One of my favorite activities is snorkeling — being able to see up close and breathe underwater as well as interact with the marine ecosystem thrills the little kid inside of me. Hawaii has beautiful unique coral reefs with a variety of fishes in all sizes, shapes, and colors of the rainbow.

Whether you snorkel or scuba, please ensure that you protect our coral reef system while enjoying the gorgeous marine life. It is important to be aware of how your actions can affect the reef and educate yourself to ensure the perpetuation of a viable reef. Simply touching the reef can kill or negatively affect hundreds of organisms that are vital to a vibrant reef system.

The next time you go snorkeling or diving, refrain from touching, standing, or removing any part of the coral reef. Also, do not feed the fish. It's important to remember that these reefs were vital to ancient Hawaiians for culture, subsistence, and survival. By abiding to these key guidelines, you can continue to protect our coral reefs and the marine lives that are sustained by the reefs as the ancient Hawaiians did.