When we witness ‘āina healing, it shows us that community stewardship works.
When we witness ‘āina healing, it shows us that community stewardship works.
For the past nine years, The Kohala Center has advocated for the temporary closure of Kahalu‘u Beach Park in order to give cauliflower corals in Kahalu‘u Bay a chance to spawn and regenerate with minimal disruption. We are thrilled to share that 2026 was the most successful and abundant coral spawning event we’ve witnessed. So many cauliflower coral were spawning at once that the water throughout the bay became cloudy, a phenomenon not seen at Kahaluʻu in many years. For those who have dedicated years to caring for this sacred place, the moment was deeply moving.
“I can remember so clearly when we only saw six cauliflower corals left at Kahalu‘u, but they survived,” says Kathleen Clark, TKC’s coastal stewardship manager. “To see this flourishing recovery…I think that’s going to benefit generations well into the future.”
Watch a video of the annual cauliflower coral spawning event at Kahaluʻu and learn how daily, on-‘āina stewardship at Kahalu‘u Bay is helping create the conditions for cauliflower coral restoration.
Restoration at Kahaluʻu is bigger than coral alone: it is a living example of what becomes possible when community, kilo, and daily care come together in service of something greater than ourselves. But this work is only possible with your continued support.
In partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi, Kahaluʻu Bay observed a voluntary rest period from May 1–10, allowing the coral reef ecosystem a rare chance to recover and reproduce without the pressure of large crowds of people in the water. For Kathleen and the ReefTeach volunteers who carefully kilo the reef, the recovery is proof that daily, on-ʻāina community stewardship works.
By investing in place-based stewardship, you are helping our team remain present, on-ʻāina daily: protecting marine life, educating visitors and residents, and strengthening community stewardship. Most importantly, you are helping to restore balance between people and place to ensure that both the reef and the community can flourish in harmony: now and in the future. “Your support helps us to be present every day: to care for the coral reef that protects the coastline, provides habitat for fish, and more…it helps us to sustain the cultural and ecological health of Kahaluʻu,” says Clark. Please make a gift today to support TKC’s ʻāina-healing work at Kahaluʻu Bay and beyond.
Together, we can ensure that our ʻāina will thrive for generations to come.
Nui ka mahalo,
The Kohala Center
Sustain the Bay
