The Hanauma Bay Ecosystem: A History and Future

Hanauma Bay was created by a volcanic eruption 32,000 years ago that resulted in the formation of the beach and an ideal environment for the coral reef.  Historically, the bay was used as a recreational area for Hawaiian nobility.  It was purchased by the City and County of Honolulu in 1928 and opened for public use.  In the 1930s, a road was paved to improve access to the bay.  The area quickly began attracting tourists that aimed to take advantage of the numerous recreational opportunities available, such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, and simply observing the over 450 different species of tropical marine life.

As the human impact on Hanauma Bay began to threaten the ecosystem, measures passed in the 1990s have helped to protect and preserve the area and its inhabitants.  First, admission became limited to 3,000 visitors per day with entrance fees charged to non-Hawaii residents.  Also, Hanauma Bay is now closed on Tuesdays to give the ecosystem a day free from human contact each week to replenish.  The most important and effective measure implemented to protect Hanauma Bay has been its mandatory educational program.  Visitors are required to attend an information session and watch a short educational film before entering the park to learn more about the ecosystem, its inhabitants, and the best way to protect both.  Greater investment in the educational program is likely to greater improve the human impact on Hanauma Bay.  According to a study by University of Hawai'i researchers, the educational program benefits Hanauma Bay because it increases visitor satisfaction with the bay and increases the "biodiversity value derived from a healthier coral reef" (van Beukering and Cesar).  It also leads to an "education spillover effect" in which the researchers predict that Hanauma Bay visitors will apply the knowledge they gain from the Hanauma Bay educational program to other ecosystems, preventing damage to coral reefs elsewhere.  Based on these results, the researchers determined that the value of the program greatly exceeded the admission fees used to fund it and that people are willing to pay more than the current admission fees to enjoy the various recreational opportunities available at the bay.  As a result of these findings, it is evident that the best way to improve and maintain positive human impacts on Hanauma Bay is through expansion of the educational program, funded by higher admission fees.

 

1. "Hanauma Bay Oahu."  <http://www.best-of-oahu.com/hanauma-bay-oahu.html>
2. "Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay."  <http://armchairhawaii.com/Attractions/hanauma/index.html>
3. van Beukering, Pieter J.H. and Cesar, Herman S.J.  "Ecological Economic Modeling of Coral Reefs:  Evaluating Tourist Overuse at Hanauma Bay and Algae Blooms at the Kihei Coast, Hawai'i."  Pacific Science (University of Hawai'i Press:  2004), vol. 58, no. 2:243-260.

1.  Identify the spatial scale (global, regional, local) of this ecosystem:  Local
2.  What did the ecosystem historically look like?  Hanauma Bay was created by a volcanic eruption that led to the formation of a beach and an environment suitable to support the coral reef.
3.  How have people impacted the ecosystem? (Good, Bad, Ugly?)  Initially, humans had a negative impact on Hanauma Bay.  People abused the ecosystem by littering, polluting, and trampling on the fragile coral reef.  In the 1990s, people began to implement measures to protect the area.  The human impact has since been positive.
4.  What benefits do people get from the ecosystem?  People use the ecosystem for recreation, including activities like swimming, snorkeling, diving, and picnicking.  In addition, Hanauma Bay offers "fisheries, tourism, amenities, and biodiversity." (van Beukering, Cesar)
5.  Are there any protected areas for that ecosystem?  Yes, people are now required to attend an information session before entering Hanauma Bay.  Restrictions have been put in place to limit attendance.  For example, the park is closed on Tuesdays to allow the bay to replenish, nonresidents of Hawaii are charged admission fees, and no more than 3,000 people can visit the park daily.
6.  What is the status of that protected area?  Although the coral reef has been threatened by tourist overuse, measures have been taken to lessen the human impact.  Specifically, an educational program has been implemented to raise awareness about how people can enjoy the recreational activities that the ecosystem in a cautious way by, for example, not walking on the coral reef and not feeding human food to the fish (which often caused marine debris).
7.  What is likely to happen in the future to that ecosystem?  Because the area is protected, the conservation status of Hanauma Bay looks good, but the University of Hawai'i study shows that conservation efforts can be heightened by increasing admission fees to Hanauama Bay.  Increased admission fees may deter tourist overuse and can be allocated toimproving educational programs, which have had a positive impact on Hanauma Bay.
8.  What can be done to maintain balance between people and the ecosystem?  The current measures have definitely helped to reduce the negative human impact on the ecosystem.  Further measures are also being researched in an effort to integrate the ecological and economic processes at work at Hanauma Bay and find better ways to protect the ecosystem

Map:

(Courtesy of Google Maps)

Historic:

(Courtesy of http://www.hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/)

Present:

(Courtesy of Jessica Nazar, 08/07/2011)