Blog Archives: MNMRC Community

Tova Callender is a longtime partner of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and its newest board member. In her current role as the Ridge to Reef Coordinator for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DNLR-DAR), Tova focuses on land-based solutions to protect Maui’s waters. Tova is also a member of the steering committee for Hui O Ka Wai Ola and is the watershed coordinator for the West Maui Ridge 2 Reef Initiative.

What first sparked your journey into environmental science?

I grew up running wild with my brothers on 100 acres of forest, fields, streams, and orchards in Ontario, Canada. That early connection to nature eventually led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology at McGill University followed by graduate studies at UC Santa Barbara. The close relationship I have felt to nature since I was young and my passion for the environment naturally evolved into my career focus.

I moved to Maui twenty years ago to work in sustainable agriculture in West Maui. That experience deepened my understanding of the island’s unique ecosystems and people, which led me to my current role as Ridge to Reef Coordinator for DLNR-DAR, where I focus on land-based solutions to protect our coastal waters.

Tova (back row, left) participated in the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s limu volunteer day in Lāhainā in July.

Can you tell us more about your current work?

As Ridge to Reef Coordinator, I try to bring people together to find collaborative solutions to land and water issues, which are always closely tied together. It’s about facilitating connections between organizations, funders, and individuals—breaking down silos and recognizing where missions overlap. No landowner wants their soil washing into the ocean, and that shared concern opens the door for meaningful conversations and lasting partnerships.

Education is an element of what we do, especially around land-based pollution and community engagement. It’s important that people don’t feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problems we are collectively facing—individual actions really do make a difference.  Also, there is inevitable ongoing movement within positions on the island, with general managers transferring between properties, for example, so it’s critical to consistently focus on introducing the issues to new audiences—especially the land-ocean connection, what we refer to as working mauka (mountain) to makai (sea).

As a member of Hui O Ka Wai Ola’s steering committee, Tova advocates for data-based management solutions that protect coastal waters and local marine ecosystems. (Photo Credit: Hui O Ka Wai Ola)

You are on the steering committee for Hui O Ka Wai Ola. How has the Hui’s work impacted Maui’s waters?

Hui O Ka Wai Ola has been essential to watershed management on Maui—we wouldn’t have the water quality data we rely on without them. The work is deeply collaborative and gratifying. I chair the technical team, which meets every three weeks to ensure data collection and analysis align with community and environmental needs. Every two years, we publish a comprehensive report, with the next one coming out mid-2026.

The Kahana Nui Basin in West Maui is a great example that shows the impact of our data. Over time, the original retention basins had become less effective at preventing pollution from reaching the coastline. USGS studies had indicated that sediment-laden runoff from streams and gulches was contributing to coastal water degradation—a finding which was confirmed by our nearshore water quality assessments. By securing grant funding, working closely with landowners, the county, and the Soil and Water Conservation District, we were able to instigate the jump start needed to improve the functionality of those basins. Restoring retention capacity upstream significantly reduced pollutant loads, resulting in cleaner coastal waters and hopefully healthier reef ecosystems off Kahana. Maui County has since continued to make major investments in that area to keep the basin functioning optimally.  

This progress is the result of years of science, planning, and collective action—from identifying drainage issues back in 2013 to contracting heavy equipment operators to begin work in 2018 to the county continuing structural improvements today. It’s a reminder that every effort matters and together we can achieve a lot. Even when the challenges feel overwhelming, we really can create lasting change.

Tova at the Kahana Nui Basin clean out with Pomaikaʻi Kaniaupio-Crozier of Aloha Puʻu Kukui. (Photo Courtesy of Tova Callender)

During your time in Maui, what changes have you seen in the environmental landscape?

I have seen increased collaboration and a strong sense of ownership over our shared environment.  I have also seen improvements in land management and a focused commitment to reduce pollution before it reaches the ocean. 

Climate shifts are also noticeable—it’s warmer, the winds are less predictable, and brown water events are more frequent. The heavy rains in January that brought mud floods have caused persistent brown water in North Kihei. It’s late summer, and I still can’t swim at my local beach because the sediment continues to resuspend in the nearshore. These changes are tough to see, but they are motivating people to act and it’s clear we need to work together to address the issues.

Tova enjoying time in the ocean. (Photo Courtesy of Tova Callender)

What do you love most about living and working here on the island?

Community and the proximity to nature. People on Maui tend to share a deep connection to the land and sea, and that shapes shared community values as well—family, relationships, and time spent being out in nature, all of which align with my sense of what makes life good. I’m inspired by the colors here—the blues and greens all around— the warm breeze, the sun, the welcoming air. Whether it’s biking, snorkeling, swimming, or just being outside, it’s all part of what makes this place so special to me. I love to travel, but I always love coming home.

Looking at the future of conservation, what makes you feel optimistic?

There are so many people who care, and real solutions do exist to the challenges we face. If we have the will, we can make progress—especially with so many incredible groups already taking action. But we’ll only solve these problems by working together and staying focused. Collaboration is essential to success.

Jill Wirt is the Program Director at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) and manages the Reef-Friendly Landscaping (RFL) and Coral Restoration programs. Since 2015 Jill has worked with many local environmental organizations, including MNMRC, which she joined in 2021. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from San Diego State University and her Master’s Degree in Environmental Science and Management from U.C. Santa Barbara.

Tell us about your background and connection to Maui.

In 7th grade I had the chance to participate in an all-girls science camp held at Stanford University through an organization called TechTrek, sponsored by the American Association of University Women. The camp offered different science classes each day, with topics like robotics, microbiology, and marine biology. We went out on a boat for our marine biology lesson and from that moment on I knew I was a science girl. 

I took AP environmental science in high school and knew at that time it was going to be my path. I ended up getting my BS in environmental science at San Diego State. In 2013, I did an internship with the Pacific Whale Foundation here on Maui during undergrad and it helped direct me to the marine conservation side of things. After that, I did everything in my power to come back to Maui after graduation. I officially made the move in 2015 and worked in ecotourism on snorkel and whale watching boats along with working in hospitality as part of a naturalist program at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. A few years later, I decided to pursue graduate studies in environmental science and management, specializing in coastal and marine resource management at UC Santa Barbara.

Jill is part of the MNMRC dive team that checks in on the health of reefs around Maui throughout the year. (Photo Credit: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council)

What inspires you most about the organization?

At Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, we all care very deeply about this special place we call home – and there’s this deep belief that when we take care of the land and the ocean, it will take care of us. That awareness comes from listening and slowing down, feeling that connection to the landscape. The community is so tight-knit, and so strong here, if you show up and help where there is a need, it can really make a difference. Being immersed in the local community here at MNMRC is such a big part of why we can do what we do. We truly try to always come from a supportive, open-minded, solutions-centered place, we want to help solve problems, whatever that may look like.

Jill working to reattach corals of opportunity during a training in O’ahu with Kuleana Coral in 2024. SAP #2024-09 (Photo Credit: Kuleana Coral)

Is there a current project you’re kicking off that will extend into the next year?

In 2023, Kuleana Coral Restoration, an organization based on Oʻahu, was looking to expand into Maui and bring alongside a local partner for their coral restoration work. We began working alongside them, looking into grants and locating sites across the island that could be viable for coral restoration work. We’ve also been working with community members for the past few years to locate the most ideal sites, and landed in Māʻalaea Bay offshore of Kihei and Kula Moku where there are some decent, patchy reef areas.

We look for areas that have a pavement-type substrate and for what we call ‘corals of opportunity’ (COO) that can be reattached to bare or exposed areas of the reef. COO are pieces of coral that have been dislodged, broken off, or turned over from the reef, and we take those and reattach them to bare areas of the reef, which hopefully will give them a better chance at life to reestablish coral cover and provide fish habitat. We are careful not to move corals from where we source them, always trying to keep them in one spot. With that in mind, all of the work is done on the boat or in the water directly above the site, we don’t transfer any of these corals to a lab or coral nursery on land. All of this work is done under permitting with Kuleana Coral Restoration who have shown success with these methods on Oʻahu.

Our priority is to focus on areas that are heavily impacted by land-based activities, restoring reefs to positively impact fish populations and improve overall reef health. These are small-scale efforts right now, with maybe 100 corals of opportunity that we will monitor over the next year. With the monitoring, we will look for variations due to temperature changes and storm swells, for example, assessing how the corals are doing over time. Kuleana Coral obtained a Special Activities Permit to perform this work on Maui, adding an amendment for the sites here. Moving forward, the goal is for us to obtain our own permit here at MNMRC so we can train community groups locally on Maui to continue with this important work.

Through MNMRC’s Reef-Friendly Landscaping test plot program, Maui Gold Pineapple setup a soil amendment brewer at their farm in November 2024. The brewer will allow Maui Gold to produce the environmentally friendly product used on their RFL test plot.(Photo Credit: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council)

You head up MNMRC’s Reef-Friendly Landscaping program.  How can new volunteers get involved with upcoming work?

Kahoma Village, a residential community in Lahaina, lost four buildings during the 2023 wildfires. They approached us to help restore their green space, which acts like a detention basin and fills up with standing water, and they get invasive cane toads as a result. We tried to figure out trees and plants that could be planted to alleviate the flooding or ponding. As we started talking, we realized there was an opportunity to apply for a grant from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to transform the green space into a true community gathering place filled with flowering trees, fruit trees, native shrubs, and groundcovers.  

We now have grant funding through April 2027, with the first phase of planting taking place this Spring.  On April 26, we will be kicking off the project with a community work day, coming together to plant mango, avocado, lychee, breadfruit, and plumeria trees as well as native palms and shrubs. We will do some prep beforehand so that on the community work day, we can all gather together to plant and learn and share more about the project. 

We will be collaborating with the landscapers at Kahoma Village to develop a plan to continue the use of environmentally-friendly techniques and practices moving forward throughout the property after the planting is complete. We are incorporating reef-friendly landscaping techniques, targeting problem areas and adjusting practices at the site, such as reducing water use, eliminating pesticides, and using locally-made soil amendments. These alternatives will have less negative impacts on the downstream environment and support local businesses to implement reef-friendly landscaping practices at scale. 

We will be looking for volunteers to help us plant. Keep an eye out for a registration link as April 26th approaches, we would love to see you there.

Jill meets with residents of Kahoma Village in Lahaina where MNMRC is helping the community install native trees and plants as a part of their wildfire recovery plans. (Photo Credit: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council)

Where do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I love hiking, snorkeling, and playing beach volleyball. I like to take beach walks in the morning, and one of my favorite spots is Kapukaulua (Baldwin Beach) on the North Shore in Pāʻia. I love the way the beach changes throughout the seasons. In the summer, sand moves down to one end of the beach, where there is a shallow lagoon, and at low tide, it closes off the connection to the ocean. Sometimes you’ll see multiple turtles trapped in this little lagoon, and then in the winter, the sand moves down to the other end of the beach. I also love the energy of the North Shore during the winter.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in this amazing place?

The ocean, of course! The immensity of the landscape. It’s so easy to feel connected to the environment here, and when it gives so much to us – peace, healing, humility, I think it makes it even more motivating to protect it. Especially here, the community relies on this precious environment and land. During my time here, I’ve seen that some of the best conservation projects begin with a small-scale project, or sharing food and coming together, and taking the time to slow down. It is crucial to know your local area, your neighbors, and your community’s needs.

What opportunities do you see on the horizon for the field of conservation?

There’s a lot of pressure to make individual changes, and those are important, but there is so much opportunity and growth for larger companies to step in and commit to making lasting changes in their business practices. I see more community-based work that is grounded in kilo (observation and learning) and mālama ʻāina (caring for the land) because the community members will be the ones who will support, manage, and continue generational learning in conservation. Being a part of MNMRC, we feel lucky to support that work and have it inform so many of the projects we do.  The more that all of us, industries and individuals alike, can come together, the more impactful the results will be. 

What’s your favorite island dessert? Any favorite food stops?

Roselani Kona Mud Pie Ice Cream! I am a big fan of Thai Mee Up (panang curry or pad thai with veggies and tofu) or Tin Roof’s mochiko chicken!

John Starmer is the Science Director of MNMRC and has been a part of the organization for 3 years. Here, John shares more about MNMRC’s diving program and how limu (algae) can be indicators of environmental health along Maui’s coastlines.

How did you first become involved with MNMRC?

I started as a volunteer, helping with some new technology MNMRC had acquired.  Eventually, that led to a part-time role, and I’ve been here full-time for the past three years.  My background is in coral reef ecology and conservation.  After getting my Master’s degree at the University of Guam and a brief stint as a research biologist in Palau, I spent a decade in Saipan working for the coastal zone program to build a coral reef monitoring program for the CNMI, an effort supported by the US Coral Reef Initiative. During that time, I co-founded a non-profit that allowed me to support other NGOs and local governments in developing coral reef monitoring and marine protected area programs across Micronesia and in American Samoa. I eventually left that position to pursue my PhD at the University of Florida.

John talks with a member of the Flying Fish Technologies Team during their resurvey of South and West Maui reefs in August 2024.

What initially drew you to environmental science?

From as far back as I can remember, a connection with the intricacies of nature on land and sea was always part of my experience. I spent a lot of time around the ocean up and down the Atlantic coast as a kid, from Maine to the Carolinas to Florida. I can blame Jacques Cousteau and Hans Haas for some of my interest in the ocean environment and ecology.  Ecology is all about these ancient interconnected systems that we participate in, and even as a kid, it fascinated me. 

I grew up in Maryland, and the environmental issues surrounding the Chesapeake Bay, for example, and the decline and collapse of many of their fisheries – shad, striped bass, crabs, oysters – made a deep impression on me. I knew back then I wanted to be part of the solution. I enjoy being out in the elements, so a career in biology seemed like a natural fit for me.  I eventually studied biology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where I was introduced to coral reefs and scuba through a tropical marine ecology course. Right after undergrad, I did a brief stint at the original National Aquarium in Washington, DC taking care of their coral reef displays before heading out to Guam for grad school, where I studied chemical ecology.

John and the MNMRC dive team perform CRAMP and FAHU reef monitoring surveys in South Maui.

You started the dive program at MNMRC.  Tell us more about that.

I’ve been diving for 30 years, a dive instructor for 15 years, and a dive safety officer for (now) three organizations.  I always say that when trying to understand the state of the marine environment, nothing is as effective as getting in the water and seeing things for yourself.  While the ongoing impactful conservation work on the land is vital, I saw we were missing a functional understanding of the conditions in the coral reefs we wanted to improve when I arrived at MNMRC. To address that, we needed to start looking at the reefs ourselves. 

While NOAA and the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) have been monitoring coral reefs throughout Hawaii for some time, there was a gap in South Maui where we are currently focused. After a couple of years of diving in the area, I can understand the survey gap as it is not an easy place to get out to survey.  Kona weather and brown water during the wet season don’t provide the conditions we need for surveys, so most of our dive time takes place in the dry season when conditions are most favorable.

One of our big challenges is finding a way to make this program sustainable, and in the usual MNMRC fashion, that means looking at partnerships. We are in the process of becoming members of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, which will allow our team to dive with DAR, the University of Hawaiʻi, NOAA and other AAUS member organizations.

John collects limu (algae) samples at Keawakapu Beach.

Is there one project you’re working on that really excites you?

I’ve always been interested in “listening” to the organisms living in an area to understand the ecology of the place. What thrives (or what is missing) in an area can tell a lot about typical environmental conditions and hint at problems in the area. We’ve recently started studying the presence of nitrogen (a fertilizer) in marine algae, which helps us to trace where nutrients are coming from.  Are the levels reflective of excessive fertilizer use, sewage leaks, or something else?  We know groundwater picks up nitrogen from the land as it flows to the ocean. Certain marine algae (limu) like to grow near groundwater and soak up these nutrients.  While the algae clues us into where groundwater is flowing, if there are large amounts of limu, this can also hint at whether there are excess nutrients too. Laboratory analysis to understand nitrogen isotope ratios can let us know if that nitrogen came from natural sources, fertilizers, or sewage. 

We plan to continue annual sampling to understand whether conditions are changing at key sites. Is there an increase or decrease in the nutrient levels we’re seeing?  Problems facing our reefs often originate on land, so at MNMRC, we are always looking for solutions that address land-based issues. Our Reef-Friendly Landscaping Program, for example, encourages property managers to reduce intensive industrial fertilizer use as much of these fertilizers wash away before plants can absorb them. If we identify an area with high fertilizer use, we should be able to show a reduction in coastal nitrogen runoff after a shift to organic alternatives. We want to continue to use these limu as indicators of environmental health and to directly tie this work to management actions in the future.

John prepares to conduct the final reef monitoring survey of 2024.

What advice can you share with us about the current environmental situation?

When it comes to our coral reefs, the combination of polluted runoff, overfishing, and climate change are the major issues causing harm. While climate change is hard to tackle as an individual, focusing on what we can directly control, like choosing to fish pono or transitioning that festering septic tank, has immense value.  For example, limiting or avoiding catching or buying limu-eating fish like uhu, kala, and palani means there are more of these fish helping to maintain our reefs, keeping algae in balance, and making space for new corals to grow. I always like to focus on managing my sphere of influence. 

These days, it is really easy to downplay the effect our individual actions have. I understand wanting to throw up your hands and think, “I can’t do anything about what’s happening,” but I try to say, “think about what you can do.”  Each of our individual choices creates a collective effect.  The more waste you pour down the drain, for example, the more it all ends up in the ground, contributing to what we see downstream and eventually in the ocean, so something as simple as waste reduction and water conservation can make a big difference at the individual level.    

You also don’t have to go at it alone. My family and I volunteer our time with local conservation groups.  Participating in projects like restoring wetlands, loʻi kalo, or cleaning up a beach, for example, is a great way to work with your community to make a bigger impact.

John and the MNMRC dive team looking for potential community-based coral restoration areas (CBCRA) in South Maui.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

My two daughters are competitive swimmers here in Maui, and they swim as part of the interscholastic league and at the national level.  Many of my Saturdays are spent as a referee at their swim events, whistle in hand!  I’m also part of the Kihei Community Association in South Maui and sit on the Infrastructure and Transportation Committee.  I enjoy the chance this gives me to collaborate on finding solutions to community issues and concerns.

Any favorite food trucks or restaurants on the island you can point us towards?

I am not a food truck regular, but I always hit up Maui Fresh Streatery when they show up to an event.  I enjoy their crispy garlic furikake chicken bowl, but the thing I like about this particular food truck is they like trying new stuff – and it’s always ono (delicious).

Best spot to watch a sunset?

Watching sunsets at Keoneʻōʻio Bay (La Pérouse) while fishing with the family is always a treat.

Alex Polson has been a frequent visitor to the island and a loyal supporter of MNMRC for the past three years.  Here, we learn more about his connection to the organization and Maui.

Tell us a little bit about how you got connected to MNMRC

About 3 years ago, after returning from a trip to Maui, I wanted to find a way that I could give back to the communities of the island. I did some searching on the web and came across MNMRC. As somebody who is very passionate about the environment and sustainability as a whole, I got the sense that MNMRC was the perfect charity to get involved with.

Tell us about what you do for work and what outdoor activities you enjoy.

I’m a software engineer at a company called Indeed, whose mission is to help people get jobs. I really appreciate their focus on people, not only those that are looking for jobs but their employees as well.

Outside of work, I like to spend time with my wife, daughter, and two dogs Sunny, a super mutt, and Oscar, a long-haired miniature dachshund. When I can, I also like to go running which I find allows me to see things from new perspectives that aren’t possible when driving.

Can you share how the ocean has impacted you?

I’ve lived in the Seattle area my whole life, so I have always been surrounded by water in some way. That said, I’ve always been afraid of it, mostly due to the waters of the Pacific Northwest being so cold and opaque. When I visited Hawaii for the first time, I found its warmth and transparency beautiful and refreshing, and my wife and I have grown to love snorkeling when we visit. I’ve been lucky enough to happen upon a few honu as they’ve been swimming by, keeping a safe distance of course. To be able to see the wildlife in their natural habitat is humbling, and has made me more aware of how important it is to keep our oceans healthy.

Tell us a bit more about your connection to Maui and the people.  What does Maui mean to you and why do you keep coming back?

I have been coming to the islands for almost 20 years now.  Like many travelers, I initially stayed in areas that were more touristy but the more I branched out, the more I began to feel a part of the local community. I’m the kind of person that likes to strike up conversations with strangers because I’m very curious and love to meet new people. I’ve had so many lovely chats with folks in the most random places, by recognizing some simple, common ground.

What is your favorite Maui moment?

A couple of years ago, my family and I made our way down to the Hoapilli Trail on the south of Maui. There’s a point on the trail where you step out of a copse of trees into a huge, barron, ancient lava flow. Hiking through it was another reminder of how remarkable nature is. On the other side of that flow was another group of trees that we didn’t quite get to before having to turn around. I hope to make it to those trees and beyond it to see what comes next. I love exploring and seeing what’s around the next corner.

What do you wish more people knew about supporting conservation causes?

It’s so easy to think short-term, but it’s so critical for us all to invest in long-term solutions for the generations to come. Seemingly small decisions such as using reef-safe sunscreen, recycling or reusing materials to avoid adding things to our landfills, can have large impacts if many of us make these sorts of choices. We each need to understand the impacts we’re having on our environment, and do what we can to reduce or eliminate those impacts. The more people that we can educate about conservation causes, the bigger the impact we can have.

What’s your favorite Maui restaurant?

Ever since we started visiting Kihei, we always make it at least once per trip (usually more) to the Kihei Caffe off of South Kihei Road. Everything that I’ve tried is delicious but my personal favorite is their Kalua pork Loco Moco with fried rice. I usually have a hard time deciding what to get, but it has it all. On our last trip, we discovered Da Kitchen, off of South Kihei Road, which is also delicious!

What would you say to others who are considering becoming involved with MNMRC?

If you’re passionate about environmental causes and you feel a connection to Maui, both the land and Hawaiian culture, MNMRC is an amazing cause doing amazing work. I can’t be on Maui all the time, but it’s definitely in good hands with MNMRC.