The purpose of Ke Ao Hāli'i as established in our bylaws, is to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources of the Hāna moku and the customary and traditional practices of Native Hawaiians of the region; to hold title to and own interests in real property or to hold easements; to preserve and manage the area's natural, cultural, scenic, historic and marine resources for the benefit, education and enjoyment of our community and future generations.

On March 1st, 2018, our humble community of Hāna received a wake-up call; it came in the form of a prospective buyer, eager to purchase approximately 46 acres of pristine coastline along Makaʻalae, four miles south of Hāna town. While plans for the property were unknown and the buyer was open to community input, the reality of the situation was clear: Hāna’s coastline could soon be developed.

This coastline in particular protects private coves, borders some of our community’s most coveted fishing locations, and has been open pastures owned by Hāna Ranch and then Hana HRP LLC for the last three generations. What made this wake-up call different from all the rest though, was that thanks to a handful of dedicated community members, a foundation of time, energy and research had already been built. The community had made their decision. They were against the sale. A community meeting was held, filling Helene Hall with residents sharing their passionate plea for this land, including many Hawaiians with lineal ties to the area. The buyer ended up backing out.

With this event as a catalyst, Ke Ao Hāliʻi was formed soon thereafter. In April 2018 we registered as a nonprofit organization with the state of Hawai‘i, and in June 2018 our 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt status was approved by the IRS.

Ke Ao Hāliʻi literally means "The Blanket of Clouds." A few years ago a group of us who had been meeting regularly to discuss ways to protect the precious coastal lands of Hāna that were on the market, made a site visit and walked along with members of the families from Maka’alae. We did a Hi‘uwai, a traditional dawn cleansing in the ocean at Hamoa beach, and then shared an 'awa (kava) ceremony to come up with our visions for a name. One of the visions that came to a kupuna of the area was Ke Ao Hāli‘i, a blanket of protective clouds over the land. This also connects to one of the sayings of Hāna, Ka ʻĀina o Ka Lani Haʻahaʻa, the land of the low-lying clouds (lit. ʻhumble heaven) which refers to the way that the clouds sit on the hills over the Hāna area, or come all the way down to form Ka Ua Kea Noenoe, the white misty rain of Hāna. This blanket of clouds protects the land from the intensity of the sun, and provides life-giving moisture that keeps our region green and lush.

In the same way that the blanket of clouds protects the land, so do we as the supporters of Ke Ao Hāliʻi wish to protect the land from unwanted development, from abusive practices, and from self-serving interests that will cut off access for native families of the area. We wish to ensure that the land thrives, remains open and lush, protects the shoreline and reef, and allows the families who have deep ancestral ties to these areas to continue their traditional and customary practices and subsistence lifestyle along the Hana coast. To us, it is much more than just a name, Ke Ao Hāliʻi is a spiritual blessing of Ke Akua and our ancestors. It is our kuleana to protect this land for future generations.

Sunnie Kaikala Mākua is a Community Weaver at Hōlani Hāna Inc. As a native Hawaiian educator and social worker, she believes that ʻāina (land - that which feeds) is our first teacher, striving to connect communities through culture and education. In her spare time, Sunnie volunteers on the leadership team of Ke Ao Hāliʻi, where she champions the restoration of native landscapes and narratives of the Hāna coast. Her favorite pastime is curating amazing experiences with her family.

Hauʻoli lived in Haneoʻo village her entire life, before attending Oregon State University and Seattle University. She returned home to Hāna in 2020, continuing to reside in the village she was raised in with her ʻohana. For generations, her family was born and raised in the Hāna and Kīpahulu moku of East Maui. With the guidance of those who came before her, and the aloha of her ʻohana today, she remains dedicated to the kuleana of caring for this place we call home and the generational families of this ʻāina. 

Born and raised on Maui, Nanea has deep generational ties to Maka‘alae through the Kauimakaole and Kalani bloodlines. A proud graduate of Hāna High & Elementary School and Hawai‘i Pacific University, she brings nearly two decades of experience in journalism and public relations to her board role. Nanea currently leads communications for Hawai‘i’s public school system and draws on her storytelling background to support Ke Ao Hāli‘i’s mission to uplift community voices and protect Hāna’s legacy.

Sam traces his family history back seven plus generations on both his mother's and father's sides: from Kaupō to Kīpahulu to Ke'anae.  He graduated from Hāna High and Elementary School.  After nearly twenty years living outside of Hāna to work for local conservation groups, USDA Federal Wildlife and commercial ranches, he has returned home to Kīpahulu.  Sam is an avid Hawaiian practitioner from mauka to makai; a paniolo, farmer, hunter, gatherer and fisherman.  Above all he is a conservationist at heart.  He was given the kuleana as an early teen by his grandfather and granduncles, to protect and preserve these ancestral lands for the generations to come.  Sam is a husband, father and grandfather to nine mo'opuna; and takes the kuleana given to him very seriously.  In recent years, he has seen these Hāna 'āina threatened by sales to outside interests and proposed commercial ventures.  In addition to being a Ke Ao Hāli'i board member, Sam leads the Aha Moku for Hāna District, and supports the Kipahulu 'Ohana and the Lawful Hawaiian Government. 

Barry's grandmother, Rose Kaluna Ho’omalu — the daughter of Keokolo Kaluna Ho’omalu of Pu’uhawa and Luciana Ho’ole Kanui of Makena — was born in Maka’alae where she married Pelagio Sajulga and raised their children until she died at a young age.  Rose’s daughter, Genevieve married Barry's father Roland Chang and moved from Maka’alae to Hāna. Born in Pu’unene, raised in Hāna, Barry boarded and graduated from Lahainaluna High School. Barry is a founding member of Hana Canoe Club, the Pohaku Corporation and a youth soccer coach. Today he lives life for ‘ohana, conservation, sustainability, kai, wai, ‘āina and honua.

Scott has been a resident of Hāna for 30 years, and has worked with many nonprofit organizations in Hāna and Kīpahulu related to cultural traditions, environmental sustainability and land and coastal conservation and management.  Since 2023, he works as the Director of the Maui Marine Program for The Nature Conservancy. Prior to that, Scott worked as the Executive Director for the Kipahulu Ohana since 2002. He  currently serves as Chair of the Hāna Advisory Committee to the Maui Planning Commission. Scott grew up in Colorado, graduated high school from Seabury Hall and earned a BA in English and American Studies from Tufts University. 

Michelle grew up in Hāna, across the street from the legendary Maka'alae coastline. Her grandparents instilled in her the importance of gratitude and giving back to the community. Her connection to the environment and culture comes from being a hula practitioner for close to 30 years. She has traveled and studied around the world which has greatly broadened her perspective and increased her appreciation for Hāna. 

Mary Ann was born and raised on Oahu, she continuously visited Hamoa Village throughout her lifetime and today she feels blessed to live on generational land at Haneo`o, Hamoa Village.  She earned a BS in Nursing from University of Hawaii and MSN from University of Phoenix, Family Nurse Practitioner.  Mary Ann directly commissioned into the Air Force in 1997 and retired in 2017.  Her deployment experience includes tours to Qatar, Djibouti, Balad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  She represents the Pi'ilani 'Ohana of Hamoa and she expects to continue her grandpa George Kanawai Pi'ilani’s legacy of protecting, loving and respecting these lands that need to be left in conservation which will be held for the generations and descendants yet unborn.

Kane Kanakaʻole’s ʻohana roots trace back to Keʻanae, Koali, Kīpahulu, and Kaupō. Raised with the values of Aloha ʻĀina through his father, Kema Kanakaʻole, founder of Eastside Hui, Kane developed a lifelong commitment to caring for the land and community. As Branch Manager of Maui Economic Opportunity – Hana Branch for the past three years, he has worked closely with East Maui residents through transportation and community assistance services. Kane brings both his upbringing and service experience in support of Ke Ao Hāliʻi’s mission to preserve East Maui’s coastal lands for future generations.