Wai & We

The Wai & We: A Community Gathering (Mini Water Conference) is a one-day, community-centered event hosted at Wailele Farms in Haʻikū. This gathering is organized in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center and local kupuna of Hamakualoa.

This event will bring together a diverse group of participants, including community organizations, cultural practitioners, educators, researchers, youth, and families. Attendees will share ʻike, data, and hands-on practices related to water stewardship from mauka to makai.

Designed as an interactive and place-based experience, the conference will include:

• Community booths and poster-style sharing
• Hands-on water monitoring demonstrations
• Short talks from local water practitioners and scientific experts
• Guided site-based learning along the stream and surrounding ʻāina

Rather than a lecture-style event, the gathering will prioritize engagement, dialogue, ʻike exchange, and relationship-building in a welcoming outdoor setting.

This event aims to strengthen community connections to wai, to one another, and to shared responsibility for caring for Maui’s water resources, while creating meaningful learning opportunities for youth and families.