Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding the island of Lanai. Lanai is incredibly diverse due to its placement in the Hawaiian Islands. Many marine ecosystems exist around Lanai & countless microsystems. From colourful coral reefs to relaxing lush greenery Lanai has it all. It is closest to the island of Maui. Lanai however is rather mysterious as 98% of it is privately owned by Larry Ellison. This island is also 140.5 square miles or 226.11283 square kilometers. In this article, the following topics will be discussed: The salinity, temperatures, tides, & marine geography of the island of Lanai, the most prominent marine ecosystems of the island of Lanai, & the documented marine fauna as well the documented marine flora of Lanai. With that being said, let’s delve into the island of Lanai.
The Salinity, Temperatures, Tides, & Marine Geography Of The Island Of Lanai
Lanai is located approximately 7.68 nautical miles (8.837986 miles or 14.223359741 kilometers) from the nearest island of Maui. It is one of the islands that comprise the U.S state of Hawaii. It is in the Pacific Ocean meaning that lower salinity levels are present & warmer waters. They have a 35.0 salinity level along the coastline & for about 2 miles around. There are very few salt deposits around Lanai. The deepest point nearby the island of Lanai is in the Kealaikahiki Channel which separates the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe from each other. The deepest point is 1,086 feet deep (331.0128 meters deep). The waves often don’t reach higher than 4 feet (1.2192 meters). You can swim in Lanai & it is one of the most beautiful islands that you can swim along. They have the longest white sand beach in the Hawaiian islands. However, they have rough water, high surf, & somewhat unpredictable currents. So it is recommended to be very vigilant & listen closely to the Hawaiian Coast Guard for any warnings or other announcements. There are marine protected areas as well so it is important if you are sailing near Lanai to make sure you aren’t accidentally in a marine protected zone. Scuba diving & snorkeling are common around the island. They do not seem to have saltwater or freshwater marshes as Lanai is in a severe drought. Click here for the complete temperature chart of Lanai. https://seatemperatures.net/north-america/united-states/lanai-january-temperature/
The Main Marine Ecosystems Of The Island Of Lanai
Coral Reefed Areas
Lanai is famous for its beautiful coral reefed areas. They are mainly off the southwestern side of the island near by Hulopoe bay. They extend approximately 1 mile off the coast. They are home to many species such as dolphins & various tropical fish. These reefs usually are on seafloor no further than 257.5459 feet or 78.5 meters deep.
Sea Caves
According to http://www.cavediving.com, Lanai has huge underwater rock formations that people can enter, and where they can swim. The formations have ceilings that open to the water’s surface, allowing light to shine down and illuminate two large underwater rooms that have been, named the “First and Second Cathedrals” because they remind some visitors of underwater cathedrals. The First and Second Cathedrals also are commonly visited by fish and other marine life. The Cathedrals also include submerged lava tubes. Other sea caves can be found in “Sweetheart Rock”, an 80-foot islet jutting out of the ocean close to Lanai’’s coat. These sea caves might be fun to locate and explore, but be careful: The author has experienced waves flowing through an ocean channel, similar to the one that separates Sweetheart Rock from the mainland, and the channel tended to magnify the waves’ effect. For more information about Sweetheart Rock, see:
The Documented Marine Flora Of The Island Of Lanai
A 2009-2014 survey by Carlile et. al. found more than 1,000 species of seaweed in the Hawaiian Islands but could not search much on Lanai. However, it is likely that Lanai experiences the Hawaiian Islands’ huge biodiversity in seaweed because of the shallow ocean off its coasts, and the proximity of Maui and Molokai. Lanai’s coasts are known to be home to White Scroll Alga and Turbinaria Ornata seaweeds.
The Documented Marine Fauna Of The Island Of Lanai
Lanai is home to a huge number of fish species, including parrotfish, trumpetfish, unicornfish, and tang. Divers, and lucky boaters, can see them offshore. Huge numbers of coral also live off of Lanai, and have built reefs there. Many of the coral are colorful. Other invertebrate species living near Lanai include the Indo-Pacific Rock-Boring Urchin. Dolphins can also often be seen playing in the oceans around Lanai. Humpback Whales can also be seen in the channel between Lanai and Maui in the winter. They can be seen blowing water out of their blowholes, and swimming. Whale-watchers on shore can occasionally see them leap out of the water, with their complete bodies visible in midair, and then fall back into the water.
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