Live coral anchored atop “degrading man-made structures” prompted a collaborative ocean rescue recently in the waters of Ahukini State Park.

“This is a rescue of coral from the submerging man-made structure,” said Tim Leichliter, the president of Hoomalu Ke Kai. “The rescued ‘corals of opportunity’ will have an opportunity to stabilize and grown out at the nursery before being restored to degraded reef sites around the island.”

Leichliter said the collective effort started long before the coral rescue mission on Nov. 17, and involved the Hoomalu Ke Kai, the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Kauai Ocean Awareness, the Kauai Sea Farm, the University of Hawaii Coral Resilience Lab, and others.

“This week’s work represents Kauai’s first-ever co

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