A joint venture involving scientists and guardians of Hawaiian culture is gearing up for the most extensive coral reef restoration project ever undertaken in the island chain’s history.
While scientists concentrate on cultivating and examining the underwater corals, a cultural group known as the Kohala Center will be actively engaged on land, educating people about how their terrestrial actions impact the corals, which bring life and vibrancy to the Hawaiian oceans.
This endeavor, named ʻĀkoʻakoʻa (pronounced ah kō-a kō-a), carries a dual significance: “to come together” and “coral,” reflecting the intrinsic involvement of native Hawaiians.
Greg Asner, director of Arizona State University’s Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, who is spearheading the restoration work, said, “As a stage for the integration of cultural practice, management, and science, ʻĀkoʻakoʻa will seed a deeper connection between human and coral communities in an era of climate change.”
According to Asner, corals play a vital role in reef biodiversity and provide a habitat for countless marine species. These corals embellish the ocean floor with a remarkable diversity of shapes and sizes, but they also serve as a “warning signal” regarding our collective conduct – where corals thrive, both the land and sea are generally well cared for.
In contrast to other renowned oceanic regions, the Hawaiian Islands have only experienced a coral loss of around 7% since research endeavors began.
Initial efforts towards restoration will be concentrated on the western coast of the Big Island, encompassing 120 miles of reef and hosting one of the most expansive coral communities in the Hawaiian Archipelago. The West Hawaii coastline collectively embodies a wide spectrum of human and coral environments.
The contributions from various stakeholders – including community leaders, cultural experts, ecologists, data scientists, and global information systems specialists – have been made possibly by a combined donation of $25 million from the Dorrance family and Dorrance Family Foundation. Collaborative funding has also been provided by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s office, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and ASU. This initiative aims to significantly amplify coral restoration efforts not only in Hawaii but also in other locations.
A pivotal component of this collaboration is the creation of a cutting-edge coral research and propagation facility, situated within the collaborative Ridge to Reef Restoration Center in Kailua-Kona. Developed in partnership with a land restoration organization called Terraformation, this coral facility is set to become the world’s largest upon completion. It will serve as the central hub for testing corals in preparation for subsequent reef restoration endeavors.
“We recognize that the health of our planet is tied to the health of countless interconnected systems,” said Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crowe.
“What happens on land affects the health of our oceans, so threats to our coral reefs stand to impact everyone. This collaboration represents the vast potential to accelerate positive change by joining scientific knowledge and cultural wisdom to address a critically important challenge facing our world,” he adds.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo
