Reef Check Hawaii

Reef Check Hawaii Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Reef Check Hawaii, Nonprofit Organization, Kailua-Kona, HI.

07/23/2026

Making a difference one survey at a time. Time after time. After time. After time.

As a guy whose facial hair gets a little shaggy from time to time, I can appreciate a good beard and mustache trim. Whil...
07/20/2026

As a guy whose facial hair gets a little shaggy from time to time, I can appreciate a good beard and mustache trim.

While this Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse isn’t trimming this Goatfish’s whiskers (barbels), it is taking its time picking off a parasite or two.

The yellowfin goatfish, typically outfitted in silvery, white with a yellow lateral line and yellow fins (hence the name) looks to be blushing in this moment.

In all actuality, many fish flash their nocturnal attire when getting cleaned by the Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse.

Observe patiently on your next underwater adventure and see if you notice fish changing their colors while getting cleaned.

Happy Diving!

-B

Follow for more about coral reefs in Hawaiʻi.

07/17/2026

Greqt diving with this amazing team. Another survey completed. Check out our survey data on

07/14/2026

Serious science is fun! Another day underwater with this amazing crew!

07/14/2026

Few animals shape Hawaiʻi’s reefs as profoundly as the tiger shark.

As an apex predator, tiger sharks help maintain balance throughout the marine ecosystem by influencing the abundance, behavior, and distribution of prey species.

This natural regulation prevents any one species from dominating, supporting healthier coral reefs, productive fisheries, and greater biodiversity.

Tiger sharks also remove weak, injured, and sick animals from the population, contributing to the overall resilience of marine life.

Protecting these beautiful animals means protecting the intricate web of life that makes Hawaiʻi’s reefs so extraordinary.

Follow us for more about coral reefs in Hawaiʻi


Happy Diving!

-B

Thousands of bodies flow together. This school of akule (bigeye scad) swimming in unison, each fish responding to the sm...
07/10/2026

Thousands of bodies flow together. This school of akule (bigeye scad) swimming in unison, each fish responding to the smallest movement of its neighbors.

As I stare, memorized by their movement, I find myself thinking back to an airshow I went to as a child, watching the Blue Angels maneuver in tight quarters.

As the sunlight shimmers off the akules’ silver bodies…I am whipped back to the present as an ulua (giant trevally) slashes through the school. The air show has become a dogfight.

Suddenly, the twirling school opens and closes, separating and rejoining as the massive ulua charges through, again and again.

A successful strike and the ulua swims off.

The chaos ends as abruptly as it began. The remaining akule fold back together and their silver cloud dances across the reef once more.

A reminder that beneath all its beauty, the ocean can be a relentless balance between predator and prey.

Follow us to learn more about coral reefs in Hawaiʻi.

Happy Diving,

B

This rock in the foreground looked fuzzier than others in the surrounding reef. The turf algae had grown thick across it...
07/04/2026

This rock in the foreground looked fuzzier than others in the surrounding reef. The turf algae had grown thick across its surface.

As I watched yellow tang and goldring surgeonfish munch away at less plentiful spots of algae, I wondered why not here.

It wasn’t my presence they avoided, but the presence of another…the Hawaiian Gregory.

Like a sentry standing watch, the Hawaiian Gregory (can you spot it?) protects its meticulously maintained garden from competing herbivores searching for a delicious meal.

While these omnivores will aggressively fend off much larger tangs and surgeonfish, they will let carnivorous wrasses comb through their territory in search of snails, urchins, and other invertebrates without resistance.

Follow to learn more about coral reefs of Hawaiʻi.

🐙 Master of disguise. Problem solver. Escape artist.Meet the Day Octopus (heʻe mauli), Hawaiʻi’s most commonly seen octo...
07/01/2026

🐙 Master of disguise. Problem solver. Escape artist.

Meet the Day Octopus (heʻe mauli), Hawaiʻi’s most commonly seen octopus! These incredible invertebrates can change both their color and skin texture in seconds, blending almost perfectly into the reef to avoid predators or sneak up on their next meal.

Unlike many octopus species that hunt at night, the Day Octopus is most active during the day, making it a favorite sight for lucky snorkelers and divers. Keep your eyes peeled. That “rock” just might be watching you! 👀

Have you ever spotted a Day Octopus underwater? Tell us where in the comments! 🌊

New life begins on the foundations of the past. These young coral colonies are growing atop the limestone skeletons buil...
06/28/2026

New life begins on the foundations of the past. These young coral colonies are growing atop the limestone skeletons built by generations before them. Tucked away, rock-boring urchins grind through this same limestone, grazing on algae as they carve into the reef one bite at a time.

06/23/2026

Every coral reef survey adds another piece to the story of Hawaiʻi’s reefs. Through community-based monitoring, trained volunteers collect data on coral cover, fish populations, invertebrates, and reef impacts, helping us understand how our reefs are changing over time.

The information gathered today becomes the baseline for tomorrow’s conservation decisions. By tracking reef health year after year, we can identify trends, respond to emerging threats, and support efforts to protect these ecosystems for future generations.

Together, we are building one of the largest community-science coral reef monitoring efforts in Hawaiʻi.

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