January 27, 2017
Division of Aquatic Resources,DAR arrived at Kawaihae Harbor late morning to assess the damages to the coral reef resulting from Hulakai’s double groundings.
The Hulakai’s second grounding caused more damage to live corals than its first grounding. Large areas were leveled to rubble as the sailboat dragged on its anchor and ended on the reef just north of where it was on Sunday, January 22, 2017.… Read more “DAR assessing coral damages from Hulakai's double groundings”
Survey of Coral Damages by Hulakai's Grounding
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 on the shallow reef this morning. The mast rests on live coral (plate and pillar coral), and if great care is not taken to remove it from entanglement, damage to these live coral colonies would be great.… Read more “Survey of Coral Damages by Hulakai's Grounding”
Hulakai damaged coral reef
As seen this afternoon, the sailboat Hulakai broke from its mooring and ran aground on top of a coral reef in the Kawaihae Harbor. Unfortunately, the reef inside the harbor is rich with coral colonies and is much healthier than on the outside. The boat grounded itself in the shallowest part of the reef, ranging from 1 ft-6 ft underwater at low tide. … Read more “Hulakai damaged coral reef”