Community-Based Reef Surveying on Kaua‘i

Mālama Nā ‘Āpapa(MNA) has been performing underwater coral reef surveys at multiple locations on Kaua’i since 2020. Survey results are shared with Kaua‘i Division of Aquatics Resources(DAR), as well as island stakeholders and the scientific community. With this funding, we would like to continue surveying existing sites and add new survey locations. Reef surveys include summaries of coral type and coral health, fish and benthic population counts, photographic surveys, and 3-dimensional reef models. Collectively, this data will serve to expand MNAʻs Digital Living Libraries. These libraries will be used to track reef health over time, identifying specific resilient corals potentially useful for restoring reefs in the future. MNA collaborates with multiple community partners including NaPali Coast Ohana, Kaua‘i DAR, Kaua‘i Scuba Club and is looking forward to fostering these relationships and making new ones in the future.