Hawaii
Photo by Ryan Pernofski
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New Water Quality Data Empowers Local Residents
Hawai’i Island residents can find out what’s in the water at their favorite beaches for the first time. HILO, HAWAI‘I – January 19, 2022 – A new dataset, made public this month by Hawai’i Wai Ola, gives community members access to high quality, open-source water quality testing data dating back to June of 2020. Volunteers…
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Thank You for Supporting CORAL’s Volunteers in Maui
We are proud to support a dedicated team of local volunteers in Maui, Hawai’i, as they work to protect the valuable coral reefs in their community. By using “best management practices,” which are effective measures used to reduce marine pollution, we are able to minimize sediment pollution on coral reefs. Our volunteers grow and plant native…
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Using Lessons Learned in Puakō, Hawai’i to Tackle Wastewater Pollution Worldwide
Erica Perez, CORAL’s Senior Program Manager on Hawai’i Island, just wrapped up her time as a mentor during the new Wastewater Pollution course led by our partner the Reef Resilience Network (RRN). Perez played an active role in helping students understand the threats of wastewater pollution on coral reefs and implement effective strategies to mitigate…
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Using Native Plants to Protect Coral Reefs
In West Maui, Hawai‘i, CORAL’s Senior Program Manager Jennifer Vander Veur shares how our actions on land can impact what happens under the sea. Run-off sediment is threatening nearby coral reefs and making it harder for them to survive. To address this problem, Vander Veur leads our efforts to protect coral reefs by using native…
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CORAL’s Perspective: Highlights from IUCN’s World Conservation Congress
From raging wildfires to melting glaciers to coral bleaching—it is clear that there is pressing urgency to face the planet’s climate and ecological emergency. After postponing last year’s event due to COVID-19, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) decided to hold its quadrennial World Conservation Congress from September 3 to 11, 2021 and commit to actions that…
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CORAL Joins Maui Nui Makai Network
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is honored to join the Maui Nui Makai Network—a network of community groups from across Maui Nui that protect and care for marine and coastal ecosystems. The network was established in 2013 when community organizations decided they would be stronger working together than separately. Network members meet regularly to learn…
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Dive In With Manuel Mejia
Born in the Philippines and long-time resident of Hawai‘i, Manuel Mejia, our Hawai‘i Regional Program Director, harvests a deep passion for coral reefs and our need to protect them. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with him and dive in to this passion a little more. Q: Where does your passion for the…
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Hawai’i County Allocates $1.8 Million to Clean Water and Coral Reefs
The Hawai‘i County Council on March 3 voted to approve the allocation of $1.8 million to address ocean sewage pollution in Puakō, Hawai‘i. The Puakō coastline is one of 14 priority sites that have been identified in Hawai‘i as areas to be transitioned off of cesspools. Across the state, an estimated 88,000 cesspools release 53…
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Over 20 Tons of Sediment Prevented From Smothering Maui’s Coral Reefs
Over 20 tons of sediment has been captured in the mountains above Lahaina, the result of a collaborative restoration project led by the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). West Maui is laden with historic sugarcane and pineapple plantations that are now out-of-use. During heavy rain events, the potentially contaminated soil from these degraded landscapes travels down…