Learning to Dive

Scuba Diving is a relaxing, action-packed and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by everybody. Evidence shows that people have been diving for thousands of years, either to hunt for food, seek out treasure, in the art of war or to simply observe the world beneath the waves. Have you always dreamed of diving down deep and exploring the oceans wonders, swimming with turtles or finding a long lost treasure? If you have you may want to consider scuba diving, but probably have some questions before you taking the plunge.

The first thing to consider before looking at dive courses is to determine how serious your interest is, will you be diving regularly or only once in a while. If you want try diving in Hawaii you do not need to get certified, as most companies offer introduction dives for first time divers. These are guided dives with a dive master who will accompany you to explore the reefs and the marine life. After taking one of these dives you will not be certified and can not go unsupervised, but this is a great way to decide if you want to continue diving and get certified.

If you decide that you do want to get certified, Hawaii is a great place to learn to dive and certification courses can usually be completed in three days. If you live in Hawaii there are also dive clubs that offer course over several weekends before completing certification. Another option for visitors with not much time is to contact a local dive company at home and complete all your class work before coming to Hawaii. Then once you arrive you only have the fun part to complete, your open water dives and you are certified.

Marine Plants of Hawai'i

Marine Plants of Hawai'i
Order Siphonocladales


Dictyosphaeria cavernosa


Description: commonly known as the "Green Bubble Alga" due to the large round cells. When small the thallus is a hollow sphere, when larger the sphere may burst becoming convoluted and cup shaped. The seaweed is grass green in color and can form extensive mats over the reefs surface
Size: 1-10cm thick.
Habitat:


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Dictyosphaeria versluysii

Description: has bubble-like cells, but is completely solid in middle and always remains rounded. Grass green in color, but sometimes bluish-green in color.
Size: 1-2 cm high and 1-5 cm wide.
Habitat: commonly found on reef flats and tidepools.
Photograph: Richardson's Beach Park, Hilo Hawai'i. 1996

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Microdictyon japonicum
Description: M. japonicum is a single flattened blade consisting of a meshwork of fine connecting branches. It is grass-green in color.
Size: from 1 to 6cm wide and 1 to 4 cm high.
Habitat: low intertidal areas of rocky coastlines, on flat reefs, and in between the branches of corals at deeper depths.

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Diving Molokai

Very few visitors to Hawaii have the opportunity to explore this natural sanctuary, which offers some of the best diving in the Islands. Pristine waters that team with wildlife including several species of rare fish and coral, green sea turtles, rays, several types of sharks and colorful reef fish abound. Dive locations are chosen the day of the tour based on the best possible dive conditions and may include the mysterious Moku Ho'oniki or the famous backside of Molokai.

THERE IS MANY QUALIFIED OPERATORS

MauiDivers
ReefPirates
Hawaii Reef Divers
Pacific Paradise Divers
Kona Honu Divers
Bubbles Below Scuba
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The Best Snorkeling Beach

The Best Snorkeling Beach

check this out

Sunset

Sunset
Wai'oli Beach Park
Hanalei Bay
Kauai, Hawaii

Located on the shore of Hanalei Bay on the North Shore of Kauai, Waioli Beach Park can be reached from the end of either Hee Road or Amaama Road off Kuhio Highway (Route 560). The mid-point of Hanalei Bay's 2-mile-long beach, Waioli is a popular spot among expert surfers and the major contest site on the North Shore of Kauai. There are dangerous water conditions, however, during periods of high surf.



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Sightseeing Tips for a First Time Visitor

The great thing about Hawaii is that each island is different from all of the others. Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and thus has the densest rain forests, the deepest canyons and the most stunning sea cliffs. It is nicknamed the Garden Isle and you'll see amazing flowers almost everywhere. Kauai is also home to one of the wettest spots on earth - Mt. Waialeale which brings me to my first recommended activity for a first time visitor.

If you ever take a helicopter ride in Hawaii, do so on Kauai. The majority of the most beautiful places, waterfalls, sea cliffs, and Mountain Waialeale itself can only be seen from the air. I recommend Jack Harter Helicopters but there are many other good choices. Jack Harter offers several different tours, but the best buy for your money is their 90 minute tour designed for serious photographers. It only runs once a day, so reservations ahead of time are a key. Helicopter tours won't fly in questionable weather. It's not safe and customers would not get their money's worth. Reserve your flight for early in your visit so that if it gets cancelled due to weather, you can reschedule.

See Kauai from the Sea

Kauai has some of the most stunning sea cliffs in the world. Don't miss you chance to see them from the water. From November through April you will even have the chance to see Hawaii's winter visitors, the humpback whales. The proprieter that almost always receives positive reviews is Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures. They run both sailing and rafting expeditions along the Na Pali Coast. They also sail from Port Allen Harbor on the south shore which is much more convenient for most visitors than one of thew few remaining operators that leave from Hanalei on the North Shore.

Now that we've covered seeing Kauai from the air and from the sea, there are a couple of things that are "must-sees" by land.

See Kauai from the Land

The first thing that is a must is a trip up to the Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park. You can get a good feel for this trip with our Western Kauai Photo Gallery. If you're staying in the Poipu area, you'll have a relatively short drive to Waimea and the trip up to the Waimea Canyon.

This is, however, another trip that you'll want to make when the weather is clear over that part of the island, since clouds tend to obscure the views of the canyon and the coast. Mark Twain called the Waimea Canyon the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and it is amazing. The colors are actually much better than you'll see at the Grand Canyon. You'll want to drive all the way to the end of the road in Koke'e State Park and at the Pu'u o Kila Lookout over the Kalalau Valley. This is where the Na Pali Trail begins and you can actually walk a bit along the trail. (Just don't go as far as the swamp, but there's really no chance of that!) This trip can be done in half a day. The best views into the Waimea Canyon are in the early afternoon when the sun is shining on the canyon's eastern walls.

A full day trip that you should take is the drive to Kauai's North Shore. There is so much along the way. Heading north on Highway 56 from Lihue you'll pass the Wailua River. (A trip down the Wailua River is a nice half day trip that you can consider on another day. Most first time visitors elect to take Smith's Wailua River Cruise to the Fern Grotto.) When heading to the North Shore, however, you really only have time for a brief stop, so make a left off Highway 56 onto Kuamo'o Road at the old Coco Palms Resort where Blue Hawaii was filmed. A bit up the road you can see Opaekaa Falls and a great overlook of the Wailua River Valley. From here you'll double back to Highway 56 and continue north.

We have a concise summary of a trip to Kauai's North Shore in one of our Hawaii Diaries. You can also get a good feel from two of our other photo galleries, our Eastern Kauai Photo Gallery and our North Shore Kauai Photo Galleries.

Obviously, there's a lot more to Kauai than what I've mentioned here, but these are our picks for a first time visitor. There are two really excellent Kauai Guidebooks. They are the first two listed on our Top Picks page of Kauai Guidebooks. Also, when you arrive at the airport be sure to pick up the free publication called 101 Things to Do on Kauai. It has some great ideas and some useful ads for discount activities and dining.


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Hawaii Prepares for an Uncertain Future

The place of America's first Day of Infamy braces for the challenges ahead in the aftermath of the attack on America.

Already suffering from a downturn in visitors due to the weakened world economy, Hawaii is once again bracing for what will likely be a further decline in tourism in the upcoming months.

Unlike any other state in the United States, Hawaii's number one industry, tourism, is totally dependent on the willingness of travelers to fly to the islands. If as few as five or ten percent of prospective visitors decide against air travel, Hawaii's economy is likely to suffer tremendously.

As not only a final tourist destination, but also as a major way point for air traffic bound to and from the U.S. mainland from Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, over 4000 travelers found themselves stranded in Hawaii in the hours following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Hawaii's tourist infrastructure struggled to locate accommodations for passengers and crews until such time as Hawaii's airports were reopened for air traffic. The major hotel corporations offered special rates and other assistance for stranded travelers.

Over one third of all passengers arriving at Hawaii's airports are of foreign nationality, predominantly from Canada, Japan and other nations of the Pacific Rim. Because of its role as a major border crossing, it is extremely likely that once air traffic resumes to and from the islands, intense security measures will need to be implemented and will likely remain in place indefinitely.

Security at Honolulu International Airport has generally been considered excellent. From the personal experience of this Guide (a frequent visitor to Hawaii), carry-on baggage is checked much more carefully than at many mainland airports. Many of these higher security measures were previously implemented to prevent animals, reptiles and non-native plant materials from entering the islands.

Transportation officials have already announced that once island airports are opened, only ticketed passengers will be allowed access to the terminals. Passengers who are used to arriving for flights just minutes before departure will likely need to adjust their schedules to allow for heightened security precautions. This will have the most serious effect on the hundreds of inter-island flights that are flown each day and used not only by visitors, but also by island residents commuting from island to island.

Other proposed security measures could significantly restrict carry-on baggage. Most travelers to Hawaii arrive with one or two carry-ons, often due to the personal needs of visitors making 8-10 hour flights to the islands.

While many passengers are likely to accept further security precautions and restrictions in the interest of their personal safety, others in fear of dangers of terrorism in the air will make other travel plans to destinations closer to home where air travel is not required.

Only time will tell the exact impact that the tragedy of September 11 will have on the economy and people of Hawaii. On a Sunday morning almost sixty years ago, Hawaii was the scene of the nation's first Day of Infamy. Numerous news sources are already referring to the happenings in New York and Washington as the nation's Second Day of Infamy.

The people of Hawaii and all travelers who have visited the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor share in the grief and anger of those who have suffered in the unspeakable tragedy sixty years later.


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Nature Notes

All animals have one main purpose: to survive. In general, everything about an animal relates to one of three basic drives: to eat, to escape from predators, and to have babies. When we study animals, we look at the way they are made (structures) and the way they act (behaviors). "Structures" means more than just bones and muscles. It includes shape, size, body covering (fur, feathers, or scales), and coloration. Sometimes, structures and behaviors work together to help animals survive. For instance, some baby chicks living in the Alaskan tundra have colors and markings (structures) that enable them to blend into their surroundings. They also instinctively sit absolutely still and close their eyes (behaviors) so that circling hawks or other predators can't see them.

Human Impact
We have to learn how to share the planet with animals so that we (humans) and they (wild animals) can both survive. In the past, humans have destroyed animals, plants, and whole habitats without regard for the balance of nature. Every day, we learn more about how plants and animals help humans and are important for human survival. One recent discovery, for instance, is a new clot-busting medicine used to treat people who have suffered strokes. This new medicine is made from a chemical found in the saliva of vampire bats. Who would have ever thought that an animal which has horrified people for centuries would turn out to be a lifesaver? When we build new cities, shopping malls, and freeways, we are cutting into the habitats of animals. If we destroy habitats, we destroy the animals that depend on them. Can we develop ways to manage the growth of our living areas without destroying wildlife? In the end, our own survival may depend on how well we do this.

For more information about the importance of protecting different species of wildlife, see "Biodiversity: The Fragile Web," National Geographic, February, 1999 (Vol. 195, No. 2)

Hawaii's Natural History
The Hawaiian islands hold a unique place in the natural world. Formed by volcanoes that grew from the ocean floor, the Hawaiian islands stand alone in the middle of the largest ocean in the world. They are a work in progress -- in the northwest, old islands slowly sink below the ocean, while in the southeast, a new island rises under the sea. Because they are so far from other land masses, it is hard for animals and plants to cross the vast expanse of open ocean to get to the islands. All plants and animals who lived here before people arrived came in one of three ways: by wind, wing, or water. Some were blown to the islands, some flew here or were carried by birds, and some floated or swam. All species that came to the islands changed in some way -- that is, they adapted so they could survive better. If they could not adapt, they died out. For instance, scientists have found evidence -- bones -- of bird species (and one bat species) that once lived on Hawaii but did not survive to the present.

In the days before human contact, Hawaii had few predators and little to endanger plants and animals. Over thousands of years, Hawaiian plants and animals lost their defenses. When humans did come to stay, sometime around 800 BC, they brought new plants and animals with them. These new plants and animals, hardier than native Hawaiian species, began to replace the native species. Later, when Europeans came to the island, the numbers of introduced species increased rapidly, and native species began to disappear. Today, visitors to Hawaii must travel high into the mountains to find native plants and animals. Many are seen only in museums. 95% of all known extinctions in the United States have taken place in Hawaii.

On the other hand, hope is coming from a variety of places, including one unlikely source: golf courses. Many courses in Hawaii have joined forces with the National Audubon Society to become bird sanctuaries. One golf course in Kaneohe, for example, has four endangered native birds living along its water holes: Hawaiian ducks, coots, gallinules, and stilts. At Barbers Point golf course, Kolea stand impatiently waiting for golfers to get off grassy tee boxes while groups of stilts squabble over landing space. On Kauai, golfers often have to wait for small flocks of Nene to walk off greens. Such happenings seem to show that if we just give them space, these birds will thrive.

To read more about Hawaiian natural history, look for these books:

Atlas of Hawaii (third edition), Juvik, Sonia P. and James O. Juvik, editors. (University of Hawaii Press, 1998)
By Wind, By Wave: An Introduction to Hawaii's Natural History, by David L. Eyre (The Bess Press, 2000)
Islands in a Far Sea: The Fate of Nature in Hawaii, by John L. Culliney (University of Hawaii Press, 2005)



© Marion Coste 2005. All Rights Reserved


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How polluted is Ocean Water?

How polluted is Ocean Water?


What kind of stuff is in it and why are some areas worse than others? Why are some areas dark colored black water and some are clear blue?

ANSWER?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
One of the most polluted sections of ocean in the world today is known as the Gulf Of Mexico "Dead Zone". Thanks to runoff from the Mississippi River, there is an extremely unhealthy cake of sediment and pollution in the ocean that covers an area of 22,126 square kilometres.

The majority of the pollutants that make up this particular Dead Zone are agricultural-based pollutants, eg. artificial fertilizer and animal waste. Thanks to meterological elements such as rain, the pollution makes its way into the tributaries that lead to the Mississippi, forming a big disgusting clump of waste just offshore in the Gulf.

This causes depleted oxygen levels in the water, which in turn leads to reproductive problems and ultimately death in marine wildlife.

There are currently reports of over 140 dead zones throughout the world - but as pessimistic as this sounds, the good news is that the world's previous largest dead zone in the Black Sea (over 70,000 square kilometres!!) actually cleared itself up over the course of 10 years due to a decrease in industrial waste.

I'm no ecologist so don't quote me on this - but I wouldn't think that dead zones are responsible for the darnkess of the sea water, I would have thought that had to do more with the ocean's depth and any reefs or other such natural geological occurance (ie. clear blue coloured water closer to the shore and darker black out in the deep, or in a reef-heavy area). Although I'm sure dead zones are distinguishable by satellite, I wouldn't think that *every* off-coloured part of the ocean is a polluted part.


WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Check out this website, it contains a great array of colourful animations and activities all to do with the Gulf Of Mexico Dead Zone:

http://www.smm.org/deadzone/top.html




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Pollution to the marine environment

DID YOU KNOW?

80 percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from land-based sources, such as runoff pollution. Runoff pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks and boats, plus larger sources, such as farms, ranches and forest areas.

Millions of motor vehicle engines make daily, one-drop-at-a-time "oil spills" onto roads and parking lots, which add significantly to runoff pollution.

Some water pollution actually starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans.

Dirt can be a pollutant. Top soil or silt from fields or construction sites can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.

Non-point source pollution, commonly called runoff pollution, can make river and ocean water unsafe for humans and wildlife. In some areas, runoff pollution is so bad that it causes beaches to be closed after rainstorms. In 1992, for example, some beaches were closed or advisories were issued against swimming about 3,000 times.

Drinking water supplies can be contaminated by polluted runoff, as can coastal waters containing valuable fish stocks. Experts think there is a link between agricultural runoff and water-borne organisms that cause lesions and death in fish. Humans who come in contact with these polluted waters and affected fish can also experience harmful symptoms.

More than one-third of the shellfish-growing waters of the United States are adversely affected by coastal pollution.

Correcting the harmful effects of runoff pollution is costly. Each year millions of dollars are spent to restore and protect areas damaged or endangered by non-point source pollutants.


The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture and other federal and state agencies to develop ways to control runoff pollution. These agencies work together to monitor, assess and limit runoff pollution that may result naturally and by human actions.

NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program is helping to create special non-point source pollution control plans for each participating coastal state. When runoff pollution does cause problems, NOAA scientists help track down the exact causes and find solutions.


Get educated and share your knowledge!

Don't pour oil, engine fluids, cleaners, or household chemicals down storm drains or sinks.

Find approved motor oil and household chemical recycling or disposal facilities near your home, and make sure your family and friends use them.

Use lawn, garden and farm chemicals sparingly and wisely. Before spreading chemicals or fertilizer, check the weather forecast for rain so they don't wash away.

Repair automobile or boat engine leaks immediately.



Year of the Ocean Information Line: 1-888-4YOTO98

Year of the Ocean Website: www.yoto.com

NOAA's National Ocean Service
Office of Coastal Resource Management
ATTN: Non-point Pollution
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Website: www.nos.noaa.gov/ocrm/

Call your state environmental or conservation department.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Non-point Source Control Branch
Washington, DC 20460
Website: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/index.html

Check your phone directory, or call your city or county environmental quality or sanitation department, for oil and chemical waste recycling/disposal.



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About Best of Hawaii

http://www.bestofhawaii.com/index.shtml


Site Contents:
About Best of Hawaii

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Scuba Hawaii Hawaii Travel Caribbean Scuba Scuba Certification Scuba Jay Costa Maya Scuba Dive Gear Hawaii Reef Divers Scuba Diving Cave Diving Naui SSI TDI SDI Water Rescue Diving Water Rescues PADI Technical Scuba Diving Dive Rescue Jason Kilgore What is Scuba Diving Scuba Dive Answers Jason Kilgore and Martial Arts Jason Kilgore and USANA Jason Kilgore and Karate Jason Kilgore and Scuba Diving Sacramento auburn California Hawaii Jason Kilgore and Sierra Foothills Karate Sierra Foothills Karate and Scuba Diving Jason Kilgore and Scuba Diving

Best of Hawaii

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Scuba Hawaii Hawaii Travel Caribbean Scuba Scuba Certification Scuba Jay Costa Maya Scuba Dive Gear Hawaii Reef Divers Scuba Diving Cave Diving Naui SSI TDI SDI Water Rescue Diving Water Rescues PADI Technical Scuba Diving Dive Rescue Jason Kilgore What is Scuba Diving Scuba Dive Answers Jason Kilgore and Martial Arts Jason Kilgore and USANA Jason Kilgore and Karate Jason Kilgore and Scuba Diving Sacramento auburn California Hawaii Jason Kilgore and Sierra Foothills Karate Sierra Foothills Karate and Scuba Diving Jason Kilgore and Scuba Diving

A Marine Treasure in Hawaii Is Protected

A Marine Treasure in Hawaii Is Protected
President Bush creates vast ocean refuge to preserve rare sea animals and corals
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentID=5291


President George W. Bush announced last week that he will establish the world’s largest marine protected area to safeguard a remote, biologically rich string of islands and submerged lands known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Extending over 84 million acres, the proposed marine sanctuary is more than 38 times larger than Yellowstone National Park, and larger than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Following the process for scientific and public input outlined by Congress, the Bush Administration has developed a plan that will manage the sanctuary to protect the marine animals, coral reefs and seabird breeding habitat in one of the most remote coral reef ecosystems on Earth. Over 7,000 species are found in the region, at least one-third of which are unique to Hawai'i.

Environmental Defense scientist Dr. Stephanie Fried worked for years to secure strong protections for the waters of this 1,200-mile string of islands. Last fall, after signing regulations to safeguard state waters, Hawaii's Governor Linda Lingle thanked Fried for her advocacy. Fried is a founding member of the NWHI hui – the broad network of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, fishers and scientists with groups including `Ìlio`ulaokalani Coalition, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance and Sierra Club/ Hawai`i, which led the campaign for NWHI protections.

Full news release - "Environmentalists Praise Bush's Action to Create the World's Largest Marine Protected Area: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Sanctuary" (6/15/2006)

In the News
The creation of this national monument — more than 100 times larger than Yosemite Park — made the headlines of major news outlets.




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Creating a Vast Undersea 'Wilderness Area' in Hawaii

Creating a Vast Undersea 'Wilderness Area' in Hawaii
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=85


In the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, we helped safeguard an area larger than all of America's national parks

Lying 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu, the Pearl and Hermes Reef ranks among the world's most isolated places. Here wildlife reigns: Green sea turtles, big as overturned wheelbarrows, share the beach with some 160,000 seabirds, including one-fifth of the world's black-footed albatrosses.

The atoll, forming a 15-milewide circle of coral around the site of a sunken volcano, is just one of the jewels of the biologically rich Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This year a coalition built by Environmental Defense and local allies helped win permanent protection for the islands, creating the world's largest marine protected area.

President Bush declared the islands a national monument in 2006, safeguarding 84 million acres of marine wilderness -- an area larger than all of America's national parks combined. "This is huge," says our president Fred Krupp, who took the case for the islands' protection directly to the president in April. "It's as important as the establishment of Yellowstone."

Efforts to protect this ocean jewel began a hundred years ago

The designation fulfills a legacy begun by Theodore Roosevelt a century ago, when he declared the area a national wildlife refuge, and culminates a long effort by Environmental Defense and local allies. "The monument is an extraordinary victory for the environment and for the recognition of Native Hawaiian cultural practices," says our scientist Dr. Stephanie Fried, who has worked on the issue for nearly a decade.

National monument status gives the archipelago the highest level of government protection. Fishing will be phased out in five years and coral mining prohibited. The area will remain open to Hawaiians for traditional uses and for scientific research.

The region's coral reefs and atolls support more than 7,000 species, including endangered Hawaiian monk seals. One quarter of the species are found nowhere else.

Islands imperiled by overfishing and pollution
Despite their remoteness from population centers, the islands show signs of ecological stress. Among the first to voice concern was Louis "Uncle Buzzy" Agard, a respected elder who first fished the area in the 1940s. He soon noticed fish disappearing. "I realized I was helping destroy this unique place," he says. In recent years, research vessels have added to the problem by dumping raw sewage in the area.

Fried teamed up with Agard and others to develop a network of Native Hawaiians, fishermen, divers, scientists and local activists to promote protections. Together, we helped place the issue on the agenda in Washington.

Mobilizing native Hawaiians, fishermen and other stakeholders
Our coalition mobilized citizens to speak at more than 100 public meetings and to send more than 100,000 messages to officials. In 2000, we convinced President Clinton to designate the area as an ecosystem reserve. We also persuaded Governor Linda Lingle to withdraw her initial opposition and champion protections such as a ban on fishing in adjacent state waters.

Bush's action builds on those earlier efforts. "The 'elder' islands are a nursery for the entire region," says Agard. "Without Environmental Defense, these protections never would have happened. "Our work, however, isn't over. Monitoring will be crucial to ensure development andenforcement of strong regulations.

Still, it's a time to celebrate. Adds Agard: "This gives me hope that my grandchildren will actually see the marine life I saw, without having to read about it in a book."

From the 2006 Annual Report [PDF]

Posted: 09-Jan-2006; Updated: 06-Aug-2007



Avg: 5.00, 1 vote

Find Out More

A Marine Treasure in Hawaii Is Protected 06/16/2006 President Bush creates vast ocean refuge to preserve rare sea animals and corals.

Hawaii Protects a Marine Treasure 10/07/2005 Rare monk seals and ancient coral reefs will benefit from a new marine refuge in the shallow waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Recently Imperiled, A Slice of Paradise Is Saved 10/07/2005 From July-August 2005

Solutions newsletter
Bush Administration Reviewing Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Reserve 07/23/2001
Native Hawaiians Urge Clinton To Protect Pristine Island Area With National Monument 11/01/2000


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Everything About Hawaii

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Hawaiian Reef Ecosystem

Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse marine eco-systems on earth, rivaled only by the tropical rainforests on land. Corals grow over geologic time and have been in existence about 200 million years. Corals reached their current level of diversity 50 million years ago.The delicately balanced marine environment of the coral reef relies on the interaction of hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones, snails, rays, crabs, lobsters, turtles, dolphins and other sea life.

A coral reef is composed of thin plates or layers of calcium carbonate secreted over thousands of years by billions of tiny soft bodied animals called coral polyps. It takes years for some corals to grow an inch and they range in size from a pinhead to a foot in length. Each polyp excretes a calcereous exo-skeleton and lives in a symbiotic relationship with a host algae, zooxanthellae, that gives the coral its color. Zooxanthellae takes in carbon dioxide, process is through photosynthesis, and then gives off oxygen as a by-product that is used by the host polyp. Millions of polyps grow on top of the limestone remains of former colonies to create the massive reefs. Yet these tiny animals form the only natural formation visible from outer space.

The ecology of coral reefs in Hawai'i is unique compared to reefs in other tropical areas. Hawaiian reefs are unique for several reasons:

1. They are geologically young and therefore not as well developed as other reefs. Most reefs in the windward islands of Hawai'i, Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i are small and occur relatively close to shore. As these reefs grow and develop they are called fringing reefs, which eventually develop into barrier reefs, which occur in Kaneohe Bay on O'ahu and on the south shore of Moloka'i. There is a general westward trend towards greater reef development which coincides with the geologic ages of the islands. Superimposed upon this pattern, however, is the effects of wave exposure: in general more sheltered leeward coasts have reefs with greater coral cover than wave-pounded windward coasts (see Grigg, 1983).

2. As a consequence of their younger age and the general absence of barrier reefs in the windward islands, Hawaiian reefs are generally less productive than other reefs. With smaller reef areas and the absence of lagoons that trap and retain both coastal and terrestrial runoff, Hawaiian reefs are generally more nutrient poor and therefore lack a high abundance of filter feeding animals such as soft corals, sponges, tunicates, and bivalves. As a result, Hawaiian reefs are more clearly dominated by corals.

3. Due to the geographic isolation of the Hawaiian Islands they are less diverse that other reefs, especially those in the nearby Indo-Pacific province to which they belong. For example, in Hawai'i there are about 40 species of reef building corals; in the western Pacific island of Palua there are over 300! One consequence of lower diversity is that reef-building corals in Hawai'i are less specialized and thus more generalized in their distribution than species elsewhere. Furthermore, a relatively few number of corals dominant Hawaiian reefs. There is a unique advantage to science here, however, because Hawaiian reefs are far easier to study!

B. Coral Reef Zonation in Hawai'i
In response to variation in environmental conditions near the shoreline, coral reefs exhibit zonation where the abundance and composition of the coral community varies according to distance and depth from shore. Wave exposure is the primary factor causing zonation in Hawai'i but gradients in sedimentation, salinity, and temperature are also important (see Dollar, 1982). The following is a summary of zonation patterns typical of Hawai'i. Common names are linked to descriptions in the Marine Life of Hawai'i section.

Want to know more visit:

http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/reefs/ecology/ecology.htm

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What is a coral reef?

What is a coral reef?
http://www.reefrelief.org/coral_reef_body.shtml

Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse marine eco-systems on earth, rivaled only by the tropical rainforests on land. Corals grow over geologic time and have been in existence about 200 million years. Corals reached their current level of diversity 50 million years ago.

The delicately balanced marine environment of the coral reef relies on the interaction of hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones, snails, rays, crabs, lobsters, turtles, dolphins and other sea life.

What is acoral reef made of?A coral reef is composed of thin plates or layers of calcium carbonate secreted over thousands of years by billions of tiny soft bodied animals called coral polyps. It takes years for some corals to grow an inch and they range in size from a pinhead to a foot in length. Each polyp excretes a calcereous exo-skeleton and lives in a symbiotic relationship with a host algae, zooxanthellae, that gives the coral its color. Zooxanthellae takes in carbon dioxide, process is through photosynthesis, and then gives off oxygen as a by-product that is used by the host polyp. Millions of polyps grow on top of the limestone remains of former colonies to create the massive reefs. Yet these tiny animals form the only natural formation visible from outer space.

More about corals

Corals are divided into two kinds and both are stationary on the ocean bottom. Hard corals such as brain, star, staghorn, elkhorn and pillar corals have rigid exoskeletons, or corallites, that protect their soft delicate bodies. Gorgonians, or soft corals, such as sea fans, sea whips, and sea rods, sway with the currents and lack an exoskeleton.

Coral reefs depend upon mangroves and sea grasses

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees with submerged roots that are a nursery and breeding ground for birds and most of the marine life that migrates to the reef. Mangroves trap and produce nutrients for food and habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and filter pollutants from the landbase.
Seagrasses are flowering marine plants that are an important part of the food web. They provide foods and habitat for turtles, manatees, many fish, filter-feeding organisms and foraging sealife such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Seagrasses are a nursery for pink shrimp, lobster, snapper and other sealife. They filter the water of sediments, release oxygen and stabilize the bottom.

Where are coral reefs located?

Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of one percent of the earth's marine environment, yet they are home to more than a quarter of all known fish species.

Click here for a map of the World's Coral Reefs
Why is thecoral reef important?Coral reefs deserve protection for their intrinsic natural value. In addition, the economic, tourism, fishing and recreational resources of tropical areas around the world depend upon healthy coral reef ecosystems. Barrier coral reefs protect shorelines from erosion and storm damage.

The food, tourism revenue, coastal protection and new medications that reefs provide are worth about $375 billion each year.

Why does the coral reef need protection?Reefs at Risk: A Map-based Indicator of Threats to the World's Coral Reefs, produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI at http://www.wri.org/) in collaboration with the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is the first goal assessment of coral reefs to map areas at risk from overfishing, coastal development, and other human activity ranging from coastal development and overfishing to inland and marine pollution -- leaving much of the world's marine biodiversity at risk.

Coral reefs are suffering globally. Scientists report that 30% are already damaged. Corals grow only in warm tropical waters ideally between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Although climatic and geological changes affect them, human activities have had far greater consequences over the past decade.

The first generation to discover scuba may be the last to enjoy coral reefs, if we don't get involved. Corals are damaged by a variety of physical impacts that include anchor damage, accidental boat groundings, and diver/snorkeler touching, standing and dragging equipment. Propellors tear up shallow seagrasses. Marine debris, especially plastics, damage marinelife and smother corals. Turtles mistake plastic bags for their favorite food, jellyfish.

Water quality declines when pollution discharges from boars or coastal areas reduce visibility and oxygen and increase chlorophyll levels, causing a proliferation of new coral diseases and massive algal blooms. Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise or other stresses occur and the corals expel their symbiotic algae.

Siltation from coastal development and beach renourishment smothers fragile corals. Agricultural run-off that contains pesticides and fertilizers add toxins and nutrients to reefs that require nutrients-free waters to thrive. Overdevelopment and lack of sewage and stormwater infrastructure in coastal areas is a leading source of damage to reefs.
Outright habitat loss occurs when coral and live rock is harvested for construction or the aquarium/curio trade. Destructive fishing techniques and overharvesting of fish and tropical marinelife is a worldwide problem.


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Want to know more visit:
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Coral reef ecosystems

The coral reef ecosystems of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands suffer from contamination by considerable amounts of derelict fishing gear, trash, pollution from North Pacific Ocean fisheries washed in by ocean currents.

Greenpeace released a report last week examining the "vast vortex of plastic trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean," so described by Reuters. The report finds that the coral reef sytems of the NWHI, the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, and, worldwide, "at least 267 species -- including seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales and fish" are vulnerable to the contamination caused by tourism, sewage, fishing and waste from ships and boats. Derelict fishing gear includes, "fishing lines and nets, fishing pots and strapping bands from bait boxes that are lost accidentally by commercial fishing boats or are deliberately dumped into the ocean."
The research predicted that most debris is moved towards the mid-latitudes. This is in agreement with observations from other studies which showed higher concentrations of debris in such areas compared to nearer the poles. It also identified areas where ocean movements results in particularly high concentrations of debris such as north of Hawaii.

Living there part time, i have noticed in the last twenty years, the price of a nice piece of land is not what it once was.. While swimming in Maui, we came to a place called "BLACK ROCK" off Maui, the beach side was littered with trash, junk in the water and the water was nasty.. It wasnt like that ten years ago, but many people come to the islands and dirty them, destroy the beauty and leave. My daughter and i started doing cleanup work in the area with 30-50 other people and still seems we have along way to go.

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SURFING OAHU'S NORTH SHORE CATCH A WINTER WAVE

SURFING OAHU'S NORTH SHORE CATCH A WINTER WAVE

Author: Lance Tominaga

Each winter, O‘ahu’s rugged North Shore serves up some of the largest and imposing ocean waves on the planet. Giant, storm-generated swells make their long trek across the northern Pacific to batter reef breaks and the area’s shoreline. For many Island residents, this means only one thing: Surf’s up!The exact origin of surfing is unknown, but most historians believe that the Polynesians were already well versed in the sport by the time they migrated to the Hawaiian Islands some 2,000 years ago. Early Hawaiians called surfing "he‘e nalu," which literally translates to "wave sliding."

During this time, only high-ranking ali‘i had access to the best surf spots. King Kamehameha himself was said to be an avid and skilled surfer.Surfing really took off in the early 1900s. Riding boards made mostly from hewn redwood and balsa wood, early surfers risked their lives to take on these giant waves.Today, thanks to a number of modern innovations and inventions, the surfing population on the North Shore has exploded. Wave riders and spectators from around the world gather here from November to February, hoping catch that perfect wave.

Winter wave heights can get as high 20 feet, with faces up to 50 feet! This extreme surf is for experts only, and even then conditions are considered highly dangerous. World-renowned surf contests are held here from early November to late December. The Van's Triple Crown of Surfing, which includes the Van's Hawaiian Pro at Ali'i Beach Park in Hale'iwa; the Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach; and the XBox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters, brings together the world’s best professional surfers.

The Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, held at Waimea Bay, also takes place each winter. Although winter on the North Shore may not be the best time and place to learn how to surf, the summer months provide safer, saner conditions.Ask any surfer, and he (or she) will tell you that surfing is an exhilarating thrill, a natural high. "

I love the sensation of riding a wave and the feeling I have when I’m out on the ocean," says Hans Hedemann, a former pro surfer-turned-surfing instructor. "It’s also a challenge because every wave is different, and it’s up to me to make the most of each wave."