Ako’ako’a: Restoring the Reef and Honoring the Culture in Hawaii

The Hawaiian word Ako’ako’a has a dual meaning: to unite people and to unite corals. The Ako’ako’a Reef Restoration Program combines cultural leadership, cutting-edge science, and education that serves the coral communities and the people of Hawaii Island. In late 2024, Mauna Lani Resort partnered with Ako’ako’a to study the water and coral in front of the resort as a first step toward long-term sustainability. Mauna Lani has served as a custodian of the lands and waters for over 40 years. This groundbreaking initiative will serve over 100 miles of coastline and thousands of residents and visitors alike.

In 2023, Arizona State University established this collaborative program, located at the Natural Energy Lab just south of Kona International Airport. The area is bustling with unique and important organizations that support the island and beyond. Kona Salt Farm, one of its neighbors, is led and run by an all-woman team who pull water from the deep ocean and harvest it using the techniques of the ancient Polynesians. BioAstin grows an algae known as Astaxanthin, also known as BioAstin. There are even thriving Atlantic lobster and abalone businesses in the area.

Mauna Lani | Auberge Resorts Collection, Hawaii Auberge Resorts

Greg Asner, the ASU director for the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation and a long-time resident of Hawaii, leads the efforts with great passion and collaboration. He and his team were recently at Mauna Lani to conduct water and coral sampling. The first step is to learn about the health of the area. Coral in a given area differs from place to place, making it critical for them to be returned to their home habitat after rehabilitation. In fact, their technique is so groundbreaking that they have taken the leading methods that allowed one piece of coral to turn into 20 and expanded that ratio to 1 to 250,000.

This important work is just beginning to take shape in the area, and there is great excitement about sharing the journey with the team, the community, and guests. In the months ahead, new guest experiences and educational opportunities will be added for travelers who want to learn more and get involved. Some organizations predict that by 2050, nearly 90% of the world’s reefs could disappear. There is an opportunity to care for and rehabilitate one of the most important habitats for marine life, and this partnership presents a promising path toward growing coral right off the beach, ultimately helping coral reefs across the island.