Lahaina is a beautiful town on the western end of the island of Maui. Maui is one of the 8 islands of Hawaii. The island of Maui is approximately 2,132.00 Nautical Miles (2453.462 miles or 3948.464 kilometers), from mainland America, specifically California. Lahaina has a fascinating history, which can still be seen in the town today. Lahaina is a popular resort town, as its front street was extremely famous for its jewelry & clothing lines. They were also famous for their Wharf which is right next to the water. Unfortunately, due to the catastrophic wildfires of 2023, the Wharf, & their beautiful stores, were reduced to nothing but Ash. This has greatly affected the tourism in the town as well, which is terrible as Lahaina’s main sector is tourism. The town is also a prime location for fishing, as they are extremely biodiverse. Many fishing charters depart from their port each day, to Lanai, & other areas around Maui. Lahaina’s waters have beautiful coral reefs that creep up onto the shore. Along every beach, dead coral lines the sand, & sprawling reefs can be seen very clearly in the water. Lahaina has rather peaceful waters, that are usually very calm. The coral reefs cause the waves of Lahaina to be rather quiet, though occasionally these waves may become rather intense. Lahaina is located on the western-central side of Maui, & is also a popular area of transit for its Maui-Lana’i passenger ferry. Lanai also has a unique mix of marine terrain, with everything from seagrass to coral, to rocky coves. Since Lahaina has an extreme proximity to Lanai, animals frequently migrate back & forth to get the most diverse access to prey. In this article, we will discuss the Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, & Marine Geography, of the island, the most prominent ecosystems of the island, The documented marine flora & Fauna, & Finally, & how ocean acidification has affected the island. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding Lahaina, Maui.
The Tides, Temperatures, Salinity, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Lahaina
Lahaina rests in the Pacific Ocean, which means it most certainly has a lower salinity level than the Caribbean. The salinity around Lahina has been estimated at approximately 32.9 parts per thousand. Compared to the average salinity of the water in the central Pacific 35 parts per thousand, Lahaina’s salinity is shockingly low. Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments of water. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. There are no external factors currently that seem to be affecting the salinity either. The tidal charts for Lahaina can be found on a multitude of websites, a few of which are: https://www.usharbors.com, https://www.tideschart.com, and Https://tides4fishing.com. The tides in Lahaina usually don’t get over 3.34 feet, however, they can on occasion reach higher heights. The water temperatures unfortunately are not listed on those sites, but they are listed on these: https://seatemperature.net, https://seatemperature.info, https://www.watertemperature.net, https://www.watertemp.org, & finally, https://www.seatemperature.org. The average annual water temperature is approximately 25.7° Celsius (78.26 Fahrenheit). A wetsuit is not required to comfortably swim in Lahaina, & many swim in normal swimsuits. Riptide around Lahaina is generally not a threat, because the coral reefs cause the waves to be smaller. Currents around Lahaina are also not a big issue, because the coral provides a natural barrier. Lahaina is extremely popular for swimming, kayaking, & fishing. Lahaina is extremely safe for these activities as well, as it is not polluted at all. Snorkeling is also extremely popular & in Lahaina, as the coral reefs make for magnificent scenery. The deepest oceanic point within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers), is approximately 719.8 feet (219.39504 meters) deep. It is unclear how close exactly the nearest marine protected area is, as the area is not clearly outlined on any maps. The oceanic terrain around Lahaina primarily consists of mud, gravel, rock, sand, & coral. There is ongoing government research around Lahaina waters, but it is mostly just to monitor the marine species, & ecosystems.
The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Lahaina
Ecosystem No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs
Fringing Coral Reefs are incredibly important to Lahaina’s marine ecosystem. These reefs usually are on the seafloor no further than 257.5459 feet (78.5 meters) deep. These reefs can be in shallow waters or deep sea. Many creatures such as whales, dolphins, rays, fish, & mollusks can be found in these ecosystems. By far, this type of ecosystem is the most biologically diverse & biologically active of Lahaina. The reason for this is simply that coral reefs have lots of prey, nutrients, & areas to hide. Additionally, coral reefs are paid particularly close attention to by conservationists as they provide a natural barrier against large waves, that could potentially damage coastal communities. The specific kind of coral reef found off the coast of Lahaina is known as a fringing coral reef, because it fringes along the shoreline, & juts up directly against the coast. There are 4 primary types of coral found off the coast of Lahaina, those coral being Lobe Coral, Cauliflower Coral, Rice Coral, & Finger Coral, all being warm water corals. Lobe coral is found from depths of 10 to 45 feet (3.048 to 13.716 meters) deep, & is usually a tan, green, or yellow color. Cauliflower Coral is the most common coral found in shallower reefs less than 10 feet (3.048 feet) deep, & is usually a tan or pink color. Rice Coral is usually found in shallower environments, ranging from 1 to 4 meters (3.28084 to 13.1234 feet)deep. It takes on a tan to blue color, & one species of Rice Coral, the Blue Rice Coral, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Lastly, finger coral lives at shallow depths to 100 feet (30.48 meters) deep, & is brownish yellow color.
Ecosystem No. 2: Rocky Reefs
Rocky reefs are very similar to Coral reefs, but they just don’t have coral. They usually have interesting rock formations, that work similarly to holes in coral, in that they both protect from predators. These rocky reefs are usually less biodiverse though, & are usually in deeper areas of the ocean.
Ecosystem No. 3: Coves & Rocky Pools
Coves & Rocky tide pools are extremely common throughout Lahaina. Rocky Pools usually consist of coastal rocky areas, that fill up with water at high tide. These areas are not always filled with water, which provides access to more resources for certain animals. These areas are usually filled up with crustaceans, & bivalves. The reason for this is, that with the tide new nutrients can come in & out repeatedly like clockwork.
The Most Prominent Marine Flora Of Lahaina
There are currently 2 known species of seagrass, those species being Halophila Hawaiiana (Hawaiian Seagrass), & Halophila decipiens (Paddle Grass). These are both found in underwater meadows around Hawaii. Hawaiian Seagrass is found right up against the coast, while Paddle Grass is found at least 100 feet deep. Hawaiian seagrass is approximately is unfortunately being threatened by an invasive species of algae, which is causing depletion. Hawaiian seagrass takes on a bright light green color, & is has blades only an inch long. Paddle Grass green & white ombré appearance, & has blades approximately 1.25 centimeters (0.492126 inches) long. Unfortunately, we could not confirm if certain species were found specifically in Lahaina, or if they were found in other parts of Maui, as the majority of publishers don’t specify.
The Most Prominent Marine Fauna Of Lahaina
Lahaina has an interesting clash of marine species, as it is near the center of all the Hawaiian Islands. Many creatures will migrate from Lanai to Maui, as well as migrating to the rest of the Hawaiian islands. This makes it so that some creatures will not have a year-round residency on the island. This makes it rather hard to keep track of which animals are found around Maui, & which animals aren’t. They do this because Maui has a wide variety of ecosystems all very close to one another, which offers a unique contrast. Due to the diversity of this region, divers flock to this region to see it in person, before can’t anymore. Unfortunately, Lahaina’s coral reefs are in danger due to ocean acidification, & general rising temperatures. Many conservationists are working to prevent coral from bleaching, & to protect the seagrass species as well. Aside from the Blue Rice Coral, & the Hawaiian Monk Seal. There are no known endemic marine species to Maui. Now, for this article, we will not include nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea snails, planktons, lichens, sea worms, or sea urchins, as there are just too many of them. Additionally, we will only be listing animals that have been seen within the last 2 years. With that being said, the list of all the most prominent species currently found around Lahaina are as follows: Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale), Neomonachus Schauinslandi (Hawaiian Monk Seal), Stenella Longirostris (Spinner Dolphin), Tursiops Truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin), Stenella Attenuata (Pantropical Spotted Dolphin), Rhinecanthus Rectangulus (Wedgetail Triggerfish), Acanthurus Triostegus (Convict Tang), Thalossoma Duperrey (Saddle Wrasse), Zanclus Corntus (Moorish Idol), Naso Lituratus (Pacific Orange-Spine Unicornfish), Zebrasoma Flavscens (Yellow Tang), Melichthys Niger (Black Triggerfish), Acanthurus Nigrofuscus (Dusky Sturgeonfish), Octopus Cyancea (Hawaiian Day Octopus), Chataedon Ornatissimus (Orange Butterflyfish), Canthigaster Jactator (Hawaiian Spotted Toby), Abudefduf Sordidus (Blackspot Sergeant), Parupenus Miltifasciatus (Manybar Goatfish), Mulliodichthys Flavolineatus (Yellowstripe Goatfish), Ostracion Meleagris (Spotted Boxfish), Aulostomus Chinensis (Pacific Trumpetfish), Fistularia Commersonii (Blue-spotted Cornetfish), Gymnothorax Meleagris (White-mouth Moray), Chaetodon Lunula (Raccoon Butterflyfish), Chataedon Quadrimaculatus (Four-spot Butterflyfish), Chaetodon Auriga (Threadfin Butterflyfish), Melichthys Vidua (Pinktail Triggerfish), Naso Unicornis (Bluespine Unicorn Fish), Gomphosus Varius (Bird Wrasse), Istiblennius Zebra (Zebra Blenny), Caranx Melampygus (Bluefin Trevally), Acanthurus Olivaceus (Orange Blotch Surgeonfish), Cantherhines Dumerilii (Barred Filefish), & finally Scarus Rubroviolaceus (Redlip Parrotfish). There are hundreds of other species, but for this article, we cannot list them all. All species can be found listed on https://www.inaturalist.org, by following this link.
How Ocean Acidification Is Affecting Lahaina’s Coral Reefs
Lahaina is having issues with ocean acidification, in that it is causing the coral to become stressed out & then bleach. After coral bleaches, it is extremely hard to cause it to recover naturally. If the coral reefs of Lahaina disappear, the natural wave protection will cease & swimming will become more hazardous for humans. Additionally, many creatures will no longer have a natural habitat, & become endangered or possibly extinct.
Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Salinity Forecast: Hawai’i”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
Citation No. 2: “The Hawaiian Islands Seagrass”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
Citation No. 3: “Coastal Plants Of Hawaii: HAWAII - ENDEMIC”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Marine Life Photography. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
Citation No. 4: “Seagrass Restoration Initiative”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown date. Published by Mālama Maunalua. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
Citation No. 5: “Corals Of Maui”, Written by Unknown & Published on October 18th, 2017. Published by the Hawaii Ocean Project. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
Citation No. 6: “Maui, HI, US”, Written by INaturalist, & Published at varying Dates. Published by INatrualist. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.
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