Priority Objectives HCRS Goals - Hawaii Coral Reef Strategies

HCRS Goals 

• Coral reefs undamaged by 

pollution, invasive species, 

marine construction and 

marine debris. 

• Productive and sustainable 

coral reef fisheries and habitat 

• Coral reef ecosystems resilient 

to climate change, invasive 

species and marine disease. 

• Increased public stewardship 

of coral reef ecosystems. 

The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources 

(DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is the primary agency 

responsible for coordinating Hawaii’s reef management efforts in the 

Main Hawaiian Islands. The Coral Reef Working Group (CRWG), 

made up of state and federal agency partners involved in coral reef 

management, is facilitated by DAR to provide guidance for the State of 

Hawaii’s Coral Program (Coral Program). 

In order to provide a cohesive strategy for coral reef management in Hawaii, the CRWG 

developed a framework for coral reef management activities titled, Hawaii’s Coral Reef 

Strategy: Priorities for management in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2010-2020 (HCRS). The 

HCRS was informed by multiple interviews and workshops with resource managers, biologists 

and stakeholders, as well as by reviews of plans, and studies of comments from public 

meetings held around the state. 

Priority Objectives 

• Reduce key anthropogenic threats to two priority near-shore coral reef sites by 2015 

and five by 2020 using ahupuaa based management. 

• Prevent new aquatic invasive species (AIS) introductions and minimize the spread of 

established AIS populations by 2020. 

• Increase the abundance and average size of ten targeted coral reef fisheries species 

critical to reef health and ecological function by 2020. 

• Designate a sufficient area of marine waters under effective conservation by 2020 to 

ensure sustainable and resilient coral reef ecosystems. 

• Reduce anchor damage and trampling on coral reefs through the implementation of 

no-anchor zones, utilization of day-use mooring buoys and other means by 2020. 

Robert Nishimoto, Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813 

Robert.T.Nishimoto@hawaii.gov (808) 974-6201

Priority Sites 

West Maui 

The Watershed Assessment Management Plan (WAMP) will be developed through a costshare 

agreement between the State of Hawai`i, Department of Land and Natural Resources 

(DLNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The WAMP will provide an 

umbrella process to coordinate the variety of partnership initiatives within the study area. 

The US Coral Reef Task Force designated the West Maui Watershed Plan as the priority 

partnership in the Pacific in 2011. With NOAA support, the Wahikuli and Honokowai 

Watershed Assessment was initiated in September. The WAMP will expand the boundaries to 

two neighboring watersheds and will begin in spring 2012. 

The Kahekili and Molokini Conservation Action Plan (CAP) workshop was held 

August 30-September 3, 2011. The goal of the CAP is to develop priority strategies for 

implementation to address existing and future threats facing coral reef ecosystems in these 

regions. Workshop II: Conservation Strategies will be help on November 15-17, 2011. 

Workshop III: Measures & Capacity will be held on January 23-26, 2012. 

The Maui Coastal Use Mapping Project is designed to fill a critical information gap in 

ocean management by mapping significant human uses of the nearshore ocean area in the 

Honolua – Wahikuli region. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the spatial range 

and intensity of key human activities and use-types in this region in order to better inform 

resource management. A participatory mapping workshop was held in summer 2011 with 

local resource users, scientists, and stakeholders. Data, maps and analytical products will be 

made available to local community groups, state and federal agencies, NGOs, and to other 

interested parties. These maps will also be used in the Kahekili CAP and the WAMP. 

South Kohala, Hawaii 

The final Kawaihae-‘Anaeho‘omalu Conservation Action Plan (CAP) workshop was held 

September 28-30, 2011. Like the Maui CAP, the goal is to develop priority strategies for 

implementation to address existing and future threats of near-shore coral reef ecosystems. 

CAP implementation is scheduled to begin in January 2012. The South Kohala Coastal Use 

Mapping Project (Kawaihae-Keahole region) was completed and results are available at …. 



Local Action Strategies 

Fisheries (FLASH) 

Bonefish (Albula spp.), locally know as ‘O‘io in Hawai‘i, were an important protein source for 

early Hawaiians but today have limited economic importance commercially. Currently there 

are no accurate ways to estimate the recreational and subsistence fisheries values. This project 

collaborated with recreational ‘O‘io fishers to tag fish and collect catch data. An interactive 

website (www.oiotaggingproject.com) was created for anglers to report their data and view 

updated data summaries. This information is critical to develop effective precautionary 

management strategies for the species of the bonefish industry. 

Alien Invasive Species (AIS) 

For many years, the AIS program has focused efforts in controlling invasive algae in Kane’ohe 

Bay, O’ahu through manual removal of algae using the SuperSucker, a barge-based pumping 

system that vacuums the algae from the reef through a large flexible hose and into burlap 

bags. The SuperSucker can remove up to 3,000 lbs of algae a day, uncovering previously 

smothered coral and exposing available habitat to reef dwelling organisms. Recently the 

program has shifted focus towards sustainable natural restoration with the goal of returning 

healthy coral dominance. Native sea urchins (Tripneustes gratila) were used in a successful 

pilot project to restore a normal level of herbivory to regions in the Bay and thus controlling 

the algal biomass. The pilot project has blossomed into a landscape-level restoration project; 

a new hatchery has been built, cultured urchins have been successfully deployed on key reefs, 

and plans are underway to systematically clear and outplant multiple patch reefs with urchins 

of increasing size. 

Climate Change and Marine Debris (CCMD) 

Research on the effects of freshwater seeps and other potential causes of coral decline as 

well as processes of decline (i.e. too little recruitment vs. too much mortality) is ongoing at 

Kahekili, Maui. Areas of reef were classified as healthy, intermediately or severely degraded. 

Rates of coral mortality in healthy vs. degraded areas will allow researchers to better 

determine the cause of dead zones. 



Land-based Sources of Pollution (LBSP-LAS) 

An on the ground, best management project has been selected from the recently completed 

Waiulaula Watershed Plan for Hawai‘i island. Xx feet of fencing will be installed to protect 

the critical riparian corridor around the streams in the upper Waiulaula watershed. Fencing 

out cattle will eliminate the nutrient loading into the stream as well as the potential for the 

introduction of pathogens and sediment loads from eroding stream beds caused by cattle 

trampling. Work is estimated to begin in spring 2011. 

Makai Watch 

Four Observation and Compliance Workshops were conducted by the State of Hawai‘i 

DLNR in July and August 2011 on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii island to train current Makai 

Watch communities on how to use incident reporting sheets. Well trained and well informed 

community watch groups will continue to help resource enforcement officers in their efforts to 

protect Hawaii’s nearshore reefs.

Priority Objectives HCRS Goals - Hawaii Coral Reef Strategies

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?