At our last West Maui Kumuwai Campaign Advisory Group meeting, while we were discussing things we could do together, Sarah Bryan of Pono Project Hawai’i said, “I’ve always wanted to do an event called “Save Water, Drink Beer.” We all liked the idea, and I noted that March 22nd is International World Water Day, and that was all it took. A few weeks later Sarah reported that Maui Brewing Co. was onboard, and we had an event to plan! Maui Brewing Co. has been a big supporter of local causes, and as a locally-based business, also has embraced sustainability. They have even brewed specially-themed beers in limited release, such as the Lorenzini Double IPA that is supporting shark research at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. As a science nerd and fan of sharks, I thought the name of the brew was brilliant – I hope beer aficionados who may not be familiar with shark anatomy are googling it right now.
In just a short time, a whole festival has come together, coordinated by Maui Brewing Co., Pono Project Hawai’i, and West Maui Kumuwai. Maui Brewing Co. is going above and beyond to make this a pretty awesome event – we hope you’ll join us on the 22nd at the brewery in Kihei. There will be live music, food trucks, games with prizes, special event t-shirts, and of course many local groups on hand to share information and fun activities focused on things we can all do for our ocean, mauka to makai!
Interactive outreach booths featuring more than 20 groups will be set up from 1-6 pm in the big warehouse-esque space that will one day hold the brewery’s restaurant. Want to learn how to test our ocean and stream water for turbidity, which is an important water quality measure? The team from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will be showing us how to do just that, but with Maui Brewing Co.’s various beers!
Interested in how the waves you surf are formed, or why different beaches end up with different breaks? The University of Hawai’i Maui College Marine Option Program is bringing their wave tank, so we can explore waves, currents, and coastal erosion in a fun way.
We’ll have an ongoing Water Pong tournament, and at 6 pm, join us on the front lanai for Water Trivia, pub quiz style! We’ll be signing up teams of 6 at check in, so get your team together!
Many thanks to Maui Brewing Co. and Sarah Bryan for making this all happen!
-Liz Foote, West Maui Kumuwai Campaign Manager
