This guest blog from Dr. Rick Bennett and a recent May 2025 water quality report from our partners with Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi highlights the ongoing problem of wastewater on our nearshore coastal ecosystems.
Did you know that Hawaiʻi has more than 80 species of coral reef huʻakai or ʻūpī (sponges)? Some types of sponges are an important food source for endangered honuʻea (hawksbill) sea turtles, and in general, sponges are a key resident on a healthy coral reef ecosystem (although some varieties will overgrow coral).
This month, we are featuring the beautiful, bright yellow lauʻīpala, also known as lāʻī pala, yellow tang, or Zebrasoma flavescens. Similar to many other types of surgeonfish, lauʻīpala are an important reef grazer, and can help promote coral reef resiliency by removing algae from reef substrates.
Grazers, also referred to as herbivores, help keep coral reef areas healthy and resilient by consuming and removing most types of algae. This regular clearing of algae creates space for corals to grow and also opens up the reef for new larval corals to settle. Be sure to weigh in on the new proposed rules to protect reef grazers in Hawaiʻi.
As we approach the beginning of the coral spawning season for many of Hawaii’s coral species, we wanted to feature the once common and critically important habitat architect, Pocillopora meandrina, commonly known as cauliflower coral. Unfortunately, we learned in 2015 that cauliflower coral is highly susceptible to heat stress and bleaching. Spawning events play a key role in the recovery of this species.
Did you know there are no sewer lines along Ali‘i Drive from Kahalu‘u Beach (at Makolea St.) to Queen Kalama? We need your help TODAY to protect the health of citizens and the reefs in Kailua-Kona.
In December 2022, the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved a new, temporary rule prohibiting the take of pāku‘iku‘i (Acanthurus achilles) within the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area (WHRFMA) on Hawai‘i Island. This is the first time that the Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR-DAR) has adopted rules under the adaptive management rulemaking authority, which allows for temporary management measures in response to observed population declines.
With new sunscreen rules in Maui and Hawaiʻi Counties, how do I choose a reef-safe (mineral-based) sunscreen? The best reef-safe formulas are made with non-nano zinc-oxide or non-nano titanium-dioxide. With the many sunscreen options out there, along with sometimes misleading "reef-safe" labeling, it can be overwhelming to choose a trustworthy sunscreen! Many great reef-safe sunscreen options are made locally here in Hawaiʻi and are available in plastic-free packaging. Be sure to carefully read labels as you select a sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's rays.
Last week, Hawai’i officially received its final shipment of coal to the state, meaning we’ll be coal-free by the end of September 2022. We couldn’t be more supportive of this state initiative towards clean energy!
The coral spawning season in Hawaii has begun! Each spring, the Hawaiian coral species, Pocillopora meandrina, or cauliflower coral, clouds the coastal sea with its annual broadcast spawning event. These short-lived events occurring just after sunrise signify the creation of the next generation of corals.
