2024 Trilogy Recap: Celebrating Another Year for the Books
Wishing you and your ‘Ohana a Happy Holidays and many blessings in 2025! PC: @islanddreamproductions @annalisahawaii
As we wrap up 2024, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what has been an extraordinary year. We have experienced so much together, from challenges we've faced to the incredible impact we've made through our community efforts. Firstly, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our wonderful repeat and new guests. Your continued support over the last 51 years has been pivotal in fueling our passion at Trilogy. Mahalo for choosing to share your vacation with us and supporting our local Maui economy!
We are also profoundly grateful to the over 250 volunteers, the many local organizations, corporate partners, and community members who have invested their time, resources, and passion into our initiatives. We have truly made a significant impact over the last 12 months, proving that together, we can create meaningful change. They say it takes a village and that couldn’t be more true! As we look back on this year, it's clear that our collective efforts have fostered a stronger, more united Maui community.
In the spirit of gratitude, we invite you to read on about the highlights of our company highlights, fundraising initiatives, and community events in 2024:
Trilogy News
Leadership Transition
We have big news as we move into 2024! After 17 amazing years with Trilogy, our esteemed president, Gabe Lucy, has stepped down to pursue other endeavors. In light of this transition, we are thrilled to announce that Stephen Bennett has been elevated to the position of company president. Under Stephen’s leadership, we are excited about the future and everything 2025 holds for us.
Stephen Bennett, President of Trilogy Excursions, leading the awards ceremony at the 2024 Trilogy Christmas Party.
Recognitions and Achievements
We are honored to have received several notable recognitions this year, including:
4/9/2024 – On Medal of Honor Day, Captain Riley Coon of Trilogy Excursions was honored with the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Award in Washington D.C. on behalf of his team and community’s example of exceptional bravery and selflessness during the Lahaina Fire response.
Back in June, our short documentary "Trilogy: It's in the Heart" by Pacific Story Tellers won the prestigious 53rd Annual Northern California Area Emmy® Award in the Documentary - Topical category. To watch the film and receive updates about future film awards, please visit https://itsintheheart.com/.
Captain Travis DeWater was recognized by the US Coast Guard for his bravery and courage in the Lahaina Fires response.
Qurator Elite Member: Qurator was created in 2024 by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority as a way of recognizing leading businesses in Hawaiʻi in the field of responsible tourism. We are honored to hold the Elite Member Status, recognizing our commitment to responsible tourism and sustainable business practices.
Our continued efforts garnered attention through 11 published media events, focusing on Maui’s recovery and initiatives, including interviews about our work with Trilogy and other community-driven projects.
Community Support and Initiatives
We remain dedicated to supporting the reopening and rebuilding of Lahaina town and its commercial harbor, reinforcing our commitment to the community and its recovery.
New Retail Store
In the spirit of innovation, we launched our Shopify Retail Store, making it easier than ever to access our products. We also partnered with Upcountry Coffee Co. to co-brand a delightful coffee product called The Wayfinder, offering our guests a taste of local flavor.
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fundraising initiatives
MAHALO TO THE 3,635 DONORS ON GOFUNDME WHO COLLECTIVELY DONATED $659,896 TO OUR TRILOGY FIRE RELIEF FUND THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO OUR CREW AND STAFF WHO LOST EVERYTHING IN THE WAKE OF THE FIRES.
GEM Money Distribution
Through the Global Empowerment Mission Money Distribution program, we supported local families and individuals in need after the 2023 Maui Fires, demonstrating our commitment to uplifting the community and fostering resilience.
Roughly $200k has been distributed through Trilogy’s GEM fund, mostly to local businesses including (but not limited to): surf schools, photographers, builders and a handful of local families.
Lahaina ‘Ohana Ocean Therapy
Following the 2023 Maui Fires, we knew how much our Lahaina ‘Ohana needed ocean therapy. While connecting our community with housing and basic necessities were the immediate challenges our Lahaina community faced post-fires, we felt that providing an opportunity for normalcy and a day of fun on the water with us was a great way for us to continue to give back.
In total, we hosted 232 Lahaina & Upcountry community members who were most affected by the fires — whether it was bringing out our Lahaina community to events such as the August 8 one-year anniversary paddle out, or providing a family an unforgettable day on the water with us!
Koholā for Keiki whale watch program
February 2024: Captain Riley Coon demonstrating the hydrophone device to Kula School 1st Graders on one of Trilogy’s Keiki Whale Watches.
This year, our Koholā for Keiki Whale Watch program saw an impressive 579 participants across 15 custom events designed specifically for Maui schools. These events have not only educated our youth about marine life but have also fostered a deeper connection to our ocean environment. We are excited to start our Keiki Whale Watch program again this season!
For Children to Flourish
We also work with For Children to Flourish 501(c)3 to provide FREE boat trips for children, families, school groups, and non-profits, to enhance their programs and deepen their ongoing relationships. Since the 2023 Maui Fires, we’ve hosted 13 trips for keiki to experience a day out on the water with us.
VOLUNTEER EVENTS
Community Volunteer Events
Our volunteer initiatives have been a shining success, with six community volunteer events attracting 72 participants. Together, we generated 489 volunteer hours, equating to nearly $15,000 in community value based on the 2024 volunteer rate.
Earth Day at Kipuka Olowalu
April 2024: Trilogy staff at Kipuka Olowalu Earth Day volunteer event, learning about Hawaiian Kalo (Taro) farming and helping to plant native trees, clear land, and pull weeds.
Our Earth Day celebration at Kipuka Olowalu brought together community members for a day of environmental awareness and hands-on activities. Participants engaged in restoration efforts while learning about the importance of conservation in preserving our island's natural beauty through agricultural methods.
Kipuka Olowalu is an organization “seeking to preserve the Native Hawaiian cultural site, the Olowalu valley, located on the island of Maui. The Kipuka Olowalu team is driven to accentuate the relationship between humans and the environment through long standing native Hawaiian cultural knowledge, and passing said knowledge on to future generations.” Learn more about Kipuka Olowalu here.
Waihe'e Coastal Fishpond restoration
This past June was a very special gathering of community to come together to rebuild the Waihe’e loko i’a (fishpond). Over 300 people from Maui and the neighbor islands flew in to accomplish the goal of building 1,000 feet of the rock wall in one big push. Laulima– Many hands make light work! Great care was taken to ensure the wall was uniform, strong, and beautiful.
It was inspiring to hear many of the alaka’i (leaders) talk about how they envision this gathering to be something that will be talked about for the next many hundreds of years, as this wall will stand to hold back the waves and water when it becomes a fully functioning fish pond, once again. The original fishpond was built over 500 years ago, but sadly was destroyed when they introduced Cattle ranching into the area and diverted the water.
Kaho’olawe volunteer access mission
In May, Trilogy had the incredible honor of sending a group of crew and staff to Kaho'olawe to assist with conservation efforts led by the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC). Watch the video highlighting this memorable experience:
Seabury Winterim
We hosted Seabury Winterim, which provided 16 students with a week of hands-on experiential learning focused on marine sciences. This unique opportunity has allowed students to gain invaluable knowledge and experiences in a real-world context.
Blue Aina Program
Our Blue ʽAina program is the environmental arm of Trilogy Excursions, which not only focuses on cleaning the island’s reefs and shorelines, but also on supporting local non-profits, educating community members about environmental initiatives, and raising awareness towards protecting our island’s sensitive marine environment.
Throughout 2024, we have continued to offer our Blue ‘Aina program, and succcessfully hosted eight reef-cleanup events! A heartfelt thank you to our 250 community volunteers who collectively contributed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours, valued at $29,000. Your dedication and commitment have made a profound difference in the lives of many.We look forward to continuing this program and ensuring ongoing opportunities for community members to engage in ocean conservation and stewardship.
We’re grateful to have attracted four corporate sponsors this year, including the Westin KOR, Mahina, Mama’s Fish House, and Lumeria Retreat Center. Through their generous support, we connected their donations to various Maui nonprofits, resulting in over $6,500 raised for organizations such as the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Malama Kula, and Aloha in Action.
Learn more about Blue Aina here.
As we look back on this year's accomplishments, we remain proud that we are part of such an incredible community. Together, we have made strides in marine education, environmental restoration, and community engagement. Thank you to everyone who has participated, supported, and believed in our mission. Here’s to continued efforts and even greater partnerships in 2025!