Leleiwi Beach Park--Windward Hawai‘i Island

Let's interactively explore the coral reefs of Hawai‘i Island and search for differences between windward and leeward reefs.
​This work was generated through a collaboration with University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Laboratories and Santa Monica College.  This project was funded through the Santa Monica College Faculty Sabbatical Fellowship.  Mahalo nui to John Burns and Hoku Cody for technical and field support, and University of Hawai‘i at Hilo undergraduates Kamala Anthony and Nahoku Kahana for panoramic assembly. 

Site 1: Leleiwi, shallow reef (5 m depth)

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​                          Panoramic photos credit: J. Burns; panoramic assembly: K. Anthony, N. Kahana, UH Hilo SDAV
Shallow nearshore reefs are dominated by Pocillopora spp. (branching) and Porites spp. (mounding) corals.   Video credit: C. Wall

Site 2: Leleiwi, middle reef (10 m depth)

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​                          Panoramic photos credit: J. Burns; panoramic assembly: K. Anthony, N. Kahana, UH Hilo SDAV
Visibility is reduced at 10m and the reef substrate shows colonization by algae and cyanobacteria (red). Video credit: C. Wall

Site 3: Leleiwi, deep reef (15 m depth)

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​                          Panoramic photos credit: J. Burns; panoramic assembly: K. Anthony, N. Kahana, UH Hilo SDAV

​​Video credit: C. Wall
The reef at 15m has abundant rubble and poor water quality.
Image credit: J. Burns