Volunteers Needed to Inform Beach-Goers About Reef Etiquette

Several non-profit groups and government agencies are looking for volunteers to help educate visitors at two South Kohala beaches about reef etiquette.

“Volunteers are needed to help save the reefs in the Puako area by educating visitors, swimmers, snorkelers, and divers on how to protect the delicate corals at these beaches and beyond,” said Liam Kernell, spokesperson for The Kohala Center. “Healthy reefs are essential to the vitality and abundance of our marine life.”

The volunteers are being sought to visit Waialea Bay in the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, and Paniau Beach in Puako. (Waialea Bay is also known as Beach 69, for the number on the utility pole near its entrance road.)

The volunteers set their own schedules for the educational efforts, Kernell said.

ReefTeach and Puako Makai Watch will hold their next orientation for the volunteers at 6 p.m. Friday at Hokuloa Church at 1600 Puako Beach Drive.

To sign up for the training or for more information, contact Cindi Punihaole at (808) 895-1010 or cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org or Makai Watch Ranger Randy Clarke at (808) 345-1345 or rpkclarke@hotmail.com.

ReefTeach is a volunteer effort of the The Kohala Center and one of its programs, the Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center.

The Puako Makai Watch program is organized by the Puako Community Association with assistance from the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy, with additional support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.