HCRI Project Final Report Format
I.
Report Title: Characterizing Hawaii’s Integrated Marine-Associated Inland Waters and
Coastal Aquatic Ecosystems by Acquiring Baseline Data for Estuaries, Salt Marshes and
Tidal Flats and Adjacent Coral Reefs and Seagrass Beds to Improve Management Practices
Across Diverse Aquatic Habitats
Author: KA Peyton; PI: CM Smith
Organization: University of Hawaii – Manoa; Botany Department
Grant Number: NOA06NOS4260200
Date: 28 November 2007
II.
III.
Abstract
Executive Summary
Estuaries, coastal salt marshes and tidal flats are considered to be among the most
degraded aquatic habitats in Hawaii. Wetland area in the State is around 6190 ha with
estimates of wetland aerial loss ranging from 12-31% during the past 150 years.
Moreover, 75% of extant wetlands and associated habitats are regarded as degraded.
Several factors are widely acknowledged to contribute, solely or synergically, to the
poor conditions in these areas: 1) excessive sedimentation attributed to land use
practices within an ahupuaa; 2) displacement of native vegetation and fauna by invasive
plants, algae and fishes; 3) non-point source pollution; 4) ill-fated mitigation projects; 5)
loss of habitat due to encroachment by landfills; 6) alterations in hydrodynamic
processes due to overgrowth of channels by invasive mangroves; 7) reductions in the
water table by extraction/diversion of surface and groundwaters; and 8) impoundment,
canalization and/or drainage for flood control, agriculture, civil works projects and
housing. As there has been no detailed analysis or recent characterization of wetlands
in general for Hawaii neither the extent nor the condition of estuaries and the brackish
wetlands they support is not known. There are a few recent site-specific research
efforts in brackish water wetlands, such as a restoration and monitoring program in
Hamakua Marsh in Kailua, Oahu. This study is a characterization of coastal wetlands
and present connection to adjacent estuaries, intertidal areas and subtidal habitats.
IV.
Purpose
A.
HCRI research priority addressed: This research project focuses on the Hawaii Coral
Reef Initiative Research Program Priorities - (1) Native biotic and closely related aquatic
habitats: a. Profile native biotic reef habitats and those adjacent to existing protected
areas.
B.
Objectives of the project. The objective of this research to characterize coral reefs
and seagrass beds adjacent to protected areas that are refugees for endangered
waterbirds - primarily focusing on estuaries with coastal wetlands that serve as bird
sanctuaries in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Analogous characterization of the
understudied estuarine areas with coastal wetlands is included. The intention is to
document these diverse aquatic habitats, to physically describe the sites, to summarize
present conditions, to report linkages observed between the inland marine-influenced
waters and the adjacent inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats.
V.
Approach
A. Detailed description of the work that was performed.
As of November 2007, a total of 41 sites in coastal wetlands/estuaries in the Main Hawaiian
Islands have been visited and assessed. The breakdown of sites surveyed by island is: 12
sites Oahu; 6 sites Molokai; 10 sites Kauai; 6 sites Maui; and 7 sites Hawaii Island.
Permission/permits have been applied for 6 additional sites; owners/managers requested
that we wait until December because wetlands will likely be flooded and the Hawaiian stilts
are not breeding.
Whenever possible, the biologists/managers that work at each site were questioned by this
project’s biologist about the sites they manage either before the site was visited or during
the visit. The information recorded for each site included the type of flow regime, general
site description; pond/estuary description; substrate types; any stream inputs; type of
exchange/circulation with the marine environment; geomorphology; function and value;
history; and threats. Latitude and longitude were recorded using a hand held GPS. Digital
photographs were taken. Macroalgae, seagrasses and some invertebrates were collected
for identification.
An experiment to test the impacts of the invasive fish tilapia on the seagrass Ruppia was
implemented in Kawaiele waterbird sanctuary on Kauai. The objectives:

Determine whether Ruppia can grow in Kawaiele in the absence of tilapia

Determine whether there is a seed bank of Ruppia in Kawaiele
The experimental design:
Fish Excluded
Outplant Ruppia
Fish Not Excluded
Control
Outplant Ruppia
Control
The sample size is six. The experiment will run until the end of this funding cycle and possibility
beyond that time.
An outreach project was started with Kapa`a High School, Kauai aquaculture class. The
students were given Ruppia to culture in their aquaculture system. We are working with
Mr. Wade Ishikawa of Kauai DAR on this project. The purpose is to learn seagrass culture
techniques for restoration of the seagrass in areas were the fish have been removed and
to raise awareness of Hawaii’s coastal wetland resources in the community.
B. Project management: List individuals and/or organizations actually performing the work
and how it was done.
Kim Peyton performed all work at the 41 sites that were surveyed.
Individuals that helped install the fish enclosures or provided other support for this project:
Adonia Henry – Ducks Unlimited (provided resources and helped with installation)
Wade Ishikawa – Kauai DAR (helped with installation and community outreach)
Thomas Kaiakapu – Kauai DOFAW (provided staff support and resources)
Alvin Kyono – Kauai DOFAW (provided staff support and access to site)
Jeff Herod - USFWS (helped with installation and fish identification)
Kim Peyton – UH at Manoa (designed experiment and helped with installation)
VI.
Findings
A. Actual accomplishments and findings.
This is among the first comprehensive surveys of Hawaiian coastal wetlands with
ponds/estuaries. To date the accomplishment is that 41 sites were surveyed.
We are working with multiple agencies to raise the awareness of invasive species impacts in
the State of Hawaii’s coastal wetland aquatic resources; previous research has focused
primarily on waterbird and terrestrial aspects of the habitats.
B. Site specific results. Results have not been assessed, as surveys are ongoing.
The seagrass-fish experiment will be accessed in December 2007 by Kim Peyton, eight
weeks after their installation.
VII.
Evaluation
A. Describe the extent to which the project goals and objectives were attained. This
description should address the following:
1. Were the goals and objectives attained? The goals of this project are on track. The
surveys were done in conjunction with a group of scientists from University of Hawaii
– Manoa; US Forestry Service; DOFAW; and US Fish and Wildlife Service that has
received funding from the EPA to record water and soil quality in Hawaiian wetlands.
These EPA funded data will be shared with this project. As such water quality and
soil types will be included in the final data set. This collaboration enhances this
NOAA funded work; ultimately managers will be provided with additional information.
In the spirit of co-operation and collaboration the data collected by this project will be
shared with the EPA funded project.
2. Were modifications made to the goals and objectives? Additional data will be
provided as explained above. The negative impacts of invasive fish on seagrass in
the State of Hawaii’s coastal wetlands was not previously understood prior to this
project. Previously we had data from Oahu only and one fish species only. We took
the opportunity to work with partners on Kauai to experimentally demonstrate the
extent of this invasive species impact across the State. Additionally, we are working
with different fish species on Kauai.
3. If significant problems developed which resulted in less than satisfactory or negative
results, they should be discussed.
4. Description of need, if any, for additional work.
B. Indicators of success (What performance measures were used to evaluate how well the
project met its stated goals and objectives?)
VIII.
Recommendations to managers
Through recommendations we have made to managers the following actions are underway:
Wade Ishikawa, the education specialist of DAR Kauai office, is experimenting with culture
methods to grow out the seagrass Ruppia for restoration in Kauai’s coastal wetland ponds.
Jeff Herod, the aquatic invasive species biologist of USFWS, is using the information he gained by
working with us on Kauai to refine the aquatic invasive species priorities at the Federal level within the
State of Hawaii.
Based on the results of the fish enclosure experiment additional recommendations will be made to
the restoration efforts planned for in Kawaiele waterbird sanctuary on Kauai.
IX.
Dissemination of Project results:
A. Explain, in detail, how the projects results have been, and will be, disseminated.
B. List of publications and presentations
A 15-minute presentation with a question answer session was made at the Pacific Joint
Venture Meeting, Lyon Arboretum, Oahu on 5 February 2007 to explain the goals and
objectives of this project to wetland managers from across the State of Hawaii.
A 15-minute presentation at the HCRI meeting on 29 August 2007.
A 75-minute lecture on seagrasses and Hawaiian coastal wetlands for Greg Bruland’s
Coastal and Wetland Ecology and Management (NREM 665) at University of Hawaii at
Manoa on 23 October 2007.
A 15-minute presentation at the Estuarine Research Federation, an international meeting
of aquatic biologists, geologists and natural resource managers, in Providence, RI on 5
November 2007.