#marine life conservation district
Latest boat grounding raises the question: What can be done to protect Honolua Bay?
Federal laws prevent the state from barring commercial boat activity in the area.
Community-led coral restoration project at Kealakekua aimed at accelerating reef growth, recovery
The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources took part in a second collaborative coral restoration project over the weekend in the waters of Kealakekua Bay, on the Kona side of Hawai‘i Island.
Sen. McKelvey asks BLNR for stringent penalties against owners of Nakoa vessel
At its upcoming meeting on Jan. 26, 2024, the Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider enforcement action against the owners of the vessel Nakoa, which, in February 2023, grounded outside the Honolua-Mokulēʻia Bay Marine Life Conservation District. In the incident, 119 specimens of stony coral and 1640.5 square meters of live rock were damaged.
$117,000 fine issued against Trust for luxury yacht grounding at Honolua Bay in February
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources issued a $117,471.97 fine against the Albert Revocable Trust for coral and live rock damage caused by the grounding of the private luxury yacht Nakoa at Honolua Bay in northwest Maui earlier this year. The board is still contemplating and is open to seeking any kind of fair and reasonable penalty against the operator, Jim Jones and Noelani Yacht Charters, LLC, for damages done to cultural and natural resources.
UPDATE: Grounded yacht scuttled at sea after it was freed from Honolua Bay
The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation reports the yacht, Nakoa, was scuttled in 800 feet of water after it was freed from the rocky shoreline near Honolua where it had been grounded for nearly two weeks. “It had taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high after being pulled free by a tractor tug early this afternoon,” according to an update issued by DLNR.
Salvage of luxury yacht from Honolua delayed again, this time by weather
After two failed attempts to free a grounded yacht from the rocky shoreline at Honolua Bay, salvage efforts have hit another snag–this time due to inclement weather and rough seas.
Rigging attached to grounded yacht on Maui fails during second salvage attempt
The rigging attached to a grounded luxury yacht off of Maui’s Honolua Bay, failed during a second salvage attempt Monday night, state officials said. The contractor headed back to Oʻahu last night to resupply with stronger rigging. Wednesday is the earliest salvage operations will resume, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Second attempt to free grounded super yacht at Honolua set for today
Another attempt will be made during high tide later today to pull the grounded luxury yacht, Nakoa, further from shore. The vessel has been grounded for a week just beyond the boundary of the Honolua-Mokulē’ia Marine Life Conservation District.
Defueling of grounded luxury yacht at Honolua Bay on Maui begins today
The US Coast Guard is using a private contractor, to begin defueling the 94-foot-long luxury yacht, Nakoa, which grounded on Monday outside the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District.
Update: Salvage plan in development for grounded luxury yacht
The owners of the luxury yacht Nakoa have hired a private contractor to salvage the vessel which grounded nearshore at Honolua Bay early on Sunday, state officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources report.
Second coral spawning this year is now complete
Coral reproduction is tied to both the lunar and tidal cycles. “If you track the timing of the moon phase, as well as the outgoing tides, you get a good idea of when coral tend to spawn.”
Coral Spawning Prompts Temporary Closures at Waialea Bay on Hawai‘i Island
Coral spawning at Hawaiʻi Island’s Waialea Bay Marine Life Conservation District, will prompt two half-day closures of the area on May 28 and 29.