World Oceans Day raises awareness of the vital role the ocean plays in our lives and to inspire action to protect and preserve it for future generations. In Hawaiʻi, the health of our oceans is tied to the health of our land. By protecting our watershed forests, we reduce erosion and soil runoff onto our reefs. You can learn more about how protecting our forests connects to our oceans our StoryMap: Hawaiʻi’s Watersheds and Forests.

You can learn more about ocean conservation in Hawaiʻi from our colleagues at the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources.

Photo: Soil runoff into the ocean on the south shore of Molokaʻi. Forest restoration and management of hoofed-animals can reduce this runoff.