First Coral Outplanting Restores Waikīkī Reef Ecosystem
Summary
The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources completed the first coral restoration outplanting in the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District, placing nursery-grown corals from the Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery onto the reef flat between the Waikīkī Aquarium and the Waikīkī Natatorium. The 76-acre protected area, established in 1988, prohibits fishing and removal of marine life.
What changed
The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources announced the completion of the first coral restoration outplanting in the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District, a state-protected area established in 1988. Corals grown at the Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery on Sand Island were transported and carefully placed on the reef flat between the Waikīkī Aquarium and the Natatorium. The project received strong community input and support.\n\nThis announcement represents an informational update on marine conservation efforts and does not impose regulatory obligations on specific entities. Marine ecologists and conservation organizations may find this relevant to ongoing restoration work, while the general public gains visibility into reef protection activities in the Waikīkī MLCD.
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Apr 17, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Home » Latest Department News, Newsroom » DLNR News Release – FIRST CORAL OUTPLANTING IN WAIKĪKĪ CONSERVATION DISTRICT BRINGS NEW LIFE TO REEF
DLNR News Release – FIRST CORAL OUTPLANTING IN WAIKĪKĪ CONSERVATION DISTRICT BRINGS NEW LIFE TO REEF
Posted on Apr 16, 2026 in Latest Department News, Newsroom STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
RYAN K.P. KANAKA ’ OLE
ACTING CHAIRPERSON
FIRST CORAL OUTPLANTING IN WAIKĪKĪ CONSERVATION DISTRICT BRINGS NEW LIFE TO REEF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2026
HONOLULU – The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources’ Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery (HCRN) has completed the first coral restoration outplanting in the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), placing nursery-grown corals onto the reef flat between the Waikīkī Aquarium and the Waikīkī Natatorium.
The site was selected with strong community input and support, highlighting its accessibility and importance as a historically and culturally significant area.
DAR staff transported corals which had been growing in the HCRN’s tanks on Sand Island. On shore, DAR’s education team set up a booth to answer questions and share information with curious beachgoers as DAR and Waikīkī Aquarium teams carefully transferred corals from bins into the nearshore waters. Piece by piece, each coral was placed and attached to its new home on the ocean floor.
“Coral reefs are the foundation of our nearshore ecosystems, supporting marine life, protecting our shorelines and providing cultural and recreational value,” said Christina Jayne, curator of the O‘ahu Coral Nursery. “Bringing restoration efforts into a highly visible and meaningful place like Waikīkī allows the community to see this work firsthand and understand the role we all play in protecting these resources.”
The Waikīkī MLCD is a state-designated protected area along the Diamond Head end of Waikīkī, established in 1988 to conserve and restore nearshore marine resources. Spanning about 76 acres, the MLCD prohibits fishing and the removal or disturbance of marine life and natural features.
The newly planted corals serve as a visible reminder that restoration is possible and already underway.
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