CORAL RESTORATION

In Hanauma Bay

Landmark Coral Restoration Project

Coral restoration recently became a reality in Hanauma Bay, in part by leveraging the Bay's nine-month closure during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Friends of Hanauma Bay (FOHB), whose mission is to conserve, protect, and restore the bay, collaborated with scientists and local officials to initiate a landmark coral restoration pilot project with the Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Nursery (HCRN). In October 2020, the first nursery-grown corals for the pilot project were outplanted, funded by a donation from the Kahiau Foundation. In January 2021, HCRN sourced Hawaiian endemic corals to be fast-grown at their nursery as candidates for to be in Hanauma Bay— the first large-scale coral restoration project in the bay’s history!

The project was designed to restore a section of reef at the Witches Brew end of the Bay that was heavily damaged in the summer of 2020. A large, heavy log repeatedly scoured the reef for several days before washing ashore, causing significant harm to the existing Brown Lobe Coral. The restoration team planned to outplant healthy, nursery-grown coral colonies to repair the damage and rejuvenate the affected reef area.

Supporters of the Friends were invited to follow the progress this milestone coral restoration project. FOHB, with the participation of David Gulko, Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery and his team, documented each step of the restoration efforts, from nursery care to outplanting on the reef.

Scroll down to see how the coral outplants are doing over time!