South Kohala Projects


  South Kohala Coastal Partnership
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Download the South Kohala Coastal Partnership brochure.  


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South Kohala Marine Coordination


Through a partnership between the Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a South Kohala Marine Coordinator was hired to implement marine strategies from the South Kohala CAP and oversee the coordination of the South Kohala Coastal Partnership. Julia Rose was hired in December 2015 and is serving as a liaison between coastal communities, managers, and researchers. 



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South Kohala Naturalists


Jimmy and Chris are hiking the shoreline and Ala Kahakai working as Kilo Kapakai by observing the shoreline, sharing information with the public, and collecting information about coastal activities, endangered species, and compliance with natural resource regulations to inform management in South Kohala, including remote coastal stretches where existing interpretation and information opportunities are a challenge. Read about one of their interesting shoreline observations at Pelekane Bay here 



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WAI'ULA'ULA WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
TO REDUCE LAND BASED SOURCES OF POLLUTION 

The South Kohala Coastal Partnership is working with organizations, agencies and schools to install, monitor, and maintain best management practices (BMPs) that include rain gardens, stream riparian corridor stabilization, erosion control, and native plant restoration at five sites in the Waikoloa tributary of the Wai‘ula‘ula Stream. These BMP strategies stem from objectives of the Wai‘ula‘ula Watershed Management Plan and the need to implement actions within the watershed that help improve ecosystem health and water quality. These native plant restoration and Wai 2 Kai volunteer activities were designed to not only restore and improve water quality but to encourage long lasting stewardship and understanding of the importance of healthy watersheds.
For more information go to: www.Wai2Kai.com and like their Facebook page
Download project summary

Coastal Water Monitoring Tool Kit (C-Water kit)
University of Hawaii Sea Grant and collaborators recently developed the Coastal Water Monitoring Tool Kit (C-Water Kit) project. This project will provide coastal communities in and around the South Kohala region with the appropriate tools and training they need to measure and monitor water quality parameters and to understand the impacts that water quality can have on coastal and marine ecosystems.  

For more information please visit the C-Water kit website or download the project summary.  


Hawaii Hotel Reef Stewardship Guide
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) recently launched a statewide initiative that promotes sustainable tourism and environmental reef stewardship within Hawaii’s accomodations sector.

This guide highlights Reef stewardship activities that reduce land - based pollution such as Low Impact Design (LID) and development, Watershed stewardship activities, and Sustainable Seafood and more! The first workshop on Hawaii Island was held November 12, 2014 in collaboration with CORAL, the South Kohala Coastal Partnership and The Nature Conservancy.


Download the guide for FREE from the CORAL website.

COMPLETED PROJECTS 


Coral Settlement and Environmental Conditions

This coral settlement study conducted by scientists Yuko Stender, Paul Jokiel, and Ku'ulei Rodgers from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology will evaluate the effectiveness of terrestrial watershed remediation effort in relationship to reef recovery.  

"We have now compiled extensive data on the biology of Pelekane Bay and South Kohala including growth of corals, rates of coral mortality, distribution of corals and fishes throughout the region in relation to sedimentation, and impact of sediment on fish recruitment." 

Link to Powerpoint presentation (pdf version) 
"Impacts of sedimentation on coral settlement Pelekane Bay, Hawaii"
by Yuko Stender, Paul Jokiel and Ku'ulei Rodgers for the South Kohala Coastal Partnership Project Updates Meeting
May 19, 2014

Funded by the NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program under awards #NA11NOS4820006 and #NA13NOS4820014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources.

Integrating Local Ecological Knowledge with Novel Scientific Tools to Refine Traditional Community Based Fishing Moon Calendar

Through collaborations between local communities, scientists and management agencies, this project is working to create moon calendars with communities around the state to share local spawning seasons and pono (sustainable) harvest practices. The project goals are to raise awareness of traditional pono fishing practices to improve the health of fish stocks, identify spawning times for fishery resource species, focusing on Kala, Kole, Manini, Akule and others, and to develop fishing moon calendars.

NEW INFORMATION: The Kiholo and West Maui: Integrated Local Ecological Knowledge with Novel Scientific Tool to refine Traditional Community Based Fishing Moon Calendars Year 1 report is available.

To volunteer contact: Eva Schemmel Fisheries Ecology Research Lab UH Manoa spawningseasons@gmail.com or follow the project on facebook: www.facebook.com/spawning.seasons or http://spawningseasons.org/fish-spawning-guides/
Project funding is from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program under awards #NA11NOS4820006 and #NA13NOS4820014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources.


Stream Corridor Assessment

The Stream Corridor Assessment project began in October 2013 with the Sustainable Resources Group Intn'l Inc. conducting an inventory of the Wai'ula'ula Watershed to identify erosion hotspots and develop an erosion monitoring program.

"Identifying management actions to reduce erosion will allow implementation or projects aimed at reducing sediment delivery to reefs."

NEW INFORMATION: fact sheet and 
South Kohala Stream Corridor Assessment Erosion Monitoring, and Recommendations final report 
Appendix A Project Photos and Appendix B Hotspot Photos.

Funded by the NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program under awards #NA11NOS4820006 and #NA13NOS4820014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources.

Ungulate Exclusion and Sediment Reduction

The Ungulate Exclusion and Sediment Reduction project led by the Kailapa Community Association in Kawaihae has fenced off approximately 13 acres of land in the Kailapa homestead to exclude feral goats and to conduct watershed restoration activities that will help reduce sediment being carried into the reef. The community hosted work days that provided volunteer opportunities and participation in native plant propagation and outplanting of over 1,200 plants as well as installation of sediment  check dam.

NEW INFORMATION: fact sheet and final report

Funded by the NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program under awards #NA11NOS4820006 and #NA13NOS4820014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources.

Understanding the consequences of land-based pollutants on coral health in South Kohala 
This study led by post doc Dr. Courtney Couch and partners from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and The Nature Conservancy  investigated the effects of nutrient inputs to coral health around the Puako and Mauna Lani area of South Kohala. Starting in November 2013, staff from The Nature Conservancy and volunteers collected and monitored water quality parameters at 12 sites, and also conducted coral health surveys.  

"This project will help assess the link between coral health (disease and other biological interactions such as algal overgrowth) and terrestrial input via submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)."

NEW INFORMATION: fact sheet and final report
now available
 Funded by the NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program under awards #NA11NOS4820006 and #NA13NOS4820014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources.

Implementation of the South Kohala Conservation Action Plan

Through a partnership established between the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant), and extension agent position was established to serve as the project coordinator. Ms. Sierra Tobiason was hired July, 2013 and is responsible for coordinating activities associated with the implementation of the South Kohala Conservation Action Plan (SKCAP). Through this project the agent/coordinator successfully brought together representatives from county, state and federal agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations to engage in the South Kohala Coastal Partnership. 

To initiate the implementation of the first phase of the SKCAP the agent/coordinator provided technical assistance to stakeholders and monitored the projects (listed above) in the South Kohala priority area. The agent also secured grant funding for two additional projects "Coastal water monitoring tool kit (C-water kit)" and "Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce nonpoint pollution and storm water runoff in the Wai'ula'ula watershed". During this project over 3,392 residents and visitors were engaged and informed about SKCAP projects as well as coastal and marine management efforts through the agent's participation in meetings and outreach events. 

View Powerpoint presentation (PDF version) by Sierra Tobiason for the South Kohala Coastal partnership: 
Hawaii Coral Reef Working Group meeting July 2014
To receive regular updates on South Kohala Coastal Partnership projects, activities and events please contact Sierra Tobiason tobiason@hawaii.edu or join our mailing list and follow us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKohalaCoastalPartnership 

LINKS TO MORE PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH KOHALA AREA


CLEAN WATER FOR REEFS PUAKO

Mahalo for visiting our website, check back soon for more project information updates!
Updated July 2015
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  • About
  • Projects
  • Partners
  • Contact
  • Get involved / Events
  • Reports and educational resources
  • South Kohala Conservation Action Plan
  • Threats & Conservation Strategies
  • Photo Gallery