UH Study Finds Human Pollution Weakening Maui Coral Reefs
Multiple reports from the University of Hawaiʻi cover a new study published in Nature Communications finding that human activities are significantly degrading coral reef health in Maui waters. Researchers identified contamination from agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical sources accumulating in coral tissues, reducing the reefs’ ability to withstand environmental stress. The findings have implications for Maui’s […]
UH Study Examines Whether Humpback Whales Enrich Maui Waters
Researchers from UH Mānoa and Pacific Whale Foundation completed initial seawater sampling to determine whether humpback whales measurably fertilize Maui Nui’s waters through a process called the ‘whale pump.’ The multi-year study tracked nutrient levels across the full whale season between Molokini Crater and Māʻalaea Bay. 75 seawater samples were collected over 33 weeks spanning […]