Anchialine ponds are one of Hawaii’s most threatened ecosystems. Anchialine pools are landlocked brackish ponds located close to the shoreline connected to the ocean via subterranean tunnels. Characterized by tidal fluctuations, these rare and fragile ponds are home to unusual plants and animals such as Halocardinia sp.

In the U.S., this habitat exists only in the Hawaiian Islands and, of the approximately 700 known anchialine pools, the majority are located on the island of Hawaii. Formed by volcanic activity, these pools are home to a unique assemblage of invertebrate and algal species, some of which are known to exist only in this habitat. In the last 20 years, alien fish species have been introduced and/or invaded a majority of the pools. These alien species have gradually destroyed the ecological balance in many of the pools by eliminating many of unique endemic species.

The Malama Kai Foundation received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Habitat Conservation in 1999 to sponsor a project focused on restoration of specific anchialine ponds in West Hawaii. The project, conducted by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service, students of West Hawaii Explorations Academy, DLNR personnel and community volunteers, was to explore the efficacy of using citizen volunteers to restore and monitor the health of anchialine ponds. The restoration was to involve the removal and control of foreign species and the re-introduction of native vegetation and aquatic species. Restoration efforts were to focus on repopulating the ponds with their endemic species of Halocardinia sp. (opae`ula), as well as the indigenous Makaloa reed.

Unfortunately, the State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR-DAR) was unable to obtain permission from the State Department of Health (DOH) to apply rotenone to kill the foreign fish species in the ponds. These introduced species (mostly topminnows) eat the native opae`ula (a tiny red shrimp) that keep the anchialine pools pristine. When the ecological balance is upset, algae growth occurs, impairing the habitat. Because these ponds are partially underground, it is virtually impossible to remove manually all the introduced fish species. Therefore, the pond restoration efforts of this project have been suspended. Valuable lessons have been learned, however, with respect to unanticipated roadblocks created by State agencies.