All About Coral Hawaii

Hawaii has a very unique ecosystem, and a large part of it is comprised of its beautiful coral reefs. These reefs offer so much biological diversity making them great locations for fishing and tourism, in fact, many tours like to show off these reefs. The colors of the reefs have garnered the name the “tropical rainforest of the sea.” Many creatures nestle in the reefs for food or breeding. Because Hawaii is a younger geological formation, the reefs surrounding it are also younger when compared to reefs around the world. As reefs grow and develop, they become fringing reefs, which are seen in shallow water, then become barrier reefs which have a lagoon separating it from the shore.

Hawaii’s reefs grow westward because of the islands’ westward growth. Since there are no fully developed reefs, Hawaii’s reefs are not as prolific, and mostly consist of coral due to the lack of nutrients and feeding animals. The reef lacks species such as sponges, soft coral, tunicates, and other animals found in the Great Barrier Reef. Hawaii only has 40 kinds of reefs when compared to the parts of the Pacific Ocean, which has over 300. While Hawaii’s reefs are much smaller when compared to other parts of the Pacific, its young and growingreefs still make it a popular stop while on a Hawaii tour or vacation.