Blog
Photo by Ryan Pernofski
-
A New Bike Path for Maui?
Aloha, I’m CORAL’s newest addition based in Hawaiʻi. As a native Hawaiian, my passion for protecting our natural environment is a deep part of who I am. I was born and raised on Oahu, and growing up spent my summers surfing with my dad, paddling canoe with my sister, and working in the Lo’i (taro…
-
Putting the LID on stormwater runoff
From a conservation point of view, we don’t often think of coral reefs going hand in hand with construction and development. But they do—coral reefs attract tourists, and with tourism comes infrastructure. Coral reefs also provide benefits to communities, and people tend to concentrate in areas where they can reap those benefits. Over the years…
-
Photos Informing Conservation
More than a quarter of coral reefs around the world are in a protected area—yet, according to Reefs at Risk Revisited, most of those protected areas aren’t being effectively managed. Much of our work is focused on helping communities develop successful management programs so they can create and enforce local regulations that will really benefit…
-
Namena is a Source of Life, and Not Just Marine Life
One of my favorite things about working for CORAL is hearing about the direct impacts we have on local communities and people’s lives. It’s not every day that you hear about conservation efforts that have enhanced people’s lives, and it’s such a powerful thing to know that communities can really thrive and benefit from protecting…
-
New to Try: Pervious Concrete (When it Rains, it Drains!)
How often have we seen it here on Maui? After a heavy rain, parking lots and streets turn into shallow lakes and streams. Your guests have to tip toe through muddy water, or jump over oily puddles to get from their cars to the hotel lobby. What if there was a pavement or concrete that…
-
Accommodations Industry Leaders Gather to Share Reef-Friendly Innovations
Last month representatives from seven shoreline properties attended a five week course that introduced participants to “reef-friendly” projects, practices, and activities that enhance the guest experience, save money, and protect the valuable coral reefs here on Maui. Representatives from the following properties were in attendance: Hyatt Maui Whaler’s Village Kahana Sunset Four Seasons, Lanai Maalaea Banyans Condominium…
-
More Herbivores Are Mo’ Bettah
The Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA), was established in June 2009, and is designed to protect important herbivorous fish species and urchins. Why protect herbivores? Because they are the reef cleaners. If there is too much algae on a reef, it can smother and kill corals. Herbivores do an excellent job keeping algae in…
-
Last Line of Defense
After writing about West Maui for over five years as CORAL’s grants manager, I finally had the opportunity to visit the island on a recent vacation. I got to see first-hand how West Maui’s hotels and resorts are literally the last line of defense for adjacent coral reefs. Driving the North Loop Coastline Road Hwy…
-
“Plarn” Reefs Featured in New Maui Airport Display
Earlier this year, thanks to support from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, we were able to set up two display cases in the Maui airport to educate travelers about the importance of protecting coral reefs. The cases highlight some easy ways visitors and locals can protect reefs, and feature a crochet coral reef made out of…