When Protectors of Paradise began voluntarily cleaning the Makua section of Kaena State Park, they’d cart away truckloads of trash left by overnight campers and weekend revelers.

“When we first started we did what we could. Resources were limited. Hopefully, we can get more support and backing,” Jonathan Doane said.

The State Board of Land and Natural Resources recently granted the non-profit stewardship of Makua Beach and Keawaula, also known as Yokohama Bay.

“For us it’s a big step to earn more trust within the state parks, our community, also the kupunas with the civic clubs and other organizations that do the exact same thing that we do,” J.R. Auwae said.

The agreement is good for five years. The state said the group earned it.

Protectors of Paradise had partnered with the state over the past two years on various cleanup projects through the Adopt-a-Park program.

The curatorship agreement is a step above that arrangement.

“There’s a lot of issues to tackle here,” Doane said.

Protectors of Paradise will assist the State Parks Division with management and maintenance, and develop a landscaping plan to replace invasive plants with native ones.

Initial work will focus on Keawaula.

“The trash buildup is getting worse, the illegal dumping, the camping, the pallet fires and illegal drinking,” Auwae said.

The non-profit will also work on educating the public to be good stewards.

“There’s so much people, Hawaiian cultural practitioners with knowledge and ike that could use this park as a great teaching and learning environment for our future and our keiki,” Doane said.

The curatorship should also help Protectors of Paradise apply for grants to fund the kind of work they have been doing for free.