"In the end, We will conserve only what we love, We will love only what we understand, We will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum, African Ecologist

Wetlands are necessary for the survival of birds and other wildlife. Wetlands provide their food and shelter. Nearly 90% of Hawaii's wetlands have disappeared, making it vital to save some of the remaining wetlands. Hawaii's freshwater streams and wetlands are home to wildlife found no where else in the world. If the wetlands continue to disappear, the birds, insects, and wildlife living there may disappear forever.

Although siltation, the filling of the waterways with fine clay and dirt, is natural, this causes the loss of wetlands. It is necessary to control this process so that the is habitat for endangered species can be saved. Wetland management requires an understanding of the interrelationships between the habitats and the resources needed for them to survive. Water introduced to maintain wetlands needs to model those found in nature.

Hawaii Vision Statement "Hawaiian wetlands shall be integrated into the watershed, or ahupua'a (early Hawaiians managed the land by dividing it into large pieces called ahupua'a), extending from the uplands to the coastal waters. They shall be preserved, conserved, restored, and created in order to maintain habitat, support species biodiversity, nurture fisheries, control floods, improve water quality, sustain cultural resources and provide scenic vistas."

A boardwalk is one way of having visitors come to the marsh without disturbing the birds, it is usually made of planks of wood, a natural material, that is built as a sidewalk. This could be built along the other side of Hamakua Marsh for people to walk along and observe the habitats of birds. At one point, there should be a gazebo for people to rest on benches and quietly watch. Facts about the birds and wetlands could be posted inside the gazebo. The gazebo is a way to allow people to observe the birds without scaring them away.