SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2027
We proudly present the 25th annual Buy Back the Beach benefit lūʻau, an island style pā‘ina under the stars raising vital operational support for Hawai‘i Land Trust. We are excited to once again hold this event at Old Lahaina Luau and are grateful for their many years of generous support.
Hawai'i Land Trust serves as a dedicated partner, working with communities across the state to cultivate and steward the relationships between people and 'āina that sustain a healthy and thriving Hawai'i. From our coastal landscapes and vital agricultural lands to wahi kupuna that define our unique heritage, our work ensures that these storied spaces and biocultural resources are preserved for generations to come.
Buy Back the Beach, one of Maui’s most sought-after and exciting events, sells out each year! Your participation in this event directly supports HILT’s mission to protect, steward, and cultivate relationships with ʻāina on Maui and the rest of the State.
This year the event is 21 years+
2027 Champion of the Land
Skippy Hau
Hawaiʻi Land Trust is pleased to honor renowned aquatic biologist Skippy Hau as its 2027 Champion of the Land at the 25th annual Buy Back the Beach benefit lūʻau.
Hau’s career spans more than four decades of field research on native stream species sea turtles, coral reefs, estuaries, and anchialine ecosystems. Crucially, his decades ofstream research data and biological surveys provided foundational evidence during the contested case hearings for Nā Wai ʻEhā, helping establish instream flow standards that restored natural mauka-to-makai waters to Central Maui and supported the efforts of Hui o Nā Wai ʻEhā, of which HILT is a member.
“Skippy’s decades of careful observation and research remind us that caring for ʻāina means caring for the entire system—from our upland watersheds to the ocean,” said Denby Freeland, Director of ʻĀina Education and Community Impact at Hawaiʻi Land Trust. “Equally important is the energy he brings to our ʻāina-based programs. Generations of Maui keiki have learned how to observe and appreciate native river and reef ecosystems because Skippy stood in the water with them and shared what he knows.”
Hau began working with Hawaiʻi’s aquatic resources in 1979 and retired in December 2021 after 36 years as a biologist with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources. His long-term studies include native ‘o‘opu migration and recruitment, hīhīwai in Maui streams, sea turtle nesting and health, and nearshore reef resiliency. A graduate of James B. Castle High School in Kāneʻohe, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Since retiring, Hau can still be found working in Maui’s streams. He regularly volunteers across Maui, providing field data, mentoring educators, and working with schools and community organizations to introduce youth to native aquatic flora, fauna, and riparian ecosystems.
