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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 6:59 a.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Hawaii to join in 'International Year of the Reef' Friday

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i will join in the International Year of the Reef during kickoff ceremonies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the State Capitol on the third floor.

Gov. Linda Lingle will sign a declaration, famed navigator Nainoa Thompson will speak at the Capitol and more than 40 local groups will participate in the event.

The purpose is to raise awareness about the value and importance of Hawai'i's reefs, threats to their survival and actions people can take to protect this vital resource.

The local celebration of this global campaign is a partnership of the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Malama Hawai'i, The Nature Conservancy and the Coral Reef Outreach Network.

Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystem in the ocean, but they are in crisis. Reefs are experiencing declines in many species of fish, coral, invertebrates and algae due to land-based pollution, over-fishing, non-native species, climate change and coral disease. It is essential that coral reefs be restored because they provide income, food for humans and marine life, critical habitat for marine species, protection of shorelines, and potential medicinal cures, event organizers said.