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Ocean Project Frameworks Next Steps: Your Input Needed by March 24

·6 min read·⚡ Act Now

Executive Summary

ʻĀina Momona is seeking input from ocean users and stewards for upcoming focus groups to shape community-based frameworks for Hawaiʻi's ocean projects. Participation is critical for influencing policy and future project decisions, with sessions beginning March 24. Tourism operators, agriculture producers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners should register to align future operations with evolving ocean resource management.

Action Required

High PriorityMarch 24

The focus group sessions begin on March 24, and the window to register or participate will close shortly thereafter, missing the opportunity to shape upcoming ocean project decisions.

Registration for these critical focus groups must be completed by March 20, 2026, to ensure participation in sessions beginning March 24 and to influence the foundational elements of Hawaiʻi's future ocean project management. Failure to register in time means forfeiting a direct opportunity to shape policies that will affect your operational costs, resource access, and long-term business sustainability.

Who's Affected
Tourism OperatorsAgriculture & Food ProducersEntrepreneurs & StartupsSmall Business Operators
Ripple Effects
  • →Frameworks influencing resource access → impacts on marine-dependent agriculture and tourism viability
  • →New ocean project regulations → potential increased permitting costs and timeline for ocean tech startups
  • →Community input on marine spatial planning → shifts in commercial fishing areas affecting local food supply chains for small restaurants
Breathtaking drone shot of Hawaii's Hamakua coast with lush green cliffs and deep blue ocean.
Photo by Josh Withers

Ocean Project Frameworks Next Steps: Your Input Needed by March 24

Executive Brief: ʻĀina Momona is seeking input from ocean users and stewards for upcoming focus groups to shape community-based frameworks for Hawaiʻi's ocean projects. Participation is critical for influencing policy and future project decisions, with sessions beginning March 24. Tourism operators, agriculture producers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners should register to align future operations with evolving ocean resource management.

  • Tourism Operators: Opportunity to influence regulations affecting marine tourism, eco-tours, and coastal access.
  • Agriculture & Food Producers: Direct channel to impact aquaculture, nearshore fishing regulations, and marine resource allocation.
  • Entrepreneurs & Startups: Chance to shape the environment for ocean tech, sustainable blue economy ventures, and related innovations.
  • Small Business Operators: Input into how coastal development, marine conservation, and ocean resource use affect local businesses.
  • Deadline: Registration and participation are time-sensitive, with sessions starting March 24.
  • Action: Register for focus groups to provide input by March 20 to ensure your business interests are represented.

The Change: Community Input for Ocean Project Frameworks

ʻĀina Momona, a non-profit organization focused on environmental stewardship, is initiating a crucial process to develop community-based frameworks for managing and implementing ocean projects across Hawaiʻi. These frameworks will guide future decisions regarding marine research, conservation initiatives, sustainable resource use, and potentially commercial ocean activities. The organization is actively recruiting diverse ocean users—including commercial fishermen, tour operators, aquaculture farmers, researchers, recreational users, and coastal community members—to participate in a series of online focus groups, referred to as "talk story" sessions.

These sessions are scheduled to commence on March 24, 2026. The primary objective is to "center the voices of those who live and work in relationship with the sea." This means that the practical, on-the-ground perspectives of those directly interacting with Hawaiʻi's marine environment will be instrumental in shaping policies and management plans. The outcomes of these focus groups are expected to influence the allocation of marine resources, permit processes for ocean-based ventures, and the overall direction of Hawaiʻi's blue economy development.

Who's Affected

Tourism Operators

Businesses reliant on Hawaii's marine environment, such as boat tour operators, dive shops, surf schools, and hotels with coastal access, stand to be significantly impacted. The frameworks developed could influence regulations on marine mammal interactions, protected areas, visitor capacity at sensitive sites, and the scope of permissible activities. Input now can help ensure that future regulations support sustainable tourism practices without unduly restricting operations or visitor experiences. Failure to participate risks the imposition of new rules that may not adequately consider the economic realities of the tourism sector.

Agriculture & Food Producers

This initiative is critical for aquaculture operators, nearshore fishers, and any businesses involved in marine resource harvesting or cultivation. The focus groups will contribute to decisions on marine spatial planning, fisheries management quotas, water quality standards for aquaculture, and potential conflicts between resource extraction and conservation efforts. Providing input can help shape policies that ensure the long-term viability of marine-based food production and protect the resources these industries depend on.

Entrepreneurs & Startups

Ventures in the burgeoning ocean technology sector, sustainable blue economy startups, and companies developing marine-friendly solutions will be affected by the governance structures established. The frameworks could dictate permitting pathways, areas available for development, environmental compliance standards, and opportunities for innovation. Early participation allows entrepreneurs to advocate for a regulatory environment that fosters growth and investment in the marine sector.

Small Business Operators

Beyond direct ocean users, smaller businesses in coastal communities, including restaurants sourcing local seafood, retail shops catering to tourists, and service providers, will feel the ripple effects. Changes in ocean resource availability, tourism management, or new environmental regulations can directly impact supply chains, customer base, and operational costs. Contributing to the framework discussions provides a voice for these businesses, ensuring their operational stability and economic health are considered.

Second-Order Effects

Participating in the development of these ocean frameworks is more than a single event; it's an opportunity to influence the future economic and environmental landscape of Hawaiʻi. The frameworks established now could cascade through the island economy. For instance, if regulations restrict certain fishing or aquaculture activities without providing viable alternatives, it could lead to increased reliance on imported seafood, impacting local food security and potentially raising costs for restaurants and consumers (Agriculture & Food Producers → Small Business Operators → Consumers). Conversely, frameworks that foster sustainable ocean tech development could create new high-skill job opportunities, influencing the talent pool available for all sectors, including tourism and existing small businesses (Entrepreneurs & Startups → Workforce Development → All Sectors). A poorly managed process could also lead to increased permit complexity and delays for any ocean-dependent business, raising operational costs and potentially stifling new ventures (Policy & Regulation → Business Operating Costs → Entrepreneurship).

What to Do

Act Now: The window for direct input is closing rapidly, with focus group sessions starting March 24. To ensure your business interests and operational realities are considered in the development of Hawaiʻi's future ocean project frameworks, immediate action is required.

  1. Identify Your Interest: Determine how your business or role is directly or indirectly connected to Hawaiʻi's ocean resources and decision-making processes.
  2. Register for Focus Groups: Visit the ʻĀina Momona website or contact them directly to learn about specific focus group topics and registration deadlines. Registration often requires a brief survey to match participants with relevant discussions.
    • Source: ʻĀina Momona (for initial announcement and contact information)
  3. Prepare Your Input: Before the scheduled focus group, articulate your business's reliance on ocean resources, potential impacts of new regulations, and suggestions for sustainable management. Consider economic feasibility, environmental impact, and community benefit.
  4. Attend and Participate: Actively engage in the "talk story" sessions. Share your perspective constructively and listen to others to understand broader community concerns.

Action Details: Registration for these critical focus groups must be completed by March 20, 2026, to ensure participation in sessions beginning March 24 and to influence the foundational elements of Hawaiʻi's future ocean project management. Failure to register in time means forfeiting a direct opportunity to shape policies that will affect your operational costs, resource access, and long-term business sustainability.

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