanalei to Ha‘ena Disaster Resilience Plan. Maka‘ala and her husband, a native Hawaiian, live on the north shore of Kaua‘i, have a small banana farm, and enjoy fishing and family time.