Maui's Honolua Bay to Limit Visitors by Two-Thirds to Revive Coral Reefs

As of November 2025, a nonprofit organization in Hawaii is proposing a drastic plan to reduce visitor numbers at the famous Honolua Bay on Maui by two-thirds. The Save Honolua Coalition, which has been working to preserve the bay for over a decade, is urging the state to finalize legislation to protect the area, as current governmental plans have been stalled since 2023.

The coalition's plan addresses the ongoing damage to Honolua's coral reefs, which have seen a steep decline from 43% cover in 1994 to just 8% in 2025. This is attributed to the "weight of unchecked tourism and land-based runoff" in the bay. The plan also aims to restore traditional cultural practices and increase education about the area's significance, which includes over 700 known ancestral burials and sacred sites.

To achieve this, the coalition proposes that visitors would need to book online and be guided by a cultural practitioner before entering Honolua, in order to "earn the right to visit as responsible stewards." The plan also addresses issues like parking, security, and snorkeling management.

The coalition's president, Paele Kiakona, says the community refuses to "stand by and allow this to continue," as their own people feel like outsiders in a place their ancestors nurtured for generations. Meetings are now scheduled between the state and the coalition to discuss how to proceed with the plan and address the pressing issues facing Honolua Bay.