If you have ever spent time in or on the water in Hawaii Kai, then Maunalua Bay has been a part of your life. For most of us paddlers, Hawaii Kai is one of the go to places for standup paddling. We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful place to paddle, and it is time for us to give back to the bay that gives so much to us.
Come and Volunteer to support Malama Maunalua in their effort to “Huki”(pull) invasive algae on Sat 11/6 at 9am. Sign up at the Wet Feet store & receive a gift certificate for a free 1/2 day SUP & Paddle rental at Wet Feet! Gift certificates will be given out after the “Huki”. Come sign up today!!!
The spread of invasive, non-native marine algae is one of the greatest threats to Hawai‘i’s coral reefs and other near shore marine ecosystems. Hundreds of alien species have been introducted to O`ahu over the past decades. Free from predation and other control measures that would be found where these species are naturally found, some of these alien species are able to take advantage of new conditions and grow rapidly. As alien algae spreads, it grows over and smothers coral reefs and native algal communities, killing extensive areas of native habitat. Lowered populations of reef fish, a result of unsustainable fishing pressure and poor habitat conditions, are unable to keep the algae in check.
Five species of alienmarine algae have shown this ability to grow and spread at alarming rates, outcompeting our native corals and limu, and so destroying native reefs. Of these five species of alien algae, three are devastating Maunalua Bay. Gracilaria salicornia (a relative to our native manauea), Acanthophora spicifera, and Avrainvillea amadelpha.
Removing alien algae from high priority coral reefs is essential to the survival of Hawaii’s reefs. Currently, Malama Maunalua is implementing a number of measures to address this quickly growing problem.
News From Wet Feet Hawaii 