Protecting Valuable Ocean Resources
Early Hawaiians considered the ocean a spiritual entity upon which they depended for their survival. The need for a reliable source of fish and shellfish led them to develop a sophisticated understanding of the factors that caused limitations and fluctuations in marine resources. As a result, they devised practices that fostered conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, including the creation of marine sanctuaries—kai kapu—where marine life was allowed to regenerate. Today, these practices are perpetuated in the Reserve.
As caretakers of the Reserve, the mission of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) includes determining the status of the ocean resources surrounding Kaho‘olawe and improving the health of offshore areas in anticipation of the time the island and its waters are returned to a Native Hawaiian entity.
The KIRC Ocean Resources Management Program is responsible for a number of activities dedicated to enhancing these important ocean resources.
Coral Reef Monitoring
Kaho‘olawe is surrounded by an extensive reef system, which, despite years of bombing, is relatively well intact. The influx of sedimentation is still a problem due to the near-deforestation of the island caused by bombing and feral animals. Due to its intact herbivorous fish populations—which graze on limu—harmful invasive limu species have yet to become established on the reef system as in the rest of the main Hawaiian Islands.
Working with scientific SCUBA divers from the University of Hawai‘i, the KIRC is monitoring the reef to determine the species diversity and health of coral, fish, algae, and large invertebrates. As monitoring continues, decisions will be made to ensure the health of the reef for future generations.
Fish Tagging and Replenishment
T
he waters surrounding Kaho‘olawe are the closest to a natural ecosystem that exists within the main Hawaiian Islands. Because these waters are off-limits to fishing and commercial activities, this region acts as a fish sanctuary that works to replenish fish stocks throughout the islands, particularly around Maui and Lana‘i.
To fully understand the impact of fish breeding here, the KIRC is monitoring fish habitat, growth rates and—through fish tagging—their travel once they leave the Reserve.
Monitoring by Sea and Air
As a reserve, Kaho‘olawe is rich with marine life that includes mano, nai‘a, hahalua, and kohola. ‘Ilioholoikauaua, honu, and seabirds such as ‘iwa and koa‘e ‘ula also utilize the Reserve’s coastal habitats.
The Ocean Resources Management Program is currently conducting an island-wide inventory of these species—doing visual counts by boat and helicopter—to establish a distribution and abundance baseline that will help determine whether their numbers increase as a result of their protection within the Reserve.
Kaho‘olawe Off-Limits to Fishing
Kaho‘olawe’s waters include resources that can benefit us all. As such, the health and protection of these waters are our shared concern and responsibility. Because Kaho‘olawe is a sanctuary and fishing is off-limits, the relatively intact fish resources are allowed to achieve their optimal breeding sizes, which yields remarkably larger spawning events that help to replenish fish stocks throughout the islands. Unauthorized use or entrance into Reserve waters is subject to penalties under State law. Your kokua is appreciated.
Caught a Tagged Fish?
If you’ve caught an ‘opakapaka that carries a KIRC black tagging transmitting chip, you are encouraged to report your catch to the KIRC Ocean Resources Management Program. Your assistance will enable the KIRC to evaluate the effectiveness of the island as a source of fish stock replenishment for the waters around Kaho‘olawe and all the Hawaiian Islands. Your help will also be greatly appreciated. To report a tagged fish, contact the KIRC at (808) 243-5889.
