The owners of sailboat Hulakai successfully extricated it from the coral reef where it ran aground yesterday. However, there is extensive damage to the coral colonies in the boat’s paths as it foundered on the reef. Its broken mast and sail are still sitting on the shallow reef this morning. The mast is resting on live coral (plate and pillar coral) and if great care is not taken to remove it from entanglement, the damage to these live coral colonies would be great.
The damages to the coral can be seen as white broken rumble and scrapes in contrast to the darker brown live and dead coral colonies. There is no coral bleaching at this time so all the whites are broken pieces.
The visibility was poor today so the extent of damage could be greater than what I could see today. I also recorded videos of my survey. DLNR and DAR will have to make their own assessment of the damages.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1d6kBpScGa9ZMC_zffkVhWgvPS94&w=640&h=480]
Some Contact Information:
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/kawaihae-facilities/
Kawaihae Facilities
Mia Akau-laclair, Harbor Agent ii
Mailing Address: Honokohau small boat harbor
74-380 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i 96740-2704
ph: (808) 327-3685 fax: (808) 327-3675
email: mia.f.akau-laclair@hawaii.gov
wildlife inventory and issues affecting kawaihae coral reef