Communities Working Together to Restore Hawaiʻi's Reefs
Puakō For Reefs is an all-volunteer, community-based Hawaiʻi 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2022, dedicated to helping coastal communities protect and restore their coral reefs by removing wastewater pollution from nearshore waters.
Our approach brings together residents, government, engineers, scientists, utilities, and philanthropic partners to move community wastewater projects from planning to implementation. Along the way, we document and share what we learn so other Hawaiʻi communities can build on that experience.
Today, our work is focused on two community-led programs: Puakō for Reefs in South Kohala and Kahaluʻu for Reefs in South Kona.
About Puakō Reef
Puakō Reef has lost more than 90% of its coral over the past five decades. Scientific studies have shown that untreated wastewater is one of the reef’s greatest threats.
Since 2022, the Puakō community has been working to implement a reef-friendly community sewer system that will remove wastewater from the reef while creating a practical model that other Hawaiʻi communities can follow.
About Kahalu'u
Kahaluʻu Bay is one of Hawaiʻi Island’s most treasured places—a wahi pana where families have gathered for generations to fish, surf, swim, learn, and care for the ocean.
Today, the community is coming together to protect the bay by addressing wastewater pollution and advancing long-term reef restoration using the lessons learned through Puakō.