East Maui Land Restoration is asking residents to take a survey focused on Honomanu Bay, shown here from the nearby lookout. Photo courtesy East Maui Land Restoration

Honomanu Bay is a popular place for surfing, fishing and beach recreation, but it has no trash receptacles, restrooms, picnic areas or formal camping accommodations.

According to the nonprofit East Maui Land Restoration, the absence of basic park infrastructure has contributed to ongoing issues such as excessive camping and occasional concerns about overfishing.

East Maui Land Restoration is developing a management plan for the park at Honomanu and seeking input from Maui residents, which the organization says will be used to help shape the future of Honomanu Bay.

“Honomanu holds varying significance for many people, and we want to ensure the management plan reflects the voices of all those who have a connection,” Nāpua Hu’eu, president of East Maui Land Restoration, said in a news release.

The survey asks about current park use, long-standing concerns and ideas for improvement. Responses will be compiled for the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation to guide future upgrades and management decisions.

Hu’eu, who has been making near-daily observations at Honomanu for the past six years, emphasized that many of the issues — especially those tied to unmanaged camping — have led to community concerns and growing tension.

“There have been scenarios where a large number of tents and vehicles are blocking public access to the stream, and that overcrowding creates barriers for subsistence fishermen and those doing stewardship work in the area,” she said.

Another serious matter is the lack of restroom facilities given the nature of large groups, often camping for days at a time.

Volunteers with East Maui Land Restoration perform waste removal, invasive species control, stream cleanup, native tree planting and the restoration of traditional taro patches in the valley. Photo courtesy East Maui Land Restoration

“The challenges at Honomanu are serious environmental issues,” Kiliiohu Thomas, a lifelong resident of Ko’olau Moku, said in the release. “Honomanu is not only a gathering place for our families here in Ko’olau, but also a resting place for our kupuna. Honomanu holds so much history, and yet it is desecrated by many visitors who use the bathroom here, and leave their waste. We are often cleaning up after others before we can even carry out our own cultural practices.”

Coming from a family with deep generational ties to the area, Thomas has heard residents voice growing concern about Honomanu’s condition, and she hopes the management plan will help.

Volunteers with East Maui Land Restoration have worked to take care of the area through grassroots efforts. Their services include waste removal, invasive species control, stream cleanup, native tree planting and the restoration of traditional taro patches in the valley.

Residents with a connection to Honomanu are being encouraged to participate in the online survey now available at www.EastMauiLand.org. The survey will remain open for public feedback through the summer.