East Maui Watershed Partnership
History and Mission
Established in 1991, the East Maui Watershed Partnership (EMWP) was the first alliance of its kind in Hawaiʻi, uniting federal, state, and private landowners to protect over 100,000 acres of native rainforest on the windward slopes of Haleakalā. EMWP works to safeguard the watershed from degradation by preserving native forests and their species, while educating the local community about conservation and watershed protection.
The East Maui Watershed contains the largest tract of intact native forest on Maui, and provides the state’s largest source of surface water for domestic, and agricultural uses.
Core Program and Services
The East Maui Watershed Partnership (EMWP) provides protection by prioritizing and addressing threats to the health of watershed areas. This includes constructing and maintaining fencing to exclude feral ungulates, managing invasive plant populations at strategic locations and helping to manage wildfire fuel in priority areas. These efforts protect the integrity of native forest ecosystems that play a critical role in capturing and filtering fresh water for Maui’s communities. In addition to its conservation fieldwork, EMWP places strong emphasis on community education and outreach to help local residents understand the value of watershed health.
Impact and Results
EMWP's efforts have led to significant achievements in watershed protection and community engagement:
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Improved management practices on 100,000 acres of essential watershed forest.
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Securing 60,000 acres of critical habitat for over 100 rare and endangered plant species.
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Historical presence of 13 native bird species within the watershed.
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Safeguarding 367 miles of streams from 39 perennial streams.
These accomplishments contribute to the preservation of Maui's unique biodiversity, make positive contributions to perpetuating culturally significant plants and animals, and ensure a reliable water source for future generations.
Mahalo to Our Supporters
Without the support of the Maui community, EMWP landowners, and funders, none of our goals to protect the East Maui Watershed could have been achieved. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the following:
Haleakalā Ranch, EMI, Haleakalā National Park, the Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i, State of Hawai’i DLNR, The County of Maui, Windward Aviation, Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project (MFBRP), the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai’i (RCUH), Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU), and Skyline Eco-Adventures.
