The Malama Kai Foundation works in partnership with communities, private landowners and businesses, educational institutions, public agencies and elected officials to create effective conservation solutions for threatened marine and coastal resources.

Community involvement and cooperation is the key to successful management of coral reef resources. Volunteer monitoring provides an opportunity for people to feel connected to the management process rather than alienated by it... read more

The West Hawaii Fishery Council (WHFC) Liaison works to coordinate between the WHFC, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR-DAR) and local, isolated fishing communities in the management of their marine resources... read more

Project Leader: David Tarnas, Malama Kai Foundation Director

Through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) the Malama Kai Foundation has contracted a part-time project coordinator to manage and coordinate all activities associated with reducing anchor damage to coral reefs and enhancing the State’s day-use mooring buoy system. These activities include: obtaining accurate GPS coordinates for each of the mooring buoys within the system; preparing charts and documents for each main Hawaiian Island as to the location of each mooring buoy; continuing mooring buoy maintenance and replacement; conducting individual island community workshops to identify additional priority sites and provide training for buoy installation; working with partners to obtain necessary new permits and/or renew current permits; and developing publishable graphic materials to facilitate public awareness and education about the Mooring Buoy System and reduction of impacts on coral reefs.

This project supports an innovative partnership to help prevent coral reef degradation by reducing anchor damage at popular dive and snorkeling sites caused by tour boats and other ocean tourism businesses, and by increasing community awareness through education and stewardship activities. The project is coordinated and consistent with on-going state, national and international coral reef conservation initiatives and addresses an unmet need to provide direct benefits and enhanced protection to coral reefs.

Watch this site for more information on this project. Please go to the Hawaii Mooring Buoy System Section for additional information.