Restoring Hawai‘i’s Coral Reefs, a Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana Story
PBS Hawai‘i spotlights the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery and the important work it does to nurture our coral reefs.
Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i
On Sand Island, hidden among the hustle and bustle of transport vehicles and industrial businesses, resides the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery, an organization under the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources dedicated to restoring Hawai‘i’s coral reefs.
Coral reefs, which are vital ecosystems supporting a quarter of all marine species, are under threat from rising ocean temperatures, increased storm intensity, human interaction and local pollution. These factors contribute to coral bleaching, which results from the coral becoming stressed. If allowed to continue, bleaching will lead to coral death and the devastation of local ecosystems and fisheries that depend on healthy reefs.
That is where the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery comes in. Its mission is to accelerate coral growth beyond what nature can achieve alone. Since Hawaiian corals are known for their slow growth rates, they face prolonged recovery times after disturbances. The organization provides meticulous care and monitoring throughout the growth process and rapidly grows large coral colonies that provide more ecological services, such as more habitats for fish, reduction in wave energy, higher rates of reproduction and higher resistance to water temperature changes or predation. This results in healthier reefs in our state.
Hear from the dedicated team at the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery and learn what they do from start to finish in monitoring the entire coral reef growth process here.
This story is one of several featured as part of PBS Hawai‘i’s climate change initiative, Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana. We are highlighting efforts to educate about and combat problems like threats to coral reefs in our climate change initiative. The initiative includes original content created by our Hiki Nō at PBS Hawai‘i students, spotlighting their views on climate change and the issues their generation faces. Our initiative also shares stories of hope, solution-based projects like this one happening in our communities and in-person events for keiki.
For more information, visit pbshawaii.org/maukatomakai.
Every month, HONOLULU publishes a blog written by the folks at PBS Hawai‘i, the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i that receives support mainly through donations. Visit pbshawaii.org to learn more about exceptional, locally produced shows and the most prominent provider of educational and national programming. Explore music and the arts, discover in-depth documentaries and learn what makes Hawai‘i so special. Follow PBS Hawai‘i on all platforms: @pbshawaii
