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Friday, 24 October 2025

‘Sea The Future’ Expands Across the Pacific: A Wave of Regenerative Tourism and Environmental Action

‘Sea The Future’ initiative
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania extends its ocean stewardship initiative to unite youth, communities and cultures across the Pacific

A Shared Responsibility Across the Pacific Ocean

Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania, represented by The Walshe Group, continues to lead by example in showing how travel and tourism can contribute positively to both community and environment. Through its annual ‘Sea The Future’ initiative, the organisation promotes regenerative tourism — a model focused on giving back more than it takes — grounded in the Hawaiian concept of kuleana, meaning responsibility.

The initiative, founded by Darragh Walshe of The Walshe Group, emphasises the deep connection that unites Pacific neighbours. “We are connected by the currents and tides of this beautiful ocean, as well as by the voyaging heritage that defines our region,” said Walshe. “With that shared history comes a shared duty to protect it.”

A Trans-Pacific Collaboration for Change

For the first time in its history, ‘Sea The Future’ spanned the Pacific Ocean from West to East, joining together Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania (HTO) and the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB). Both are Global Marketing Team contractors for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, representing Australia and New Zealand (HTO) and the United States (HVCB).

Supported by Hawaiian Airlines, this year’s initiative brought together passionate Youth Ambassadors from Seattle, Australia, New Zealand and Hawai‘i for a five-day environmental and cultural program in Maui. The experience provided young leaders with the opportunity to connect, collaborate and take meaningful action to protect the ocean that unites their nations.

Cleaning Up Our Oceans, One Shoreline at a Time

Curated by New Zealand-based environmental organisation Sea Cleaners, the 2025 program continued the successful partnership that began in 2018 between Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania and Sea Cleaners. Their shared mission is to raise awareness about ocean pollution and demonstrate how our daily habits on land impact marine ecosystems thousands of kilometres away.

Over two days of coastal clean-ups, participants collected more than 16,000 litres of plastic and discarded fishing net debris — including 10,000 litres on the first day and 6,000 litres on the second. The Pacific Whale Foundation will analyse the materials collected to determine their origin, age and environmental impact, providing valuable data for future conservation efforts.

Community Partnerships Powering the Effort

The Maui-based event marked a milestone for the initiative, bringing together a diverse network of local organisations and businesses. Key partners included the Maui County Office, Maui Visitors Bureau, Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, Love The Sea Foundation, Kahākūkahi, and several Lahaina area schools.

Together, these partners supported youth participants as they learned about marine ecosystems, sustainability, and the importance of shared responsibility. The program highlighted how tourism, when led with care and intention, can inspire global environmental stewardship and empower future leaders.

Inspiring a New Generation of Ocean Guardians

The success of ‘Sea The Future’ reinforces the growing recognition that tackling plastic pollution requires collaboration across borders and generations. By bringing young people together from across the Pacific, the initiative not only cleans coastlines but also builds lasting connections between cultures united by the sea.

As Darragh Walshe noted, “The issue of plastic pollution in our oceans requires a collaborative approach to educate and inspire young leaders who have the ability to help make change. We are proud that the ‘Sea The Future’ initiative continues to be part of this vital movement.”

For more information about ‘Sea The Future’ and Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania’s regenerative tourism initiatives, visit www.gohawaii.com/au.

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