#Kaneohe Bay

Understanding SAR11 marine bacteria is vital because they are one of the main drivers of the global ocean’s life-support system; they move and recycle the carbon and nutrients that sustain all other marine life.

Officers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will again conduct patrols over the New Year’s holiday to enforce laws and protect the environment, including the sacred Ahu o Laka (Kāne‘ohe Bay sandbar). 

To dramatically increase coral survival rates, scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology have developed innovative 3D-printed ceramic structures that provide crucial protection for baby corals.

In a series of newly published groundbreaking studies, researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology identified ten new species of marine sponges found in Kāneʻohe Bay, shedding light on an often-overlooked but vital part of coral reef ecosystems.

State and federal dive teams completed field assessments in Kāne’ohe Bay this week, to delineate the scope of impacts to corals damaged when a US Navy P8A Poseidan twin-engine jet aircraft overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i. Last month’s accident ended with the nearly 70-ton aircraft on top of the bay’s reef. 

Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed three bills into law at a signing ceremony at the Makapu‘u lookout in Waimānalo along with 14 bills signed earlier that seek to support the protection of Hawaiʻi’s beaches, shorelines and public lands. 

“Ahu o Laka is enjoyed by families and people of all ages, who won’t appreciate having a bunch of drunk young people around. Anyone caught selling tickets, operating a boat with paying customers without a valid commercial permit, serving alcohol to minors, or any other number of potential violations will be cited or arrested,” according to state officials.

“We didn’t want to grow a non-native or invasive seaweed because we feared we might end up proliferating invasive seaweed out in the marine environment. So, they’re only fed native limu until they’re big enough to go out into the field and to begin eating invasive seaweed,” said David Cohen, urchin hatchery manager with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources.

There were very few issues reported by state conservation officers patroling beaches and nearshore waters across the state over the three-day Memorial Day Weekend. It was the first long weekend in a year without strict COVID-19 restrictions in place.

This week, the department introduced the first of 100,000 native sea urchins in Waikīkī to help control over 4 acres of invasive algae.

A small team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources carefully ‘planted’ extremely rare, endemic Porites duerdeni coral onto a reef in Kaneohe Bay just off Coconut Island.

Scientists are investigating a new disease found on coral colonies at Kāneʻohe Bay on Oʻahu that could kill off coral colonies at a rapid rate.

(by Wendy OSHER © 2009) A stretch of West Maui coastline is proposed for protection as a Herbivore Fisheries Management area. The nearshore waters from Keka’a Point near the Sheraton Resort to Honokowai Park to the north, are proposed for designation as the Kahekili management area. DLNR officials say the rule is intended to maintain […]