The 5th International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems (5ISAE) was held in Kailua-Kona from November 3rd – 5th and was a huge collaborative success! This was the first time Hawai‘i hosted this international event, and we welcomed more than 125 scientists, resource managers, students, and community members from around the world (78% from Hawai‘i, 17% from the US Mainland, and 5% from Croatia, Italy, Canada, and Mexico). We were honored to provide a platform for sharing the brilliant research, management and restoration projects going on both globally and locally here in Hawai‘i.
‘Ōpae ‘ula, or tiny red anchialine pool shrimp like the ones shown here, were a main topic of the 5th International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems, held in Kailua-Kona. Nov. 3-5, 2022 (Image credit: Lindsey Kramer).
In the words of Troy Sakihara of the Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources, “this year’s symposium was grounded upon the importance of and our collective kuleana (a broad, inherent responsibility) to culture and place. While the endemic flora and fauna of Hawaiian anchialine ecosystems are celebrations enough for conservation and protection, the cultural, spiritual, and historical significance of these pools are transcendent.”
Opening plenary presenters, Ku‘ulei Keakealani and Lehua Kamaka helped set the tone and intention for the event by having participants connect with e ola nā loko wai (the life-giving characteristics of these combined freshwater and marine ecosystems). The following day, plenary speaker Dr. Scott Santos walked us through the genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula (Halocaridina rubra) populations in the Hawaiian Islands. Symposium talks ranged from restoration techniques for improving water quality and eradicating invasive species, to preparing for the potential impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.
Plenary speaker, Dr. Scott Santos presented his research on the genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula, (Halocaridina rubra) populations in the Hawaiian Islands (Image credit: Lindsey Kramer/ HWF).
Other presentation highlights included:
- An overview of the protection and restoration efforts of the Kaumaui area in Keaukaha, East Hawai‘i, presented entirely in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, by student practioners from Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School.
- A overview of recent efforts to cultivate and use the native plant, ‘auhuhu (Tephrosia purpurea) and plant-based rotenone chemicals to help remove invasive fish and restore native wildlife to anchialine pools.
- A stunning, albeit not completely surprising talk on the impacts of microplastics reaching fragile anchialine cave ecosystems. Let’s all continue to cut-down on our use of single-use plastics, OK?
Huaka‘i (field trips) during the event featured informative visits to an array of anchialine ecosystems in West Hawai‘i, including both restored pools and pools populated with invasive fish (e.g., tilapia, mosquitofish, and guppies). The following week, some of our participants ventured all the way to Puna to check out the newly formed, geothermically-heated and piping hot anchialine pools inshore of a newly created coastline.
5ISAE huaka‘i (field trip) participants visited remote anchialine pool sites in Kaʻū (Image credit: HWF).
5ISAE participants visited anchialine pools and loko i‘a (fishponds) at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (Image credit: HWF/ DLNR).
According to Megan Lamson, HWF President and Hawai‘i Program Director, “the 5ISAE event was a grand success, bringing a wealth of knowledge and variety of anchialine perspectives from around the world and across Hawai‘i to Kona to discuss the ongoing research, restoration work, and protection efforts happening in these pools, ponds, cracks, caves and crevices. It was a true honor to see folks being able to learn and share from one another, Hawai‘i participants bringing more culture and place-based solutions and stories, and mainland / global researchers bringing more bio-geo-chemical aspects (and new vocabulary) to the table. We were humbled by the community support and are thankful that it brought such positive attention to these special habitats and the flora/ fauna/ fungus that live there.”
5ISAE participants presented research covering the latest science, management and restoration techniques for anchialine ecosystems (Image credit: HWF).
An enormous mahalo to the lead organizers of this event, including Hui Loko, our team at Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund (HWF), Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources: Division of Aquatic Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Division of State Parks, The Nature Conservancy, and National Park Service. Generous financial support was provided by Kamehameha Schools, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, He‘eia Bay Forever, the U.S. Geological Survey, Fair Wind Cruises, and several private donors. Other key sponsors included Lili‘uokalani Trust, Hawai‘i Fish Habitat Partnership, Hawai‘i Mountain Running, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawai‘i Coral Reef Initiative, David Shepard Hawai‘i, Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts, and the Four Seasons Resort. Finally, mahalo nui loa to our local vendors that donated items to support this event, including Annette Tagawa, Ao Organics Hawai‘i, Aquatic Life Divers, Ashley Pugh, Fish Hopper Restaurant (Kona), Friends of Lili’uokalani Gardens, Greenwell Farms, Hawaii Forest & Trail, J. Hara Store, Jack’s Diving Locker, Jodie Ray Rosam, Kahulale‘a, Ka‘u Coffee Mill and Visitor Center, Kona Coffee Company, Kona Joe Coffee, Lava Lava Beach Club- Waikōloa, Liko Lehua, Momi Ahu, Naomi Ahu, Nalu Builds, ‘Ohana Slippah Fish, Ola Brew, Orchid Isle Snacks, S. Tokunaga Store, Inc., Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours, Sig Zane Designs, and Takeo Gyotaku. Donated items helped fund additional student travel stipends and online accessibility of the symposium proceedings. To top things off, in coordination with CarbonBuddy, this event was carbon-neutral!
Want to learn more about the beauty, fragility, and importance of anchialine pools around the world? To see all of the presentations, check out the HWF YouTube channel and the 5ISAE event Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/hianchialine). Talks will continue to be posted throughout the month on both platforms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NmR2xxy9Zc&list=PLAi8pqpKGj4u-_7kxW7XutEjdbMljklP6.
Please tune-in to hear all that went on at the symposium and to learn more about the latest research, management, restoration and protection of these amazing ecosystems!
Finally, if you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift, there’s still time to order your official event shirts and totes, now through November 30th: https://www.bonfire.com/store/5isae–official-merchandise/
Mahalo nui loa again to all of our participants and everyone that helped make this event possible.
5ISAE participants enjoy an evening of viewing poster presentations and networking (Image credit: HWF).
