Aloha ʻĀina in Focus: New speaker series launches with cultural leader Walter Ritte, May 20

A coalition of ocean and cultural organizations announces the launch of “Cultures & Coastlines,” a new speaker series focused on exploring the intersection of cultural heritage and coastal stewardship. The series debuts with “A Conversation with Walter Ritte: The Past and Future of Aloha ʻĀina,” on May 20, 2025, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Maui Ocean Center’s Sphere Theater.
Presented in partnership by ʻĀina Momona, the Maui Ocean Center, the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, and the Pilikahakai Foundation, the series aims to elevate community voices and expand public understanding of the importance of traditional knowledge in addressing present-day environmental and cultural challenges.
The inaugural event will feature Native Hawaiian advocate Walter Ritte, whose decades of aloha ʻāina leadership have helped shape environmental and cultural policy across Hawaiʻi. Ritte was recently recognized by the Maui County Council and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for his lifelong contributions to Native Hawaiian rights and environmental justice, a testament to his enduring impact on the islands.
His talk will reflect on his journey as a cultural leader and offer his perspective on how Hawaiʻi can move forward in protecting both its people and natural resources.
The event is free to attend with registration, which can be completed at bit.ly/ainamomonaMay2025 or by scanning the QR code on the event flyer. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged.
