Parking at the Waialea Bay Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) will be closed during morning hours on May 17, 18, and 19 to allow spawning and the production of new keiki offspring.

Staff from the DLNR Division of State Parks (DSP) is assisting biologists and technicians with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) in asking visitors to stay out of the water during these temporary rest periods, which allow corals to spawn and then settle back down.

This is the second annual spawning parking access closure at Waialea Bay MLCD. Kahalu‘u Bay has had similar closures the last two years and will be closed again for this year’s spawning event from May 16 to May 21.

Waialea Bay MLCD parking access reopens on Tuesday, May 24, Wednesday, May 25, and Thursday, May 26.

Biologists hope people will delay ocean activities at the MLCD for at least an extra day as it can take up to 24-hours for corals to successfully reproduce and up to a week or more for new larvae to settle back onto reefs.

DLNR Photo