‘100+ Women Who Care’ Raise $12,500 for Ocean Water Quality Program

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council board member Michelle Griffoul was exuberant after learning that the council’s Hui O Ka Wai Ola water quality monitoring program was awarded $12,500 by 100 Women Who Care – Maui. Courtesy photo.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s community-based ocean water quality monitoring program was awarded $12,500 in funds raised at the September 2018 meeting of 100+ Women Who Care – Maui, a group that holds quarterly meetings to raise funds for local nonprofits, charities and causes.

According to the 100+ Women Who Care – Maui website, the group’s members meet four times each year, with each meeting lasting one hour. Each member (and their guest) brings a check for $100 or more. Any member can nominate a local charity, nonprofit or worthy cause, and those names are put into a hat. Three names are drawn at random. The group then votes by secret ballot to choose one of the organizations or causes to support, with a collective donation that typically amounts to $10,000 or more.

Michelle Griffoul, a member of 100+ Women Who Care – Maui and a board member of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, nominated the organization’s Hui O Ka Wai Ola (Association of Living Waters) ocean water quality testing program. She spoke from the heart about her firsthand experience as a volunteer with this innovative monitoring program, which works with dozens of local volunteers to regularly test ocean water quality at 39 locations along the South and West coastlines of Maui.

The members voted by secret ballot and selected Maui Nui Marine Resource Council as the recipient of the funds raised at the meeting.

“We’re grateful to all of the community-minded women in this group who chose to support our Hui O Ka Wai Ola water quality testing program,” said Robin Newbold, MNMRC co-founder and chair. “Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is proud to be a co-manager of this unique program and we are grateful for all in our community who make it possible.”

“Clean ocean water is essential for healthy coral reefs,” said Newbold. “It’s also important to visitors and residents who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddling, fishing and surfing along Maui’s coasts. Our ocean water quality testing program and the data it generates is critical in our work for clean ocean water for Maui.”

Founded in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit organization that works for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and an abundance of native fish for the islands of Maui County. To learn more about Maui Nui Marine Resource Council or to donate, go online.

To learn more about 100 Women Who Care – Maui, visit https://100womenwhocaremaui.org.