Big Island beach closing for 2 days to protect spawning coral
April 16, 2019 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)—Hawaii County officials are closing Kahaluu Beach Park in Kailua-Kona on May 20 and 21 to protect the reef during coral spawning events.
Celebrate Earth Day at Kahalu‘u
/in KBEC News /by liamApril 5, 2019 (BigIslandNow.com)—For Earth Day, April 22, 2019, you can give back to Mother Nature and deepen your relationship with one of West Hawai‘i’s most beloved environmental and cultural treasures as well, thanks to The Kohala Center.
ReefTeach Volunteer Orientation Set for March 16
/in KBEC News /by liamMarch 8, 2019 (BigIslandNow.com)—The Kohala Center’s Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center is seeking community members interested in volunteering to help protect Kahalu‘u Bay and its coral reefs, fish and turtles.
A free orientation session for new ReefTeach volunteers will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona.
Hawaii Becomes First State To Ban Sunscreens Harmful To Coral Reefs
/in KBEC News /by liamJuly 4, 2018 (I4U News)—Hawaii happens to be the first state of the USA to put restrictions on sales of harmful sunscreens which destroy coral reefs. The Governor of the Aloha State put his name on a bill that ensures that sunscreens containing two deadly chemicals will be banned.
Certain coral species thriving: Research into their molecular biology offers glimmer of hope
/in KBEC News, Mellon News /by liamJune 25, 2018 (West Hawaii Today)—More than 60 percent of U.S. coral reefs are found in the extended Hawaiian Island chain. The main Hawaiian Islands include more than 4,000 acres of coral reef habitat.
These reefs are a key component of the marine economy and play an incredibly important role in the world’s food chain – providing 500 million people with their primary source of protein.
Malama Moana: Take Care of the Ocean that Takes Care of You
/in KBEC News /by liamMay 18, 2018 (Ke Ola Magazine)—Sometimes through ignorance, we smother our beaches, reefs, and wildlife with so much affection and attention that they are left gasping to recover.
At Kahalu‘u Bay in Kailua-Kona, the community saw this happening. Beautiful Kahalu‘u Bay was deteriorating due to unaware actions of thousands of park visitors each month. “Tourists were sitting on the turtles to take a picture. They were turning them over,” says Cindi Punihaole, director of the Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center. “The community, businesses, and the UH Sea Grant Kona agent went to The Kohala Center and said, ‘We need help educating people.’” Now a partnership of these entities, plus the County of Hawai‘i Parks Department, provide a model of welcoming, effective on-site education.
Hawaii island’s Kahaluu Beach Park closed due to coral spawning
/in KBEC News /by liamMay 1, 2018 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)—Hawaii County closed Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling spot on Hawaii island, from 7 a.m. to noon today as well as Tuesday due to anticipated coral spawning events. The beach park is also scheduled for closure during the same hours on May 31 and June 1.
Kahaluu closed for coral spawning May 1-2
/in KBEC News /by liamApril 27, 2018 (West Hawaii Today)—Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation will close Kahaluu Beach Park from 7 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Wednesday due to anticipated coral spawning events.
According to the Division of Aquatic Resources and Eyes of the Reef Network, cauliflower coral (pocillopora meandrina) was once abundant on shallow coral reefs along West Hawaii, including Kahaluu Bay. However, a global thermal stress event resulting in very high ocean temperatures struck West Hawaii in the fall of 2015, and caused catastrophic bleaching and mortality for more than 90 percent of the regional population of cauliflower coral.
Big Island: Saving Reefs One Sunscreen Container At A Time
/in KBEC News /by liamApril 20, 2018 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—A Big Island nonprofit isn’t waiting for the Hawaii Legislature, which may soon ban the sale of sunscreen products containing the coral reef-damaging chemical oxybenzone.
The organization is already working to remove the offending sunscreen — one container at a time. On Saturday, it was offering beachgoers free samples of reef-safe sunscreen in exchange for the bad stuff.
Officials mum on surf school pilot progress at Kahaluu
/in KBEC News /by liamApril 15, 2018 (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)—More than two weeks after a deadline to submit bids for a surf school pilot program at Kahaluu Bay, local surf schools said they haven’t heard anything from either the county or the nonprofit picked to manage the program.