• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

Rescuing our reefs and waters

 

algae cleanup effort at Waikiki

Join us in protecting Hawaii's ocean treasures

Donate Now

Hawai’i has the highest level of marine endemism of any place of similar size in the tropics. More than one-quarter of our marine species are found nowhere else on Earth. If we lose them here, they are gone from the world forever.

 

But with your help, there’s hope. Your support of the Conservancy’s work can make all the difference in preserving this irreplaceable natural legacy for the benefit of future generations.

 

Death gripHawaiian green sea turtle caught in lay gill net   Hawaiian green sea turtle (honu) trapped in a lay gill net.

Learn more

about our Makai Watch community partnership program and invasive species removal efforts.

algae cleanup, Maunalua Bay, O'ahu

 

Hawaiian waters harbor some of the world’s most endangered marine species, including sea turtles and monk seals. In the main Hawaiian Islands, scientists estimate that important nearshore food fish species such as moana, weke, moi and kumu have declined by more than 75% over the last century, with many nearshore fish populations at levels below the capacity necessary to sustainably replenish themselves.

Populations of large predators such as sharks and ulua have dropped dramatically, and are now well below those found in the more remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Healthy predator populations are an indicator of overall ecosystem health. When these and other fish populations are out of balance, the resilience of the entire reef ecosystem is affected, increasing its susceptibility to disease, natural disasters and invasive species.

Caring for our ocean

The Conservancy is working to ensure the long-term viability of Hawaii’s marine environment. We have protected a critical nesting site for endangered hawksbill turtles on the island of Hawai`i, piloted an award-winning alien algae removal program off Waikiki, and partnered with the snorkel and dive industry to raise funds for high-priority marine conservation projects.


We are now working with public and private partners to identify priority marine conservation areas and develop strategies to protect and restore them. Together with local communities, we are managing and monitoring coastal resources through the state’s Makai Watch program, which empowers coastal communities to manage the nearshore resources on which their livelihoods and lifestyles depend.

 

Working with the State Division of Aquatic Resources and the University of Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology, we are reaching out to local communities on O`ahu to engage them in the identification and active control of alien species, such as the invasive algae, Gracilaria salicornia. And through our Fair Catch partnership with Mālama Hawai`i and SeaWeb, we are working with fishermen throughout the state to support responsible ocean use and strong enforcement of fisheries regulations.

 

 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Andrea Charuk (alien algae cleanup, Maunalua Bay, O'ahu); © Phil Spalding III (alien algae cleanup, Waikiki Beach, O'ahu).