The Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter is expanding its water quality monitoring and climate resilience initiatives following extreme weather events including the 2023 wildfires and record-breaking storms in March 2026. The organization is working to protect ocean resources and build community partnerships for long-term environmental sustainability.
- March 2026 brought a 1-in-1000-year storm system that dumped 2 trillion gallons of water on the Hawaiian Islands
- Peak rainfall reached up to 62 inches in some areas of Maui, with Haleakalā summit receiving 33 inches in 24 hours, nearly doubling the previous record
- Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force monitors fecal bacteria levels at approximately 15 beaches on North Shore and South Maui, plus four sites in Hana
- Post-wildfire concerns about coastal water safety near burn zones prompted expansion of monitoring efforts into West Maui areas
- Climate-driven drought, invasive plants, and hurricane-force winds were contributing factors to the 2023 Maui wildfires
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