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CRAMP Study Sites: Ka‘apuna, Island of Hawai‘i

Kawaihae -- Laupāhoehoe -- Leleiwi Point -- Ka‘apuna -- La‘aloa -- Nenue Point

Geographic Name: Ka‘apuna

CRAMP Site Code: HaKpn

Geographic Location:

South Kona Coast, Island of Hawai‘i

19° 16.198‘ N, 155° 53.626‘ W

19° 16.198‘ N, 155° 53.649‘ W

Chart showing Ka‘apuna coastline. Red arrows show location of transect sites. (Click image for larger view.)

1993 NOAA aerial photo of the Ka‘apuna area. Image provided by Steve Rohmann. (Click image for larger view.)

Physiography:

The shoreline of Ka‘apuna was formed as the 1950 Mauna Loa lava flow entered the sea. The 1950 flow overlies prehistoric flows of the Mauna Loa series that continue along the coastline on both sides of the flow. The coastline consists largely of low basaltic cliffs and headlands being actively undercut by wave action. Boulder beaches occur between small headlands. Subtidal boulder deposits are constantly being reworked by wave action. The sound of impacting cobble and boulders as the surf strikes the shore is constantly heard while diving. A large amount of fine basaltic material is present as black beach sand, fine material within the eroding basalt framework and additional fine material being generated by wave erosion of the lava. The sediment is suspended by wave action and transported along the shoreline and can produce high turbidity conditions along portions of the coast. Lava fingers of dense basalt extend from shoreline headlands into deeper water as ridges that rise from 10 to 20 feet above the surrounding area. The intervening low areas serve as channels for the down-slope movement of abraded lava rock, gravel and basaltic sand. Benthic topography is complex consisting of wave-rounded boulders, cobble, basaltic sand channels, basalt pavement, lava tubes, large basal blocks, ledges, and arches. Offshore bathymetry is steep, with depths of 200 feet within a distance of 400 feet from shore. The 200-fathom curve is located within 1000 to 2000 feet from shore. Depths of over 1000 fathoms occur within 3 miles of the shoreline.

Preparing to start 1999 survey off Ka‘apuna. Left to right: Eric Brown of UH Zoology Dept, Will Smith of UH Geography Dept. and Brent Carman of Division of Aquatic Resources. Note older coastal lava cliffs north of Ka‘apuna in the background. Photo by Paul Jokiel. (Click image for larger view.)

Reef Structure, Habitat Classification:

Zones:

A narrow shoreline/intertidal zone occurs along the steep lava flow face. This zone plunges directly into a fore reef zone that plunges to great depths.

Habitats:

Intertidal habitat is continuous along the cliff face with crustose coralline algae cover ranging from 90-100%a cover in some sections to less than 50% cover in other areas. The shallow subtidal consists of basalt pavement with large outcrops and boulders. In deeper water high basaltic ridges are colonized with corals. Between these ridges are channels with uncolonized volcanic pavement, basaltic sand, and uncolonized volcanic rock/boulder habitats. Corals colonize the outcrops and ridges. Coverage is relatively low (5-10%) and dominated by Pocillopora meandrina and Porites lobata in the shallows with increasing cover by Porites compressa in deeper water.

Physical Oceanography:

This site is impacted by South Swell and Kona Storm Waves. The offshore slope is very steep. There is no broad shoaling area to dissipate wave energy gradually. Full wave energy impacts the inshore during these large wave events. Proximity to deep offshore waters produces high visibility offshore, but with increasing turbidity inshore due to terrestrial input under some conditions. Currents tend to set to the north-northwest along this coast (Laevastu et al., 1964).

Adjacent Land Tenure, Land Use:

The massive Ka‘apuna Lava Flow of 1950 entered the sea at this point. Extensive lava fields from the 1950 flow are found upland of the coastline. Areas covered by the recent lava flows are no longer suitable for agriculture or grazing. Ranches and small farm operations along this coastline occupy the land between the shoreline and the 1600 ft elevation contour. A large portion of the 1950 Ka‘apuna Lava Flow between 1600 and 5000 ft elevation lies within the South Kona Forest Reserve System. The extensive lava fields continue above this elevation to the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park boundary at approximately 12,000 ft elevation. National Park jurisdiction continues to the highest elevation of 13,679 ft. Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) cuts across the area at the 1200-ft. elevation contour, but little else other than hiking trails or rugged jeep trails exist on the watershed. The town of Papa is located 3 mi. to the south, with light residential and agriculture being the main use of the land area. Access to the ocean from the main road is via a 1.3 mile jeep trail along the edge of the 1950 lava flow with jeep trails and footpaths extending north and south along the shoreline. Reaching the water from the escarpment to fish and collect opihi (limits), collect limu (seaweed) or fish is difficult and dangerous. The marine environment here is best reached by boat. The Kipahoehoe Natural Area Reserve is located approximately a mile to the south of the Ka‘apuna site.

Human Use Patterns:

Diving and fishing are the primary uses of this area. Use is relatively light to remoteness from the major boat harbors and inaccessibility of the site from land.

Economic Value and Social Benefits:

This area is a very interesting dive site with complex benthic topography and diverse fish life. Commercial dive tours, recreational diving and fishing are activities that contribute to the value of this site.

Status (Degree of Legal Protection):

Open access. Authority for managing the marine resources within three miles (4.8 km) of the high tide mark lies with the Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources. All laws pertaining to the management of state marine resources apply (see pamphlet "Hawai‘i Fishing regulations, September 1999", 51 pp. available from Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 330, Honolulu, Hawai‘i).

Management Concerns:

The major concern is the possibility of overfishing. The reef area is very narrow (less than 400 feet) due to the steep offshore slope. Concentrated fishing activity for food fish and/or commercial aquarium fish could rapidly deplete the resource.

Scientific Importance and Research Potential:

This site allows the study of coral community development and succession on a relatively recent lava flow (Grigg and Maragos, 1974) for comparison to other CRAMP study sites.

References:

Grigg and Maragos, 1974

Laevastu et al., 1964

Study Site Summary of Results

Last Update: 04/21/2008

By: Erin Naughton

Hawai‘i  Coral Reef Assessment & Monitoring Program

Hawai‘i  Institute of Marine Biology

P.O. Box 1346

Kāne‘ohe, HI 96744

808-236-7440 phone

808-236-7443 fax

email: jokiel@hawaii.edu