Give the reef a voice in every season
Native Hawaiian limu seaweed absorbs nitrogen from surrounding water, making it a living, seasonal sensor of reef and coastal health. Sponsor a monitoring site and fund the science that drives real change.
Why It Matters
Limu is one of our most sensitive, reliable indicators of reef health.
By analyzing nitrogen levels and isotope ratios in limu tissue, MNMRC can identify whether excess nitrogen is present in coastal waters and trace it back to its source, whether fertilizer runoff, cesspools, or municipal wastewater systems. Elevated nitrogen quietly devastates coral reefs, fueling algae blooms that smother coral and signaling watershed problems that won't fix themselves.
Since 2019, our team has collected and tested limu across South, North, and West Maui. The data is already revealing clear patterns. Coastlines downstream of wastewater injection wells consistently show elevated nitrogen signals. Even sites just meters apart tell completely different stories, as each sits above a distinct source of groundwater flowing from land to sea.
We currently have the capacity to test all 70+ of our sites once a year. The next step is getting to quarterly testing, capturing seasonal trends and giving the reef a voice in every season. Each test costs $375 for collection, processing, and lab analysis, and every dollar donated goes directly toward science.
The Monitoring Sites
Seventy-two sites along Maui's coastline, each telling its own story
Explore where our monitoring sites are located and what the limu is revealing at each one.
Interactive map via MNMRC's ArcGIS. View the full StoryMap ↗
Sponsorship Packages
Find your level of impact
We can already test all 70+ sites once a year. Your support helps us get to quarterly — four times the data, four times the insight.
One Site, One Test
Fund one annual test at one site
one-time · 1 nitrogen test at 1 site
- 1 limu collection and nitrogen lab test at your chosen site
- Named as site sponsor for that test round
- Results summary with site photos after testing
- Adoption certificate
Quarterly Site Keeper
All four seasons at one site
per year · or $375/quarter · 4 tests at 1 site
- 4 seasonal limu collections and nitrogen tests at your adopted site
- "Site Keeper" recognition on MNMRC's monitoring map and website
- Quarterly results updates so you can see what your site is telling us each season
- Year-end trend summary for your site
- Adoption certificate
Three Site Steward
Expand our annual coverage across three sites
per year · 1 annual test each at 3 sites
- Annual limu collection and nitrogen test at three adopted sites
- Year-over-year comparison across your three sites as data builds
- Named site sponsor recognition on MNMRC's monitoring map and website
- Annual report recognition
- Social media shoutout after each sampling
- Adoption certificate
Full Coastline Sponsor
Fund quarterly monitoring at 10 key sites
per year · 4 tests × 10 sites · 40 tests total
- Funds our goal of quarterly testing at 10 sites along the coastline
- Named as Coastline Sponsor across all MNMRC reporting
- Recognition in annual report and on website
- Complete year-end coastal health summary across all 10 sites
- Year-end Zoom Q&A with the research team
Ready to adopt? Email [email protected] to get started and we'll help you choose your site and set up your sponsorship.
Donor Benefits
What sponsors receive
Recognition and reporting at every level of support
| Benefit | One Site, One Test | Quarterly Site Keeper | 3-Site Steward | Full Coastline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Results summary with site photos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Year-end coastal health summary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Named site sponsor on MNMRC map and website | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quarterly seasonal updates | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Annual report recognition | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social media shoutout after sampling | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-site comparison insights | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Year-end Zoom Q&A with research team | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Named as Coastline Sponsor | — | — | — | ✓ |