Active Restoration
Below are some of our recent and upcoming projects to maintain and restore Kealakekua Bay.
In Partnership With
Kanu Koʻa at Kealakekua Bay
On February 25, 2024, Ho’āla Kealakekua Nui, Inc., in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), facilitated a ceremony to initiate a long-term, community-led coral restoration project. The DAR oversees the Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD).
The ka‘ina (ceremonial agenda), developed by HKN’s Cultural and Education Chair Kanani Enos and President Shane Akoni Palacat-Nelsen, was designed to include people of all backgrounds and specialties. The event began with a wehena, a series of chants acknowledging the unique environment of Kealakekua Bay, the land, and the ancestors of that place.
Members of TNC, DAR, and the community went aboard Kinikini, a double-hulled waʻa (canoe), to collect coral colonies for the onshore coral propagation portion of the day. Corals were received on land by kūpuna and local community members. Once ashore, the community observed and participated in the coral fragmenting process. Akoni led the community in setting intentions for planting. All fragmented coral was returned to the waʻa for transport back to the reef, where trained SCUBA divers began out-planting the coral.
The event was a beautiful and successful day for both the community and the koʻa. This coral restoration program will continue periodically under the leadership of TNC and DAR.
On July 24th, the team observed significant growth in the corals on the nursery table. Mikayla and Julia from The Nature Conservatory conducted a thorough cleaning and inspection of the corals, noting that everything is progressing well. Another round of checks is anticipated in the coming weeks.
In collaboration with the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), the team successfully rescued and reattached 13 coral colonies that were displaced by a strong south swell in mid-July. Several other colonies were also uprighted, giving them an opportunity to recover. This swift action was made possible through consistent monitoring efforts, allowing the team to detect the damage early.
An exciting development in recent observations was the spawning of the Brown Lobe Coral (Porites evermanni). This spawning event was witnessed not only in Kealakekua but also in Keauhou and as far as Maui, indicating positive trends for coral reproduction in the region.
Looking ahead, the team’s efforts will focus on regular monitoring and cleaning of the coral nursery. Plans are also underway for the next phase of the project, guided by Transformational Habitat, with a reconvening of the Coral Hui to strategize for continued success.
Join Us At Our Next Event
Events in October 2024
- There are no events scheduled during these dates.