Marine Protected Areas | Tide Pool Areas | Anchialine Ponds | Links

Main Reef Areas around the Big Island
Map from the Coral Reef Network . Click to navigate.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
In Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at least some of the organisms receive some level of protection. There are two types of MPAs in Hawaii, Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCDs) and Fishery Management Areas (FMAs). MLCDs were designed to conserve and replenish marine resources while allowing limited fishing or other consumptive uses. In FMAs, on the other hand, only a specific activities are prohibited, such as the use of gill nets or aquarium fish collection. West Hawai`i has a regional FMA, made up of nine Fishery Replenishment Areas (FRAs).

There are 5 MLCDs on the Big Island: Lapakahi, Waialea Bay, Old Kona Airport, Kealakekua Bay and Waiopae Tide Pools; and 12 FMAs: West Hawai'i Regional FMA, Kawaihae Harbor, Puako Bay and Reef, Kiholo Bay, Kona Coast, Kailua Bay, Keauhou Bay, Milolii, Hilo Harbor, Wailoa River, Wailuku River, and Waiakea Public Fishing Area.

For a map of all MPAs in State of Hawaii (both MLCDs & FMAs) go to hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/images/MPAmaplg.jpg (map can be enlarged)
For a description of all MLCDs and FMAs, go to: hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fish_regs/hawaii_island.htm

West Hawai`i Fisheries Management Area

Kona Coast FMA. Please click on maps to enlarge.

Tide Pooling Areas
The Big Island has several tide pool areas to explore that tend to have a great diversity of marine life. These are great places to visit, to explore our marine life at your own pace. There are several types of urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs, limpets, anemones, and a wide range of fish, including many larval stage reef fish, as well as a wide range of seaweed (limu).

If you decide to visit some of these areas it is always good to go at low tide, when tide pools are more exposed, even though the tidal changes in Hawaii are very modest, with a maximum range of about 2 feet (60 cm) between the highest high and lowest low tides. Also, remember to always keep an eye out for large waves, to be safe. Waves generally come in sets, so it is possible for the ocean to be flat calm for a period of 5-10 minutes, and then suddenly have a set of a few waves appear, apparently from nowhere. Even seasoned Opihi (limpet) pickers have been swept off their feet by a surprise wave.

Good Tide Pooling Areas

Puako
Puako has extensive intertidal flats to explore. Be careful not to disturb the Green Sea Turtles that haul out on the exposed lava and sandy areas. There are 11 access sites along Puako Beach Drive, including a park-like area at the end of the drive. Parking is limited, since most of the access points have room for only a few cars to park and there is little room on the side of the road. For more information on the Puako Reef & Puako Bay, go to: http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/reefs/hawaii/puako/puako.htm

Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority (NELHA)
On the Kona side, one of the prime areas is at NELHA, about 1 mile south of the Keahole Airport Intersection on Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway. Park the car where the road makes a 90˚ turn to the right (North). Walk out to the area beyond and to the south of the big pool.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park
The southern part of this National Park is a great place to visit, especially at low tide. There is a low bench just north of the `Ai`Opio fishtraps that gets exposed at low tide. It has a wide range of seaweeds and other marine life, including sea turtles (mostly Green turtles, but also an occasional hawksbill).

To get there, take the Kealakehe Parkway to Honokohau Harbor. Turn left just before the harbor office. Drive around the shopping and Marina area, past the boat wash and park in the northwest corner of the harbor area. Go in to the National Park through the gate (see map). You can also reach the northern shore in the park on a gravel road that joins the highway about 500 yards (0.28 miles) south of Hina Lani Rd. For more information on this park go to http://www.nps.gov/kaho/.

Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park
There are some tide pools inside the Pu`uhonua (‘Place of Refuge) National Park. Just go through the park entrance and out to the ocean by the picnic benches. There is a $5 entrance fee to the park.

To get there, drive south towards Volcano from Kailua-Kona on Highway 11. Turn down towards the ocean on Route 160 at the Honaunau Post Office. Watch for the park sign as you drive towards the ocean.

To see a map of the area go to: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/kona/history9.htm

Anchialine Ponds
Anchialine ponds have an influx of fresh water from land while also connected to the ocean only through subterranean connections, such as tunnels or cracks in the lava, or through sand. The result is that anchialine ponds are affected by the tide, even though they do not have a surface connection with the ocean. As a result, the pond water tends to be brackish, with a salinity somewhere in between fresh and ocean water. These ponds offer unique environments that in Hawaii have many endemic species.

Good Anchialine Pond Areas
Waikoloa Beach Resort Anchialine Pond Reserve.

This area used to have the most extensive anchialine pond system in the State, before most of the ponds were covered to make room for development. It still has several anchialine ponds at the preserve, easily accessible right next to a paved walkway to the ocean.

To get there take Highway 19 (Queen Ka`ahumanu hwy.) north from Kailua-Kona. Turn Left at the traffic light by Waikoloa beach Resort. Go past the shopping center and the artificial lake and turn left at Naupaka Place. Park at the end of the road and walk back to the entrance of the reserve.

Links to more information on our reefs and ocean

Hawaii Coral Reefs, fish, coral, algae, etc. –
Coral reef network: www.coralreefnetwork.com/
Reef: reef.org/webres/gallery/haw/gallery4.htm
HI Reef Fish Quiz: www.reef.org/quiz/cgi-bin/quiz.cgi?file=hawquiz_txt
DAR-Shark Info: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/sharks/index.html

Hawaii Reef Fish Families:
Kula Nai’a Foundation:kulanaia.org/reeffish.html

Cetaceans (Whales & Dolphins) found in Hawaiian waters:
Kula Nai’a Foundation: kulanaia.org/whales.html and kulanaia.org/dolphins.html

Reef Invertebrates:
UH: rupp.wcc.hawaii.edu/BIOL200L/powerpnt/invert01/sld001.htm

Marine algae, Invasive species, etc.:
www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/INDEX.HTM
www.botany.hawaii.edu/GradStud/smith/CRI-FACET.htm
www.botany.hawaii.edu/GradStud/smith/websites/ALIEN-HOME.htm