The water quality is directly tied to the 60,000 homes and the water runoff that goes down the storm drains that empty directly into the bay, Miller said. The invasive species will require many hours of work, such as what was put in last February when 50 volunteers removed 250 pounds of mudweed and other algae, she said.

Maunalua Bay wasn't always like this, said Laura Thompson, who grew up in Niu Valley. When she was younger, farmhands on her father's dairy would regularly go squidding in the bay or catch fish for dinner. Then Hawai'i Kai was just fishpond, Nuiki Circle was a fishpond, Wailupe Circle and Paiko Lagoon — all fishponds.

Now in her 70s, Thompson, who is on the Malama Maunalua steering committee, feels it's her duty to step in and restore some of the community's past.

"We all care about the ocean, about all of Hawai'i," Thompson said. "In order to have a safe and healthy place, you have to take care of it and to learn about it. Everything in life is tied to nature, not technology."

While nothing can be done about the homes up and down Kalaniana'ole Highway, people can take stock of what role they play in preserving the environment for future generations, Miller said.

"Our organization is about kuleana, about understanding and then taking care of it," Miller said.

Paul Clark, a boat captain and president of the nonprofit Save Our Seas, a group formed after Hurricane Iniki hit Kaua'i in 1992, said that groups like Malama Maunalua can show people that the ocean's health plays a role in everyone's life.

"We routinely show people what a healthy reef looks like so when they see something different, they can call the proper authorities to get something done," Clark said. "By increasing the awareness, then they can take action individually. The government is too taxed and doesn't have the resources to do it alone. Communities need to play a bigger role in preserving beaches and reefs."

To achieve the three target areas, Miller said, the group plans to use education and outreach. They've already started, with a cleanup and algae removal in February. And they've launched Maunalua Makai Watch, a partnership with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which trains community volunteers and school groups about marine ecology, regulations and fishing practices and how to be more knowledgeable about laws and conservation practices.

"The bay hasn't been recognized as a bay before," said Carol Wilcox, a member of the Malama Maunalua steering committee. "It's a distinct bay with a fringe reef, although there is a lot of sediment and the fish population is low. But scientists have told us the chance for recovery is really high. There are lots of baby fish out there that don't develop."

Fish are not maturing, according to scientists, because there are no native habitats left in the bay, Wilcox said. The scientists have dissected the bay into 12 areas and are counting fish and other marine life in both deep and shallow waters, Miller said.

With the help of the community through the Makai Watch program, Malama Maunalua will be able to keep track of the fish counts and maintain a regular program for cleanups. So far, about 25 people have gone through the volunteer training in the Makai Watch program, Miller said. Makai Watch is a partnership with other organizations and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which operates similar programs in Pupukea/Waimea, Wai'opai (in the South Hilo area) and Miloli'i on the Big Island.

"What we're hoping for is developing conservation in our near-shore waters in an urban area," Wilcox said. "We see what we're doing as a template for other urban communities."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.