Island: Moloka‘i

Region: Moloka‘i

Watershed Name: Kamalō

Figure 1: Map showing the location of the Kamalō watershed (yellow) within the Moloka‘i region (dark green) on the island of Moloka‘i.

Geographic coordinates of watershed boundary:

Horizontal Coordinate 1:
Vertical Coordinate 1:
Horizontal Coordinate 2:
Vertical Coordinate 2:

Watershed Area in Acres:

8,749

Perennial Streams:

Kamalō Stream

Figure 2: Map of perennial streams within Kamalō watershed.

Human Population:

305

Rainfall:

Lowest:
Highest:

Physiography:

This site lies below the crest of the extinct eastern volcano. The peak above Kamalō is named Kamakou, and is the highest point on Moloka‘i (1515 m or 4970 ft). Inland the steep mountain slopes are deeply eroded and cut by numerous gorges. The slopes are dry at lower elevations, with higher rainfall and nearly pristine forest farther upslope. The coastal plain here is the widest on Moloka‘i, and was formed from alluvial material deposited by the Kamalō Gulch. The shoreline consists of extensive muddy sand beaches. Offshore is a fringing reef varying in width from one half mile to one mile. The inner part of the reef flat is silty sand. The outer portion is deeper with coarser sediments, increasing in coral cover near the outer margin. The reef slope shows good coral cover.

Unique features of the area are the "blue holes" that lie to the east of Kamalō. This portion of the reef is bisected by canyons that appear to be submerged valleys or areas where reef development was retarded by fresh water and sediment discharged from Kamalō gulch. Another hypothesis is that the blue holes are "Karst" dissolution features undermining the carbonate reef structure. Eastern (upwind) vertical faces in the "blue holes" show high cover by Porites compressa with low cover on the western (wave impacted) edge.

Figure 3: 1993 NOAA aerial photo of the Kamalō area with characteristic “Blue Holes”. Image provided by Steve Rohmann.

Reef Structure/Habitat Classification:

This area is characterized by an extremely wide reef flat with reef crest and fore reef extending out as a shelf. The reef flat has unique "blue holes" as discussed above. The offshore areas being monitored as CRAMP sites have over 80% coral coverage and has largely recovered from damage caused by dredging. Kamalō was a prime fishing area with extensive coral cover prior to a series of dredging operations in the area which began in the late 1960‘s. The dredging occurred on the reef flat east of Kamalō near Kalae Loa Harbor. The prevailing westward currents carried silt from the dredge operation down the coast and well past Kamalō. The fine silt covered and killed reefs downstream, killing the coral. Fish left the area which appeared to be a wasteland - everything covered with fine silt (Joe Reich, pers. com. 10/23/99). Even after the company went bankrupt and abandoned the dredging operation, the fine sediments continued to remobilize, preventing any recovery of the reefs for many years. As fine sediments were winnowed out and transported offshore, the area slowly began to improve. Reefs showed signs of recovery by mid 1970‘s. Recovery was well underway by early 1980‘s. The reefs again appeared to be healthy by mid 1980‘s with full recovery by 1990. The reefs off Kamalō appeared to be "pristine" by 1991 (James Maragos, personal communication), although much of the area actually represents a regenerated reef that was heavily damaged by siltation.

The Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) maintains transects at two depths (3 and 10m). Baseline data in 2000 showed high coral cover (75%) at both depths. Observational data from the USGS showed this deeper fore reef to be in good condition with mainly Porites compressa coral cover exceeding 95%.

Residential use along shoreline. Steep mountain slopes are not in use or in conservation status. A quarry operation exists below Pu‘u Papa‘i.

Figure 4: Chart showing area heavily impacted by dredging operation in the 1960‘s according to observations of Captain Joe Reich.

Noteworthy Biota or Ecological Conditions:

Extensive beds of Porites compressa offshore, with extensive coral reef development and unique assemblages of organism in the blue holes. Cultural and Historical Importance: Fishponds, Smith-Bronte Landing site.

Wave and Current Regime:

The dominant wave regimes off Moloka’i include:

North Pacific swell which is generated by winter storm tracks
The Northeast tradewind waves which are generated throughout the year but are strongest between April and November following tradewind patterns.
The Southern Ocean swell generates small, long period waves originating from storms in the Southern Hemisphere during their winter.
Kona storm waves occur infrequently from local conditions and extratropical lows within the region.

The south shore of Moloka’i has a shadowing effect that protects reefs from much of the impact from these waves. In response to this wave shadow, an extensive fringing reef has developed on this side of the island. As this reef narrows at the east and west ends of the island, the wave velocities can be five times higher than the protected south sector. Waves transport and re-suspend terrestrial sediment deposits onto the reef flat and fore reef. While the majority of the south shore is in the wave shadow zone, the Kamalō region experiences a wrap-around effect and is directly exposed to northeast tradewind waves. Deeper depths are not as severely affected by these short period, Tradewind waves but have some impact from long period North Pacific waves. The North Pacific swell waves diffract around the east side of the island with some effect felt at Kamalō Point.

Human Use Patterns:

subsistence fishing is the major activity in this area with limited amount of commercial fishing. Bull pen and drag net fishing once prevalent in the Kamalō reef flat have since been discontinued as a result of reprisals from residents. Bull pen fishing was once unjustly blamed for the fisheries decline since they often took advantage of the fish densities around fishpond walls. To avoid conflict with residents destroying nets, fishermen moved to an area less politically volatile. Community sanctions also limited drag netting which indiscriminately harvested small fishes (Baker, 1987).

Kamalō Harbor was built before the 1860‘s and once a major harbor facility on the island. Kamalō Wharf and Harbor are currently used only by local residents. This natural harbor was historically the main port for the island, used for centuries by Hawaiians and later by foreign ship traffic for commerce. The shift of ship traffic to Kaunakakai wharf was a result of a population shift from Kalua’aha to Kaunakakai.

Of the five original wharfs constructed in the1880’s, only Kamalō Wharf remains today. The original wharf at Kaunakakai is presently located underwater near the present wharf constructed in 1899.

A mill served the sugar plantation at Kamalō.

Economic Value and Social Benefits:

The major economic activity of subsistence fishing is seen as an important part of the local culture and life style. The area is known for papio and weke on outer reef flat, and akule netted in nearby Kalaeloa Harbor. The inshore area is an important nursery ground for many species.

Status (Degree of Legal Protection):

Kamalō is an open access area with no special protection status. 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 contemporary concern is sedimentation. The area upslope appears to be overgrazed by feral animals, including axis deer, goats and pigs. Kamalō gulch discharges into a deeper channel on the reef and extensive sediment outflow can occur with heavy rains. Secondary concern is focused on overfishing. This is an important area for subsistence fishing and local inhabitants are concerned that this resource can be depleted, especially from commercial operators from outside of Moloka‘i. During the 1960‘s extensive dredging killed a major portion of the reef, but the reefs have slowly recovered. There are no plans for further dredging in the area in the near future.

Historical and Cultural Importance:

Kamalō is located in the Southeast Moloka’i Archeological District which includes remnants of numerous cultural and religious structures. Fishponds (loko i’a), sacred sites (heiau), house platforms and many other surface structures are situated in this district. Eleven significant pre-historic archeological sites are located at the edge of the Anglin Quarry pit in Kamalō.

Of the 136 heiau on the island of Moloka’i, 36 are located in the Kamalō ahupua’a.

Seven fishponds (loko i’a) are located within the Kamalō watershed. All three ponds in the Mākolelau district (Uluanui, Kawi‘u, Pānāhāhā) have been partially filled. The largest of the three ponds, Pānāhāhā (36 acres) has walls that are partially broken. The other two ponds have a total area of 21.5 acres. Kanukuawa located in the district of Kapuao Ko‘olau is 30 acres with walls partially broken. Two fishponds in the Keonekū‘ino district cover an area of 30.5 acres. The largest loko i’a within the Kamalō watershed, Kāmahu‘ehu‘e, covers 37 acres and is in good condition. It is currently being used commercially for aquaculture purposes.

Scientific Importance and Research Potential:

This area is being monitored by CRAMP with extensive investigations by USGS on geologic history of the area and impact of human activity. CRAMP monitors transects at 3 and 10m depths. Site selection was based on the location of Kamalō as the furthest eastward extent of high coral cover along this coastline. East of this site, the wrap around effect of waves modifies the morphology of the reef and the species composition, no longer representing the south shore benthic characteristics. Baseline data was collected in 2000 and resurveyed annually to detect temporal changes in benthic composition.

Wave gauges and sediment traps have been monitored quarterly since 2000 by the USGS to characterize the wave and sediment regime.

The University of Hawai’i’s Botany Dept. conducted an extensive survey of alien algal species on Moloka‘i in 2000 and found three alien species on the south shore. The issue of further spread of introduced species that can compete with and displace native species should be addressed.

References:

Baker, Michael E. 1987. Backyard fishing on the south coast of Moloka‘i. MA Thesis, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, 128 pp.

Chamberlain, J.A., and Gaus, R.R., 1975. Water flow and hydromechanical adaptations of branched reef corals. Bulletin of Marine Sciences, v. 25, p. 112-125.

Roberts, Lucile. 2000. Historical Land Use, Coastal Change, and Sedimentation on South Moloka’i Reefs. Recent Advances in Marine Science and Technology, 2000 PACON International 2001 Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Storlazzi,C.D., Field, M.E., Dykes, J.D. Jokiel, P.L., Brown, E.K. 2001. Wave control on reef morphology and coral distribution: Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i. Ocean Wave Measurement and Analysis. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium Waves 2001, American Society of Civil Engineers. San Francisco, California.

Wyban C.B. 1992. Tide and Current: Fishponds of Hawai’i. University of Hawai‘i Press. Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

-- View all Moloka‘i watershed information -- (area in acres, perennial streams, stream length, annual rainfall, human population & geographic coordinates for watershed boundaries)

See:
Pālā‘au (Kalama‘ula -- Manawainui -- Kāluape‘elua -- Waiahewahewa)
South Moloka‘i (Kamalō -- Kawela -- Kamiloloa -- Kalama‘ula -- Manawainui -- Kāluape‘elua -- Waiahewahewa)

Last Update: 04/21/2008

By: Lea Hollingsworth

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

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