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 longtime aquatic biologist Skippy Hau as its 2027 Champion of the Land at the 25th annual Buy Back the Beach benefit lūʻau.
The award recognizes substantial contributions to land conservation in Hawaiʻi. Hau’s career spans more than 40 years of research on native stream species, sea turtles, coral reefs, estuaries, and anchialine ecosystems, deepening understanding of the connections between healthy lands and waters.
“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.
Hau began working with Hawaiʻi’s aquatic resources in 1979 and retired in December 2021 after 36 years as a State of Hawaiʻi aquatic biologist. His research includes native goby migration and reproduction, hīhīwai recruitment in Maui streams, sea turtle nesting and health, and changes in coral reef communities. 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.
