Hoaʻāina o Hāʻena Makai Watch Coordinator

Position Title: Hoaʻāina o Hāʻena Makai Watch Coordinator

Organization: Hui Maka’āinana o Makana

To Apply: Email cover letter and resume/CV info@huimakaainanaomakana.org

Deadline to apply: Open Until Filled

Summary:

Over the past several years the Hui Maka’āinana o Makana (the Hui) has been working to strengthen the stewardship of the marine, coastal, and terrestrial resources of the Hāʻena area. This has included:

1. Entering into Curatorship Agreement with the State Park system to manage 15 acres including a traditional loi (taro field) located within Hāʻena State Park boundaries,
2. Creation and active stewardship of a Community-based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA),
3. Research on and monitoring of marine resources and human uses of resources in the area,
4. Implementation of Makai Watch including awareness raising and outreach and observation and incident reporting to strengthen the active management of marine and coastal resources in Hāʻena; and
5. Many other activities.

Makai Watch has been an important component of the Hui’s work and has been pursued as part of the overall stewardship of Hāʻena. The Hui has approached Makai Watch from a broad perspective to be as effective as possible in supporting the Hui’s overall stewardship efforts. This means taking care of an entire coastal region, which includes mauka and makai. The Hui’s stewardship responsibility does not end at the water’s edge. It extends inland to compliance concerns related to many issues that extend beyond Makai Watch as articulated by the State of Hawaiʻi Makai Watch Program. With this in mind the Hui’s Makai Watch Program has six main program components.

1. Outreach and Advocacy: to key agencies and partners on the need for management;
2. Rules Package Support: to strengthen marine resource and boating regulations;
3. Shoreline Presence: to raise awareness of the CBSFA, increase compliance, and report on violations;
4. Research: to understand the status and use of marine resources;
5. Education and Outreach: to stakeholder groups to increase support for the stewardship efforts; and
6. Volunteer Coordination: to strengthen effective participation in stewardship activities.

The Coordinator will lead the Makai Watch Program with a focus on Coastal Presence, Research, Education and Outreach, and Volunteer Coordination. Moving forward, the other components that have historically been part of the Makai Watch Program in Hāʻena will be led by other Hui members and partners. These include: Outreach and Advocacy, Rules Package support, and some aspects of Research. The new Makai Watch Coordinator will help to support these components and provide required information and conduct key tasks as needed. However, activities under these categories will be led by other Hui members and partners.

Desired Outcomes

Below we list the Outcomes that the Hui would like to achieve under each of the Makai Watch program components that will be led by the new Makai Watch Coordinator. The Makai Watch Coordinator will be responsible for pursuing these outcomes with the support of the Hui. Essential Duties and Responsibilities are summarized after the Outcomes.

1. Shoreline Presence: The Hui would like to provide a more strategic presence along the shoreline to help increase compliance with CBSFA rules. This increase in strategic presence will focus on awareness raising and reporting on violations and would be deployed based on a growing understanding of when key violations are likely to occur. The Hui wants to see more involvement increasing presence along the shoreline from Hui members and from other Hāʻena residents. The Hui would also want to see more strategic DOCARE presence in Hāʻena which can be strategically pursued in alignment with increasing presence by community members.

• Target Outcome: Within two years, the Hui would have the capacity to provide strategic shoreline presence, DOCARE would also provide strategic presence in Hāʻena, and the public, fishers, and visitors would have an improved understanding and awareness of the Hāʻena rules.

2. Watershed Research: For the research activities, the Hui anticipates continuing our ongoing community-based watershed monitoring and maintaining the existing database of information from monitoring. The Coordinator will support/ help the Education Specialist and Community Liaison that coordinates the Limahuli/Hui education programs for the ahupua’a. 

• Target Outcome: Within two years, the Hui’s community-based monitoring will maintain good collaboration with all research partners and assist with database of information that complements and supports the community’s efforts in Hāʻena.

3. Education and Outreach: For the education and outreach activities (inside and outside of Hāʻena), the Hui would like to increase awareness of the Hāʻena CBSFA and State Park rules to residents, visitors, and resource users as a means to reduce violations and increase responsible practices.

• Target Outcome: Within two years, active education and outreach efforts will reach key groups to increase their awareness of the rules. More than 1 out of 10 people who visit Hāʻena will know the rules.

4. Volunteer Coordination: For volunteer coordination activities, the Hui would like to ensure that volunteers are actively recruited and retained, build a sense of community among themselves, are well trained, safe, and motivated to help care for the Hāʻena area. Also, the Hui would like to be sure that volunteer activity is well coordinated and strategic to have the greatest possible benefit for the resources and community.

• Target Outcome: Within two years, all the volunteers will know each other. There will be 5-8 Hui members or volunteers effectively trained in Makai Watch protocols who provide at least 17 hrs/month implementing the MW program. Additionally, all participants in the MW program will know the relevant rules, including CBSFA, DOBOR, State Park, and County Park.

Makai Watch Coordinator Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities of the Coordinator will include:

1. Become the primary point of contact with DLNR including DSP, DOCARE, DAR, DOBOR. This should include coordinating to increase the strategic presence of DOCARE along the shoreline and following up with DOCARE to understand what happens after incidents are reported. Coordinate strategic outreach along the shoreline in times/ seasons of heavy use to inform users of the CBSFA rules. The goal is to strengthen compliance of the Hāʻena CBSFA rules and monitor compliance by increasing the presence of community members providing outreach along the shoreline.
2. Recruit and retain Hui and other community members to actively participate in increasing the strategic shoreline presence.
3. Coordinate and supervise Makai Watch volunteers. This will include making sure they are trained; follow Makai Watch protocols for interaction, record keeping and reporting; are safe; have needed supplies including uniforms and safety equipment; and report regularly to the Coordinator.
4. Create and maintain a flexible volunteer schedule that allows interested people to attend trainings and events.
5. Engage and coordinate with nearby residents to encourage them to play a more active role in observation and incident reporting.
6. Coordinate targeted education efforts about the CBSFA rules to potential CBSFA users outside of Hāʻena including: fishing tournament organizers, fishing stores, neighborhood boards, camping permit agencies, visitors to Kee Beach Park, and the North Shore community.
7. Coordinate with the Hā’ena Education Specialist and DAR to make sure DAR provides periodic feedback and presentations to the community.
8. Assist in sharing Hā‘ena’s experiences with other communities across our moku, islands, and State to support them as they pursue restoration efforts.
9. Assist in fundraising and reporting activities to help continue the stewardship work of the Hui.

Education and/or Experience:

1. At least two years of experience in community-based natural resource management.
2. Ability to communicate and work with people in often tense and difficult situations.
3. Demonstrable leadership and coordination experience including the coordination of volunteers, coordination with partner organizations, and timely implementation of project activities and delivery of project outputs
4. Experience with work plans and project reports.
5. Familiarity with the Hawaiian language and culture, and local community dynamics/culture.

Skills:

1. High level of interpersonal skills and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations with poise, tact, and diplomacy.
2. High level ability to establish and maintain community relationships in the Hāʻena.
3. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of volunteers, Hui members, and community members.
4. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions and/or complaints from groups of community members, co-workers, volunteers, collaborators, and the general public.
5. Sufficient comfort with public speaking to be able to give presentations to community gatherings and professional meetings.
6. Must be highly organized and flexible, with attention to detail.
7. Must represent the Hui well in all that they do.
8. Ability to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

1. Must be able to work in inclement weather conditions including rain, fog, and hot sun for extended periods of time.
2. Must be able to negotiate coastal terrain and perform tasks demanding walking, hiking, and snorkeling.