Mālama Adventures

Redefining Adventure: Mālama Through Action and Adrenaline

The spirit of mālama can be found in the most unexpected places—even in the heart of an adventure park. It proves that a commitment to caring for the ʻāina and community is not at odds with the thrill of adventure. In fact, one can deepen the other. A prime example of this synergy is found at Coral Crater Adventure Park on Oʻahu.

Understanding these examples shows how the principles of mālama can transform any experience—from high-adrenaline adventures to solemn historical remembrance—into meaningful expressions of care and respect.

The land that Coral Crater now occupies was not always a lush jungle oasis. For years, it was a U.S. Navy coral quarry, a place where the ʻāina was mined and exploited for its resources to build runways, leaving a 60-foot-deep scar on the landscape. When the quarry was abandoned, it was left as a wasteland.

The creation of the adventure park was a deliberate act of healing and reclamation. The founders saw the scarred land not as a lost cause, but as "an opportunity to heal this scar and bring new life to a beautiful part of Oʻahu". This transformation from an industrial wound to a thriving ecosystem is a powerful, modern parable of mālama ʻāina.

Mālama in Practice: Daily Operations

Your Adventure with a Purpose

This story of restoration fundamentally changes the nature of the adventures offered at Coral Crater. The thrills are not just an adrenaline rush; they are a unique way to witness and celebrate a landscape that has been brought back to life.

Mālama Kekahi i Kekahi: Supporting the Community

The park's commitment to mālama extends beyond the ʻāina to the ʻohana—the community. Coral Crater has a robust fundraising program designed to support local groups. They actively partner with non-profits, schools, sports teams, and even hālau hula (hula schools), providing them with a unique venue and promotional support to hold fundraising events.

This is a powerful, modern example of mālama kekahi i kekahi (caring for one another). It creates a system where the fun and excitement of an adventure park directly contribute to the well-being of the local community. A visitor's decision to spend their day at Coral Crater becomes more than just a purchase; it becomes an indirect investment in a local soccer team, a school program, or the preservation of cultural arts through a hālau.

The concept of mālama is vast enough to encompass not only the natural world but also our collective memory and history. To care for a place is also to care for its stories. There is no place in Hawaiʻi where this form of mālama is more poignant or profound than at Pearl Harbor.

Long before it became synonymous with World War II, the area known as Pearl Harbor held deep significance for Native Hawaiians. Its traditional name is Wai Momi, meaning "Waters of Pearl," named for the pearl-producing oysters that once thrived in its estuary. It was a place of great sustenance, a rich fishery, and spiritual importance.

Preservation as an Act of Mālama

The events of December 7, 1941, forever etched a new, tragic story onto this ancient landscape. Today, Pearl Harbor is a complex and layered site—a National Historic Landmark, a place of global historical importance, and most significantly, it is a wahi pana (sacred, storied place) and a war grave, the final resting place for the 1,177 crewmen who perished aboard the USS Arizona.

Your Visit as an Act of Remembrance

A visitor's role at Pearl Harbor is not that of a passive spectator but an active participant in this ongoing act of mālama. Your quiet, respectful presence is a contribution, a way of bearing witness and honoring the memory of what happened here. Your support is tangible—proceeds from the official bookstore and tours directly fund the preservation efforts you see around you.