Kawaihae reef has spurs that point outward to the west. These are finger-like reef features that grip the sand in between. Sometimes there are narrow canyons that wind through the spurs and onto the deeper water. At this location, the Porites monticulosa, (plate and knob) corals take up residence. Colonies are uncommon and are often found at scuba depth in large clusters, but yet here they are at twelve to twenty feet down. They prefer the sides of these canyons and tend to cascade downward. P. monticulosa survived the 2014 and 2015 global coral bleaching events and recovered fairly quickly.
