The Reef's Grief: Maintaining Tourism with Environmental Sustainability
Ma'alea Harbor in south Maui recently received a piece of very discouraging news: the reef system surrounding the harbor has been declared a dead system, and all attempts to revitalize it have failed. Ten years ago, underwater pictures of this system showed a vibrant, living forest beneath the sea, filled with a variety of sea creatures…now muted shades of green and brown take its place and few, if any reef fish continue to make that location their home. After years of abuse and neglect by boaters and fishermen, this system had to be "let go" by volunteers struggling to keep it alive.
2008 has been declared International Year of the Reef in an effort to curtail any more of these vital systems from disappearing. Around the world, efforts are being made to make sure that education and awareness grows in order to "Olana Papa I Pulama 'Ia" or "Cherish the Living Reefs." Here in Hawai'i Mayor Charmaine Tavares of Maui County set forth a proclamation in which she urged "all citizens to commit to the moral obligation of protecting Hawaii's unique coral reef ecosystems for today and future generations."
Coral Reef Systems are widely misunderstood by even the most learned ecologists due to its delicate checks and balances. It should come as no surprise then that most tourists that visit our shores are unaware of the daily damage that is being done to this delicate system. According to Hawaii's Tourism Bureau 7 million visitors come to our islands annually, and over half of those visitors recreate in coral reef systems during their stay. This means that the lack of education has promoted decaying reef systems. One in four marine species that can be found in our Hawaiian waters are endemic to these waters, that is they cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If we lose our reef systems, we lose our marine species and those species will be lost to future generations.
But
all
of
that
is
changing.
REEF is
a
non-profit
program
that
sets
up
educational
displays
in
high-snorkeling
and
scuba
areas
around
the
islands.
They
work
to
promote
healthy
attitudes
towards
the
reef
systems
and
to
encourage
tourists
to
have
fun,
but
to
also
"malama
'aina,"
take
care
of
the
land
(earth).
Volunteers
provide
literature
and
information,
urging
guests
to
take
care
while
exploring
the
playground
of
the
sea.
As part of the International Year of the Reef, a task force was created to make sure that specific, user-friendly steps could be taken to encourage the balance between tourism and environmental sustainability. This task force came up with ten guidelines that they share from island to island – guidelines that are making a difference in how Hawaii works and plays.
DO YOUR PART TO PROTECT THE REEF EVERYDAY:
1. Embrace island living – Learn about and follow traditional Hawaiian practices.
2. Look but don't touch – Respect Hawaii's Marine life.
3. Don't feed the fish. Allow them to fulfill their natural role as grazers.
4. If you must stand – Stand on sand. Corals are alive.
5. Boat responsibly. Use moorings or anchor in sand only.
6. Use the trash can, not the sand! Keep our oceans and beaches litter free!
7. Keep your gear clean. Avoid transporting marine pests.
8. Use eco-friendly products. Remember, all drains lead to the oceans.
9. Harvest only what you need for today. Ensure fish and limu for your ohanas (family)
future.
10. Learn Hawaii's rules and regulations. Report violations to 808-643-DLNR or visit
By providing education to tourists and locals alike, there are some radical changes taking place in how the coral reef systems are able to maintain their purity and vitality. Hopefully, pictures taken ten years from now will continue to show strong, healthy coral reef systems – systems that are Olana Papa I Pulama'ia, Cherished as Living Systems.