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ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

Keauhou ISRA

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Keauhou ISRA

Keauhou

Summary

Keauhou is situated on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii in the United States of America. The area is characterised by sandy substrates and coral reefs, with a coral ridge extending from the south and patchy coral bommies in the northern part of the area. The area is influenced by seasonal swells during the boreal winter months (December–February). Within this area there are: threatened species and undefined aggregations (Reef Manta Ray Mobula alfredi).

Keauhou

Keauhou

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Keauhou is situated on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii in the United States of America. Keauhou Bay is a shallow area with a significant drop off to ~150 metres from the shoreline. The middle of the channel is characterised by a long stretch of sand. There are coral reefs on both the north and south sides of the sand channel. The north side of the channel is characterised by dispersed coral bommies while the south side of the channel has a long stretch of reef extending south. In January and February, the area is impacted by south and southwest swells (Stopa et al. 2011).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthic and pelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 25 m based on the bathymetry of the area.

CRITERION A

VULNERABILITY

One Qualifying Species considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species regularly occurs in the area. This is the Vulnerable Reef Manta Ray (Marshall et al. 2022).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C5 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

Keauhou is an important area for undefined aggregations of one ray species.

Between 1979–2024, recreational divers regularly observed Reef Manta Rays attending a cleaning station in the area (B Masiba pers. obs. 2024). Between 2014–2024, divers and snorkelers visited the area every day and encountered Reef Manta Rays on ~300 days per year. There is no seasonality to the aggregation, however, high swells in January and February can make in-water activities in the area challenging (B Masiba pers. obs. 2024). All observations of Reef Manta Rays in this area are of them attending the cleaning station: the Hawaiian Cleaner wrasse Labroides phthirophagus is the most dominant cleaner species in the area (B Masiba pers. obs. 2024). Cleaning station visitation involves small cleaner wrasse tending to client species such as visiting rays (Armstrong et al. 2021). Up to 12 Reef Manta Rays can be encountered together at this cleaning station (average = ~2–3 individuals). Reef Manta Rays are commonly observed in the area at night when floodlights are used to attract zooplankton and create a feeding environment for the rays, however, the area is also an important cleaning area during the day. This area has national importance as it has the highest reported sightings of Reef Manta Rays from around the Big Island of Hawaii (B Masiba pers. obs. 2024).

Keauhou

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