Coral Reef Project: Hawaiʻi Active
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, the USGS is working on the Kona (west) coast of Hawaiʻi to evaluate geologic resources at two historical parks.
Overview
The island of Hawaiʻi, known as the Big Island, is the largest in the Hawaiian Islands chain. Greater than twice the area of the remaining main eight Hawaiian Islands combined, Hawaiʻi encompasses 10,432 sq km (4,028 sq mi). The island was formed from five major volcanoes. The volcano of Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth, reaching nearly 9 km (5.5 mi) from the seafloor to the summit. Although shorter, Mauna Loa's massive size makes it the largest volcano in the world. Kīlauea, long thought to be part of Mauna Loa, is the only currently active subaerial volcano in the Hawaiian Island chain and is home to Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.
Motivation
Live coral growth on the Big Island is typically limited to scattered aggregate corals on volcanic boulders and pavement. The USGS is working with the National Park Service on the Kona (west) coast of Hawaiʻi to evaluate the geologic resources at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, and at Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau (City of Refuge) National Historical Park, including benthic habitat mapping of the nearshore coral ecosystem and nutrient flux from groundwater sources. Other partners involved in this work include the University of Hawaiʻi, Stanford University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
The island of Hawaiʻi is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
Hawai'i data sets produced by the Coral Reef Project
Below are publications associated with this project.
Submarine groundwater discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Island of Hawai`i: Part 3, spatial and temporal patterns in nearshore waters and coastal groundwater plumes, December 2003-April 2006
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Submarine ground-water discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Island of Hawai'i: Part 2, spatial and temporal variations in salinity, radium-isotope activity, and nutrient concentrations in coastal waters, Decembe
Submarine groundwater discharge and nutrient addition to the coastal zone and coral reefs of leeward Hawai'i
Geologic resource evaluation of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai'i: Geology and coastal landforms
Geologic resource evaluation of Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai'i; Part I, geology and coastal landforms
Submarine ground water discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii Part I: Time-series measurements of currents, waves, salinity and temperature: November 2005 – July 2006
Benthic habitats and offshore geological resources of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai‘i
Geologic resource evaluation of Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Hawai‘i. Part II: Benthic habitat mapping
Geologic resource evaluation of Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai‘i, part II: Benthic habitat mapping
Coastal change rates and patterns: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai'i
Coastal circulation and water column properties along Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii. Part 1: Measurements of waves, currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity, April-October 2004
- Overview
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, the USGS is working on the Kona (west) coast of Hawaiʻi to evaluate geologic resources at two historical parks.
Overview
The island of Hawaiʻi, known as the Big Island, is the largest in the Hawaiian Islands chain. Greater than twice the area of the remaining main eight Hawaiian Islands combined, Hawaiʻi encompasses 10,432 sq km (4,028 sq mi). The island was formed from five major volcanoes. The volcano of Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth, reaching nearly 9 km (5.5 mi) from the seafloor to the summit. Although shorter, Mauna Loa's massive size makes it the largest volcano in the world. Kīlauea, long thought to be part of Mauna Loa, is the only currently active subaerial volcano in the Hawaiian Island chain and is home to Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.
Motivation
Live coral growth on the Big Island is typically limited to scattered aggregate corals on volcanic boulders and pavement. The USGS is working with the National Park Service on the Kona (west) coast of Hawaiʻi to evaluate the geologic resources at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, and at Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau (City of Refuge) National Historical Park, including benthic habitat mapping of the nearshore coral ecosystem and nutrient flux from groundwater sources. Other partners involved in this work include the University of Hawaiʻi, Stanford University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Science
The island of Hawaiʻi is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
- Data
Hawai'i data sets produced by the Coral Reef Project
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 24Submarine groundwater discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Island of Hawai`i: Part 3, spatial and temporal patterns in nearshore waters and coastal groundwater plumes, December 2003-April 2006
During seven surveys between December 2003 and April 2006, 1,045 depth profiles of surface water temperature and salinity were collected to examine variability in water column properties and the influence of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on the nearshore waters and coral reef complex of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Island of Hawai‘i. This effort was made to characterize the vAuthorsEric E. Grossman, Joshua B. Logan, M. Katherine Presto, Curt D. StorlazziScience-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Coral ecosystems and their natural capital are at risk. Greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, and harmful land-use practices are damaging our coral reefs. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that the threats are serious, and if they are left unchecked, the ecological and social consequences will be significant and widespread. Although the primary stressors to coral ecosystems are known, scAuthorsSubmarine ground-water discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Island of Hawai'i: Part 2, spatial and temporal variations in salinity, radium-isotope activity, and nutrient concentrations in coastal waters, Decembe
The aquatic resources of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, including rocky shoreline, fishponds, and anchialine pools, provide habitat to numerous plant and animal species and offer recreational opportunities to local residents and tourists. A considerable amount of submarine groundwater discharge was known to occur in the park, and this discharge was suspected to influence the park's watAuthorsKaren Knee, Joseph Street, Eric E. Grossman, Adina PaytanSubmarine groundwater discharge and nutrient addition to the coastal zone and coral reefs of leeward Hawai'i
Multiple tracers of groundwater input (salinity, Si, 223Ra, 224Ra, and 226Ra) were used together to determine the magnitude, character (meteoric versus seawater), and nutrient contribution associated with submarine groundwater discharge across the leeward shores of the Hawai'ian Islands Maui, Moloka'i, and Hawai'i. Tracer abundances were elevated in the unconfined coastal aquifer and the nearshoreAuthorsJ.H. Street, K.L. Knee, E. E. Grossman, A. PaytanGeologic resource evaluation of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai'i: Geology and coastal landforms
Geologic resource inventories of lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) are important products for the parks and are designed to provide scientific information to better manage park resources. Park-specific geologic reports are used to identify geologic features and processes that are relevant to park ecosystems, evaluate the impact of human activities on geologic features and processes,AuthorsBruce M. Richmond, Ann E. Gibbs, Susan A. CochranGeologic resource evaluation of Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai'i; Part I, geology and coastal landforms
Geologic resource inventories of lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) are important products for the parks and are designed to provide scientific information to better manage park resources. Park-specific geologic reports are used to identify geologic features and processes that are relevant to park ecosystems, evaluate the impact of human activities on geologic features and processes,AuthorsBruce M. Richmond, Susan A. Cochran, Ann E. GibbsSubmarine ground water discharge and fate along the coast of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii Part I: Time-series measurements of currents, waves, salinity and temperature: November 2005 – July 2006
The impending development for the west Hawai‘i coastline adjacent to Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (KAHO) may potentially alter coastal hydrology and water quality in the marine waters of the park. Water resources are perhaps the most significant natural and cultural resource component in the park, and are critical to the health and well being of six federally listed species. KAHO contAuthorsM. Katherine Presto, Curt D. Storlazzi, Joshua B. Logan, Eric E. GrossmanBenthic habitats and offshore geological resources of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai‘i
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (KAHO) is one of three National Park lands located along the western coast of the Island of Hawai‘i and the only one to include submerged lands and marine resources within its official boundaries. The park was established in 1978 and is 1,160 acres in size, including 596 acres of marine area. The submerged lands are currently managed by the State of HawaiiAuthorsAnn E. Gibbs, Susan A. Cochran, Joshua B. Logan, Eric E. GrossmanGeologic resource evaluation of Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Hawai‘i. Part II: Benthic habitat mapping
In cooperation with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has mapped the underwater environment in and adjacent to three parks along the Kona coast on the island of Hawai‘i. This report is the second of two produced for the NPS on the geologic resource evaluation of of Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park (PUHO) and presents the results of benthic habitatAuthorsSusan A. Cochran, Ann E. Gibbs, Joshua B. LoganGeologic resource evaluation of Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai‘i, part II: Benthic habitat mapping
In cooperation with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has mapped the underwater environment in and adjacent to three parks along the Kona coast on the island of Hawai‘i. This report is the second of two produced for the NPS on the geologic resource evaluation of Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site (PUHE) and presents benthic habitat mapping of the waters oAuthorsSusan A. Cochran, Ann E. Gibbs, Joshua B. LoganCoastal change rates and patterns: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawai'i
A collaborative project between the U.S. Geological Survey's Coastal and Marine Geology Program and the National Park Service (NPS) has been developed to create an inventory of geologic resources for National Park Service lands on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The NPS Geologic Resources Inventories are recognized as essential for the effective management, interpretation, and understanding of vital paAuthorsCheryl J. Hapke, Rick Gmirkin, Bruce M. RichmondCoastal circulation and water column properties along Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii. Part 1: Measurements of waves, currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity, April-October 2004
No abstract available.AuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, M. Katherine Presto - Partners