Environment & Ecology

Reef-Toxic Sunscreen Blocked

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga | Community Reporter

Starting Oct. 1, Maui County is banning the sale, usage and distribution of nonmineral sunscreen. Only sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients will be allowed. The ordinance, which was passed last year, is an effort to lead actions to protect reefs from environmental degradation. A historically significant move, this sunscreen ban is the first of its kind in the U.S. 

The chemicals found in many mainstream sunscreens can wash off our bodies and into the ocean, causing bleaching to coral, decreased reproduction to fish and accumulation in the tissues of many kinds of marine life, according to scientists.…

Conservation Land Acquisition

Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Five parcels in the Mākolelau ahupua’a of Molokai, totaling 1,045 acres, have been purchased for land conservation and restoration. The acquisition was made by DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), using funding from a $1.8 million grant from USFWS and more than $600,000 in private donations to TNC. 

The area represents part of Molokai’s Sole Source Aquifer, designated by the State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) as a Priority 1 Watershed, according to DLNR. The ahupua‘a’s higher elevations contain intact native forests, the protection of which contributes to generation of fresh water supplies and reduction of erosion that damages the South shore coral reefs. …

Coastal Cleanup Removes 20K Pounds of Debris

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii brought their dedication to Molokai two weeks ago. With a small but impactful team, along with the partnership of community volunteers and local organizations, Molokai’s coastlines were able to breathe a bit freer of coastal pollution. 

Rafael Bergstrom, executive director for Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, said the week was jam packed with marine debris removal. They collaborated with Pu‘u O Hoku Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Land and Natural Resource’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Kalaupapa National Historic Park for efforts along the east and north shores before heading to Mo’omomi on the northwest side. …

Gorilla Ogo Be Gone

Wednesday, August 31st, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Nonprofits Sust’ainable Molokai and Sustainable Coastlines partnered together with community volunteers for a cleanup of invasive gorilla ogo seaweed at Kaunakakai Wharf last Saturday. Growing in thick mats, gorilla ogo chokes out native limu species, as well as killing coral and other sea life. 

The effort brought about two dozen people to help with the cleanup. They identified the invasive limu, separated it from any native species growing with it, and bagged it for removal. They joined a growing number of regular volunteer efforts that have been successful in reducing the volume of ogo around the wharf area, which sometimes collects along the shoreline in massive quantities. …

Kalaupapa Seal Gets Life-Saving Surgery

Wednesday, July 20th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A young Hawaiian monk seal from Kalaupapa got critical surgery to remove a hook lodged in his throat and has been returned safely to the  shores of the remote settlement. 

The juvenile male seal, known as RP92, was spotted by National Park Service employees at Kalaupapa during a routine survey with fishing gear trailing from his mouth, according to NOAA Fisheries report. 

“We consulted with response partners from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, and NPS and determined that the seal was most likely suffering from an ingested hook,” stated the NOAA release.…