Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
areas loaded with tropical reef fish. Its popularity has forced government officials to limit
admissions and charge an entrance fee. Commercial tour operators have also been restric-
ted.
Hawaii's
reefs
have faced increasing impact over the years as well. Runoff of soil and
chemicals from construction, agriculture, and erosion can blanket and choke a reef, which
needs sunlight to survive. Human contact with the reef can also upset the ecosystem. Coral,
the basis of the reef system, is very fragile; snorkelers and divers grabbing onto it can break
of pieces that took decades to form. Feeding the fish can also upset the balance of the eco-
system (not to mention upsetting the digestive systems of the fish). In areas where they're
fed, the normally shy reef fish become more aggressive, surrounding divers and demand-
ing food.
FLORA
The rainforests are among Hawaii's most fragile environments. Any intrusion—from
hikers carrying seeds on their shoes to the rooting of wild boars—can upset the delicate
balance of these complete ecosystems. In recent years, development has moved closer and
closer to the rainforests.
FAUNA
The biggest impact on the fauna in Hawaii is the decimation of native birds by feral
animals, which have destroyed the bird's habitats, and by mongooses that have eaten the
birds' eggs and young. Government officials are vigilant about snakes because of the po-
tential damage they can do to the remaining bird life.
A recent pest introduced to Hawaii is the coqui frog. That loud noise you hear after
dark, especially on the eastern side of the Big Island and various parts of Maui, including
the Kapalua Resort area and on the windward side of the island, is the cry of the male
coqui frog looking for a mate. A native of Puerto Rico, where the frogs are kept in check by
snakes, the coqui frog came to Hawaii in some plant material, found no natural enemies,
and has spread across the Big Island and Maui. A chorus of several hundred coqui frogs is
deafening (it's been measured at 163 decibels, or the noise level of a jet engine from 100 ft.).
In some places, like Akaka Falls, on the Big Island, there are so many frogs that they are
now chirping during daylight hours.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
If there is one place on the planet that seems ideally suited for ecotourism and sustainable
travel, it's Hawaii, a place people visit because of the ecology—the ocean, the beach, the
mountains, and overall beauty of the place. It seems only natural that the maintenance of its
environment would be a concern, both to the people who live there and the visitors who come
to enjoy all its ecosystem has to offer.
In fact, Hawaii has a long history of environmental stewardship. The ancient Hawaiians not
only knew about sustainability, but also practiced it in their daily lives. They had to! When the
ancient Hawaiians occupied the islands they did not have the luxury of “importing” goods
from anywhere else. They had the land under their feet and the ocean to gain subsistence
from, and those resources had to last not only for their own lifetime, but also for the lifetimes
of generations to come. So these ancient people lived in harmony with the land and sea, and
