January 6, 2022 (BigIslandNow.com)—Seven Big Island groups were awarded funding in support of programs and projects they are working on to help preserve the island’s natural resources.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation recently announced $1.575 million in funding to support 31 community-based programs statewide through its Aloha ‘Āina program for 2022.
September 10, 2021 (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)—The Center for Biological Diversity announced Thursday a coalition of 60 community leaders, conservation organizations, businesses, elected officials and academics has petitioned the federal government to ban three harmful, coral-killing chemicals from sunscreens and other personal care products. The petition cites scientific studies on the dangers to Hawaii’s coral reefs and coastal ecosystems posed by oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.
KĀKOU – Hawai‘i’s Town Hall (PBS Hawai‘i, September 4, 2021)—Hawai‘i’s visitor count has come roaring back much quicker than experts predicted from the nearly empty days during the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resurgence of visitors has raised concerns from the community to limit the number of tourists. Join us for KĀKOU: Hawaiʻi’s Town Hall where we’ll discuss what the possible next steps are for our number one industry.
July 11, 2021 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—Hawaii wants better tourism management, but what immediate actions do residents most support? And is the Hawaii Tourism Authority the best management agency for the long term or should management fall to some other entity?
July 9, 2021 (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)—The number of surf schools allowed to operate and students in the water at Kahaluu Bay would be spread throughout the day under draft rules proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
June 3, 2021 (West Hawaii Today)—As Kahaluu Beach Park’s nine-day closure — allowing for a more successful coral spawning cycle — nears an end, officials are hoping for a swell of public cooperation to remain out of the bay during the closure’s final days.
May 25, 2021 (KHON2)—The Waialea Bay Marine Life Conservation District on the Big Island will be temporarily closed on Friday, May 28, and Saturday, May 29, for coral spawning. The half-day closures come on the heels of May’s closure at Hawaii County’s Kahalu‘u Bay.
May 17, 2021 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)—Kahaluu Beach Park will once again be closed to the public during the week of May 28 to June 5 to protect spawning cauliflower coral, according to Hawaii County officials. The state’s Division of Aquatic Resources and The Kohala Center, a nonprofit, are requesting the public’s cooperation in staying out of Kahaluʻu Bay during this critical time period.
March 31, 2021 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—There is another big sunscreen issue in Hawaii, and this one needs immediate action.
Although two harmful chemical sunscreens have already been banned in the state, there is strong scientific evidence that two more are harmful to both human health and coral reefs. In fact, mounting research suggests that these two chemicals, avobenzone and octocrylene, are life-threatening to Hawaii’s reefs and are bad for people, including our keiki.
March 14, 2021 (BigIslandNow.com)—Dear Ocean, a newly formed non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire appreciation and raise awareness of the complex challenges facing the ocean has named Cindi Punihaole, a native Hawaiian on the Big Island, the first Reef Hero.