by Coral Rick
Early on a Saturday morning a Medieval village of tents began to grow on the shore of North Ka`anapali. Slowly the tents were erected one by one by a small clan of Menehunue (disguised as Makai Watch) so that government and NGO folks could set up their exhibits. The posters were hung, the colorful pamphlets were laid out on the tables, and the freshly prepared foods were arranged in a tempting spread. And the pilgrims arrived from far and wide with flippers and snorkels and BCDS and wetsuits and heavy cans of air. And they brought their children - the future scientists and leaders. They came for many reasons: some to enjoy the sun and surf; others to count fish; and all came to celebrate the second anniversary of a marine protected area called the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area.
Armed only with underwater slates and cameras, a dozen snorkelers slipped into the ocean further up the beach, allowing the constant wind to help them drift South and back to the village of tents. Then smaller groups of divers turned on the valves of their air tanks and kicked slowly offshore before drifting down to the reef below. All were greeted by hungry schools of fish – herbivores – parrotfish and surgeonfish chomping away and keeping the coral reef from being overwhelmed by the algae. In a soundless exchange of solidarity, a dozen divers waved and gave the “okay” sign to a dozen snorkelers patrolling from the surface. They had come to see the abundance of marine life and they found biodiversity. Scattered across the bottom of the reef were the experiments of scientists in big metal cages (under permit, of course) studying the role of urchins in the health of the coral reef ecosystem.
Back on shore, with gear cleaned up and packed away, they feasted and posed for photographs. Of course there was a Kahekili birthday cake. And, of course there was the traditional group photo with everyone wearing funny little birthday hats. Sylvia Earle has a dream of “hope spots” – places that are critical to the health of the ocean. Kahekili is a “hope spot” in the main Hawaiian Islands because it was doomed to become another reef collapse. But, thanks to the work of scientists, government, community and volunteers, there is hope.
P.S. Two more exciting fish counts are being planned for August and September, so follow us on Facebook
Armed only with underwater slates and cameras, a dozen snorkelers slipped into the ocean further up the beach, allowing the constant wind to help them drift South and back to the village of tents. Then smaller groups of divers turned on the valves of their air tanks and kicked slowly offshore before drifting down to the reef below. All were greeted by hungry schools of fish – herbivores – parrotfish and surgeonfish chomping away and keeping the coral reef from being overwhelmed by the algae. In a soundless exchange of solidarity, a dozen divers waved and gave the “okay” sign to a dozen snorkelers patrolling from the surface. They had come to see the abundance of marine life and they found biodiversity. Scattered across the bottom of the reef were the experiments of scientists in big metal cages (under permit, of course) studying the role of urchins in the health of the coral reef ecosystem.
Back on shore, with gear cleaned up and packed away, they feasted and posed for photographs. Of course there was a Kahekili birthday cake. And, of course there was the traditional group photo with everyone wearing funny little birthday hats. Sylvia Earle has a dream of “hope spots” – places that are critical to the health of the ocean. Kahekili is a “hope spot” in the main Hawaiian Islands because it was doomed to become another reef collapse. But, thanks to the work of scientists, government, community and volunteers, there is hope.
P.S. Two more exciting fish counts are being planned for August and September, so follow us on Facebook
1 comment:
Congratulations on your "Hope Spot" Birthday! I will be sure to alert Sylvia Earle to your blog. She should be on her way back from the Swan Island Expedition to the Mesoamerican Reef Hope Spot.
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