The Mālama Maui County Pledge

The County Council passed Resolution 20-94, the Mālama Maui County Pledge, for Maui in 2020. The purpose of this resolution is to provide visitors with clear guidelines to demonstrate their commitment to appropriate, respectful, and safe behavior when visiting any of the islands within Maui County through the establishment of the Mālama Maui County Pledge.

The Environmental, Agricultural, And Cultural Preservation Committee added language to encourage operators of hotels and vacation rentals to have their guests sign the pledge and to have the pledge be displayed in as many spaces throughout Maui County as possible. 

The following is for your use in your vacation rentals and with your guests:

The Mālama Maui County Pledge:

• I pledge to ho`oma`ema`e (do what is right) while visiting the islands and waters of Maui County.

• I will mindfully experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the `āina (land) and the welcoming aloha spirit of its po`e (people).

• I will be ha'aha'a (humble) and no`ono`o (thoughtful) in my actions.

• I will remember that each step I take is upon land that is someone else's home, sacred site, and living history. 

• If I do not know proper, respectful, or safe behavior, it is my kuleana (responsibility) to 'imi na'auao (seek knowledge) and ask before acting.

• I will be maka'ala (aware) while swimming and hiking, and I will respect the strength and power of ocean currents, rushing streams and the variable and unfamiliar terrain of these islands. 

• I will admire wildlife from a safe and respectful distance, as Hawai`i is the endangered species capital of the world.

• I will take nothing from this wahi (place) but memories and leave nothing but gratitude.

• I pledge to mālama  (take care of) Maui County, and remember that: He ali`i ka `āina; he kauā ke kanaka. "The land is a chief; man is its servant."

Download a copy of the Mālama Maui County Pledge: Take the Malama Maui Pledge.pdf

You can also further your understanding of how our visitor industry can embrace, embody and provide stewardship of the Hawaiian culture, visit the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association website. You can sign up to take their informative training workshops.

In addition the Hawaii Sustainable Tourism Association shares their travel pono trips here.

I would like to further this visitor awareness by adding some points borrowed from Kauai's Aloha Pledge. These are some very good practices to protect the environment and well being of the island.

• Children of Maui, I pledge to preserve and protect your special home, to engage with people and places in a balanced, respectful and sustainable way. 

• I will take time to learn about the Hawaiian culture and people. 

• I will remember I am a guest here and that others are not on vacation.

• I will stay in legal and licensed visitor accommodations.

• I will give fish and other wildlife space. I know feeding sea life can damage their health and disrupt behavior. 

• I will stay off the reef. I understand even brushing coral can kill a whole coral colony. 

• I will give space to fishermen so I do not scare the catch away. 

• I will only use “reef safe” sunscreens and bug repellent products free of oxybenzone and parabens to avoid ocean and stream contamination.

• I will look for welcoming signage to let me know if an area is public. If none is visible I will not intrude.

• I will buy flowers and produce from the store or a farmers market and never pick from someone’s yard.  

• I will clean and decontaminate all footwear and hiking gear with 70% alcohol or 10% bleach solution to prevent both Rapid Ohiʻa Death and other invasive species from spreading. 

• I will protect special places by never geotagging when using social media. 

• I will pick up my trash and any I may pass by.  

• I will always give aloha, kindness and respect before taking this special experience with me. 

Then finally I would also like to add a complaint I hear often from rural residents: Visitors please do not take pictures of people fishing, harvesting, cooking or otherwise going about their daily life. Be respectful, if you would like to take a photo of someone please ask first. 

To see the original resolution from the county of Maui:

https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8650145&GUID=DB237D18-68FB-4E74-9589-65DFF5CA2638

Photo by Lyle Hastie

The Maui Visitors Bureau, and Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau has also created these videos for all to use in their visitor education as well.  Let me know if you need assistance on how to share these videos on your website or your social media. You can find more videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/GoHawaiiTV

Water Safety