West Side Pride
Our relationship with the ocean is important, from swimming and surfing to cultural practices that keep our traditions alive—and we don’t want that to change. That’s why our goal is to protect our special way of life on West Maui by focusing on a healthy ocean.
Want to see who else loves this place, and what they’re doing to protect our nearshore waters? Go to our Real People, Real Stories page.
What’s happening?
We all live in an ahupuaa, or area that runs from the mountains to the sea. Naturally, what we do on land affects the health of our ocean. Excess nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) and other pollutants in our coastal waters can occur as a result of such things like soil erosion, fertilizer use on agricultural and landscaping areas, urban runoff from driveways and sidewalks, and much more. There are, of course, other factors that pose a major threat to our coral reefs, including overfishing, coastal development, recreational overuse, and climate change.
What are the effects of runoff?
These pollutants, when in excess, can be detrimental to coral reef health. Eroded soil or mud can smother and kill corals. An overabundance of nutrients can also cause algae to grow, which can block sunlight essential for coral growth, and out-compete live coral, which grows much slower than algae.
When algae replace reef-building corals, the diversity of life on the reef is reduced and the complex structure of the reef itself is lost. As a result, reef fish suffer. Reef loss can be especially harmful to juvenile fish that are dependent on coral habitats for shelter during the early part of their life (DeMartini et al., 2010).
The not so great news is that on West Maui, the Division of Aquatic Resources has documented an overall decline in coral cover. Read more about the current state of our nearshore waters in West Maui and Our Reefs.
For more than ten years, blooms of invasive seaweed (macro algae) have shown up intermittingly across seven kilometers of West Maui coastline (Dailer et al., 2012). Beaches in these bloom areas are regularly covered with extensive piles of rotting seaweed, which in addition to being a nuisance can be an enormous public expense. As an example, invasive algal blooms south of West Maui, along the Kihei coast, cost the State over $20 million in one year as a result of cleanup costs and a reduction in property value and hotel business (Van Beukering and Cesar, 2004).
Why should you care about coral?
Think about this. Twenty-five percent of the marine species living on Hawaii’s coral reefs are found nowhere else in the world (Friedlander et al., 2008). It’s also estimated that eighty-five percent of the reef area in the United States lies within the Hawaiian Archipelago (Cesar and van Beukering, 2004). (Talk about a special ocean!)
Hawaii’s coral reefs have long been a source of pride and value for our state, playing an important cultural role in traditional knowledge and family activities, and boasting significant environmental, social, and economic contributions. Our reefs hold educational and research value, serve to buffer our beaches and coastlines from the erosive power of waves, and support and feed our families. Hawaii’s coral reefs sustain a thriving tourism industry, attracting visitors with their renowned beauty and the lure of world-class fishing, surfing, and diving. Read more about this economic value in West Maui and Our Reefs.
What about others sources of polluted runoff, besides residential?
We realize that polluted runoff comes from sources beyond residential practices, including large developments, agricultural lands and more. Our approach is that if each person takes individual action, and shares this commitment with others, then we’re that much closer to creating a big movement together.
What you can do
To protect our way of life here on West Maui, it’s up to us to realize our close land and sea connection, and to reduce harmful sources of land-based pollution.
Click here to see our list of ways that you can take action, from simple tips on how to wash your car to volunteering with a local organization.
