Research points to a damaged marine ecosystem that must be restored in order to bring back the wide range of habitats and species that once thrived in Maunalua Bay – sandy beaches, coral reefs, reef fish species, the endemic seagrass Halophila hawaiiana, and native reef algae species.
- Invasive alien algae (IAA) smothers large areas of the near shore reef flat, out-competing native algae/ seagrass (DLNR 2006).
- Catch for preferred species has decreased 32-76%, according to fishers, with perceptions of decline more pronounced for fishers with a greater experience in the area (Kittinger 2011)
- Lowest levels of total fish biomass versus other sites monitored across the state (TNC 2016, NOAA CREP)
- Listed as impaired waters by the State Department of Health
- Low levels of coral cover, 0-<10% (NOAA, TNC)
What remains of the Bay’s resources have an ecologic, economic and cultural importance for the people in the region. In 2014, MM conducted a survey in which 94% of participants stated that the Bay is significant to their quality of life. The Bay is a/an:
- Venue for Maunalua-based marine tourism companies;
- Tourist attraction which supports other businesses in the region;
- Important fishing ground for recreational and commercial fishers;
- Valuable resource that protects our coastline community from natural hazards
- Integral part of the region’s history and local culture;
- Popular site for recreational activities for residents and tourist – boating, diving, parasailing, jet skiing, outrigger canoe paddling, and surfing; and,
- Beautiful area that attracts people to reside in the region.
MM uses the best available knowledge – both qualitative and quantitative – to guide our overarching organizational goals and respective programmatic work. We are fortunate to have many partners that are knowledgeable about or are active in scientific research in the bay who share their knowledge and data with us. At the same time, MM utilizes our robust mentorship and internship program as a means to target specific research projects to help build our knowledge and to answer specific questions on land and in the Bay.
To help the organization develop priorities when originally formed in 2006, Mālama Maunalua completed a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) for Maunalua Bay. The community planning effort helped establish the organization’s main strategies, which remain the cornerstone of our programmatic work.
CAP Strategies:
- Remove invasive alien algae
- Reduce land based pollution (nutrients and sediment)
- Increase fish biomass
MM manages the Maunalua Bay Knowledge Assessment – the first ever adoptive online repository of information on Maunalua Bay with open-access to the community. We conducted an in-depth literature review on ecological, human use, sources of stress (threats), and governance in Maunalua Bay. We also reached out to agencies and organizations to acquire monitoring data and grey-literature. The references are available to the community in our Resource Library while the digital layers are available in our ArcGIS portal.The value of this project is to be able to see where research has been conducted and how data on ecology, human use, sources of stress, and governance overlap. The Knowledge Assessment is an ongoing project so please share your research or scientific papers with us.
The Huki Project is a cornerstone community building and nearshore restoration project for MM. MM adaptive manages 27+ acres off Paiko Beach and Kuli’ou’ou Beach. Active monitoring is key with data from pre-/post-huki, quarterly, and annual assessment kept on 1,200 10×10 m2 plots which helps:
- Guide community/education huki events
- Determine effectiveness of community/education huki events
- Direct research initiatives for MM and other entities (such as students at Kapiolani Community College, University of Hawaii, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University)
- Allows for informed student programs from middle school to high education.
We also conduct field research to collect data to help inform our work and help with modeling both on land and the water:
- Coral Reef Monitoring
- We have an active coral reef monitoring effort underway where community members have been trained to collect data on coral reef health in the nearshore reef.
- Water quality
- Partner with Surfrider BWTF
- Partnered with TNC/UH/DOH for a giant water grab
- Partnered with PacIOOS collecting water quality data at Waialae Stream to compliment the sensor at the Hawaii Kai Marina
- Lead community water science monitoring
- Instruments
- Sediment traps
- Rain gauges
- Worked with Dr. Glazer, Dr. Giambelluca, Dr. Falinski, and Dr. Dulai, along with Kamehameha School, the C&C Fire Department, Board of Waters Supply, and Ko’olau Watershed Mountain Partnership for permission for gauge placement, to install 8 rain gauges across the Maunalua Bay region. Until now, all modeling was dependent upon a rain gauge near the airport. The purpose of this project is to collect data for modelling and project implementation to better quantify rainfall for the East O’ahu region and to provide inter-regional (east-west; ridge-shoreline) variation in rainfall.
- Stream gauge
- Working with USGS to deploy a stream gauge in the Maunalua Bay region.
MM works with students at the higher education level to both mentor and facilitate research opportunities. In doing so, MM guides students in gaining practical experience on cutting edge research issues.
Through grant writing and partner support, MM researches out to experts in the field to support modeling and assessment efforts for which the results can help direct MM’s programmatic work. Examples include:
- TetraTech
- University of California Bren School SWMM modeling
- Follow the Drop
MM is an active participant of many committees and governing councils as well as serves as consultants to make Maunalua Bay and the greater main Hawaiian Islands a better place. With our commitment to invigorating the committee to take active on projects steeped in science, MM is able to provide valuable insights. In return, MM benefits greatly from inclusion in the conversations and expertise from the other other members such as PacIOOS, ORMP and Kahala Council.