Pohaku Puna Finger Coral – Lala Y

Pohaku Puna Finger Coral Necklace –  Lala Y. This little branch is modeled on a coral we photographed on Oahu. Finger corals are reef builders, the essence of the Hawaiian reef that protects and sustains our island home. For something extra special also see our Coral Reef Necklace.

Porites compressa (Finger coral)

Pohaku Puna, also known as finger coral, are endemic to the Hawaiian islands. As a photographer, I first loved them because they house and protect so many beloved underwater creatures; thus finger corals became a favorite hunting ground for dragon morays, flame angelfish, and other uncommon fish. But their role in our reef ecosystems far outshines even the beautiful dragon moray.

Finger coral is an important reef-building coral and is most commonly found in shallow, protected waters (but has also been found in the open ocean). Coral reefs are essential not just to house and protect marine wildlife, but also to protect coastlines from storms and erosion, reducing average wave height by an estimated 84%! And as hotbeds of biodiversity while they only make up about 1% of the ocean floor, they support 25% of marine species.

Pohaku Puna in particular is not only beautiful but it used to cover much of our reefs on Oahu (and other islands), but now we find it only in pockets such as Kaneohe Bay, and Hanauma Bay. Pollution (runoff, fuel spills), people (trampling, anchor breakage, illegal harvesting), marine debris (derelict fishing gear), alien species and climate change are all major threats that affect finger coral. Sadly, they are now listed as near threatened by IUCN and in cites appendix ii.