Kahalu‘u Bay is truly a unique place, offering spectacular and easily accessible snorkeling with a colorful diversity of fish and coral. Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center (KBEC) was established in 2011 to promote reef-friendly practices to visitors in an effort to protect the bay’s fragile ecosystem and ensure the bay and park remain a clean, safe, and welcoming place for visitors and residents alike.
Are you using mineral sunscreen?
Certain sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that can kill coral larvae and contribute to coral bleaching. Before you enter the ocean, check out our Sun Protection Guide to discover mineral sunscreens and where you can buy them in West Hawai‘i.
Watch/listen: Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center Community Interview, conducted by Ka‘ea Lyons at KWXX-FM.
(Posted: February 3, 2021)
Recent research
Summary of the Water Quality Research from Kahalu‘u Bay, Hawai‘i Island: Tidal Flows, Recreation Water Indicator Bacteria, and Nutrient Fluxes
Provides an easy-to-understand synopsis of three technical reports to enable the community to “see below sea level” so that we may be better informed of the best stewardship of our nearshore waters.
»Read the Full Report
February 2022
Phytoremediation Assessment of Native Hawaiian Plants: Nitrogen Uptake by ‘Ahu‘awa and ‘Aka‘akai under Various Salinity Conditions
Report from a novel phytoremediation project designed to bridge ancestral knowledge with modern science to create natural solutions to address today’s water quality issues.
»Read the Full Report
September 2021
Coastal Assessment for Kahalu‘u Beach Park Planning
Recent identification of climate change and sea level rise as major factors in coastal planning for the future further emphasize the need for coastal engineering input to help guide the planning process.
»Read the Full Report
August 2021
Reef Etiquette
Learn how to enjoy the beauty of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs without damaging them.
Culture & History
Learn about Hawaiian culture and the history of Kahalu‘u and Keauhou.
Our ReefTeachers provide on-site education at Kahalu‘u Beach Park Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Want to contribute to a healthy future for Kahalu‘u Bay? Support Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center with a tax-deductible contribution. Mahalo for your kōkua (support)!
Interested in volunteering? We offer several rewarding opportunities!
Our ReefTeach community stewards educate with aloha, sharing knowledge with beachgoers about the bay’s corals, fish and invertebrates, and the ecology of the reef.- Our Citizen Science volunteers collect valuable scientific data that help us track the health of the bay.
- Volunteers at Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center welcome our guests and inform them about reef etiquette, reef-friendly sun protection, and marine life identification.
We provide all training! For more information and to sign up, please email Kathleen Clark or call 808-887-6411.