Investigation underway after corals damaged by anchor in Kewalo Pipe Reef

Part of the coral is broken off and damaged after an anchor was dragged along the reef near Kewalos in late June 2024. Courtesy: Ocean Alliance Project

HONOLULU (KHON2) – The Ocean Alliance Project has been notified of damage to a coral colony near Kakaako Waterfront Park in an area known as Kewalo Pipe Reef.

The group has been observing the biodiversity of coral colonies across the island for years.

“We noticed that a lot of corals were flipped over and there was debris scattered throughout the area. And we could tell that this had happened very recently,” said Dylan Brown, executive director of the Ocean Alliance project.

He said they believe the incident occurred around June 25 or 26, 2024.

Brown and others dived down to investigate and saw a long scratch along the coral reef.

“It looked like two separate scars, both between 20 and 25 meters long and about four meters wide, so quite a large area,” he said.

He said they believe the damage is consistent with that of a very large ship or boat about 100 feet long.

“The reason for these anchorages is because anchor damage is very damaging to our reef,” he continued. “If you can tie the boat to a mooring buoy that doesn’t drag through the reef, you can visit the sites safely.”

On Friday, July 5, the Water Resources Division of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, together with the Ocean Alliance Project, set out to assess the damage.

Brown said there are rare species of coral in the area.

“Hundreds of years of growth that are now destroyed,” he said.

Brown pointed out that monitoring is important and that they hope to start a pilot program for rapid response, as damage to coral reefs unfortunately occurs frequently.

“If we don’t have eyes down there, we won’t understand this damage and will have to act later. And the faster we act, the faster we can save these coral colonies,” Brown said.

He is asking anyone who has video evidence, particularly of the anchor dragging on the reef, who could therefore be helpful and critical.

“Everything is still under investigation and people are trying to figure out what happened so we can find whoever is responsible,” Brown said.

Corals are a protected species, which could result in a heavy fine for the ship owner.

The Water Resources Department said it will analyze the photos and data in the coming days and weeks.

In the meantime, Brown said he was glad the problem was discovered so quickly so emergency repairs could begin this week.

Tips and evidence can be sent to the Ocean Alliance Project or DLNR.