Dozens of community members turned out for the four-year anniversary of the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA) in North Kaanapali on Sunday, July 28 at Kahekili Beach Park in West Maui (known to many as Airport Beach). The area was designed to protect herbivores—animals that eat seaweed, such as surgeonfish and sea urchins—to reduce excess algae and improve coral health.
With a “Ridge to Reef” theme, the day highlighted actions that individuals can take when they’re in and out of the water to protect our marine resources.
To draw attention to the herbivores of the area, West Maui Kumuwai created “Hawaii’s First Ever Seaweed Eating Competition.” Elizabeth Triplett, a resident of Kaanapali, beat out four other female contestants by eating one pound of seaweed in 4 minutes and 59 seconds. While Kaau Abraham, the Maui coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, beat four other male competitors when he scarfed down a pound and a quarter of seaweed in 2 minutes and seven seconds.
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