14 hours Ago By Kayla Lee
Kealakekua Bay, a jewel in Hawaii's ecological and cultural landscape, is rolling up its sleeves for an invasive species removal event slated for May 18. The bay's waters will be off-limits from 8:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. that day, as community members join forces to yank out non-native fish species that threaten the local marine life balance.
Working in cahoots are local heroes like nonprofit organization ʻIke Lawaiʻa, KapuKapu ʻOhana, and the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation—all playing host to the event.Every volunteer and visitor is to thoroughly brace themselves for safety as efforts will be zeroed in on purging Roi (Cephalopholis argus), Taʻape (Lutjanus kasmira), and Toʻau (Lutjanus fulvus) from the bay. Rest assured, the removal rave halts at these species, leaving the rest of the underwater brigade untouched.
The event is one of the active thrusts of the Kealakekua Bay Community Action Plan, which the locals embraced back in 2022 to restore and steward the bay's riches by spearheading efforts just like this one.Supported by a brigade of state and community entities, the action plan boasts a roster that includes the Kealakekua Bay Cultural Advisory ʻOhana, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and Hoala Kealakekua Nui, just to name a few. Last year, the masterminds at the Board of Land and Natural Resources wove this plan into the tapestry of the Hawai`i State Parks Master Plan for the bay, signaling a unified stride towards marine preservation.
In a statement relayed by ʻIke Lawaiʻa, Chuck Leslie shared, "We are proud to bring our community together to care for our bay through the knowledge of our ancestors." Leslie added, "Removing invasive species supports our coral restoration, fish population and makes sure all things are healthy in Kealakekua Bay. We make sure that there is a future for both our keiki and this wahi pana (sacred place).
" Rooted in the very shores of Kealakekua Bay, ʻIke Lawaiʻa is the embodiment of Hawaiian tradition, striving to protect both the bay's environmental gem and cultural backbone while schooling the next line of fishers in age-old lawaiʻa (fishing) traditions, as per the Department of Land and Natural Resources.For the clear-sighted environmental enthusiasts out there, this day sparks a clarion call to gather and get hands-on with conservation, one invasive species at a time. Additional details on the effort and information on how you sure can volunteer are skimming the surface on DLNR's official website.
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