MAKENA, Maui — A historic coral-damage case and newly approved daylight-only hours are the latest actions taken by the state in an escalating struggle to protect the 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve.

The reserve includes the site of Maui's most recent volcanic activity and crystal-clear ocean waters that host some of Hawai'i's oldest reefs.

The 2,045 acres on Maui's rugged southern coast is one of 19 natural area reserves in Hawai'i and the only one to include a marine component. Its three-mile coast is the only stretch of Maui coastline that is totally protected, where no fishing, collecting of marine life or motorized boating is allowed.

It is also the only natural area reserve regularly promoted in tourist guidebooks and on Web sites as a must-see stop.

"It's away from heavy development and there's not much pollution. People drive down there and see how blue and clear the water is," said marine biologist and author Ann Fielding.

Other marine areas have seen their resources depleted by fishermen and aquarium collectors, Fielding said, but 'Ahihi-Kina'u has enjoyed protection since 1973. "You see yellow tang and big parrotfish, and it's hard to see things like that along the shoreline except there," she said.

As a result of all the attention, and its proximity to South Maui resorts, 'Ahihi-Kina'u attracts an estimated 700 visitors a day, making it the most popular natural area reserve in the state, according to DLNR officials who manage the ecologically sensitive areas.

By comparison, O'ahu's Hanauma Bay averages 3,000 visitors daily, but unlike that famous snorkeling site and other parks in Hawai'i, the 'Ahihi-Kina'u reserve was created to protect its fragile ecological and cultural resources, not for recreation, said Bill Evanson, Maui District natural area manager for the DLNR.

Yet, despite the intentional lack of campgrounds, trails, picnic tables, full restroom facilities or paved parking, the Maui reserve is being "loved to death" by visitors who flock there to snorkel, hike and kayak, he said.

At night, poachers, campers and alcohol and drug users are doing their own damage. Last month, after officials spotted diving lights in 'Ahihi-Kina'u waters and followed them to shore outside reserve boundaries, three men were cited for taking lobsters from the reserve and for taking them out of season, said field supervisor Dexter Tom of the DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

'Opihi and coral also have been removed by poachers.

VISITS RESTRICTED

To curb the nighttime mischief, the Board of Land and Natural Resources last week established visiting hours for the 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve of 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Gates will be erected at the small parking area near the entrance to the reserve and at Kanahena, also known as "Dumps," but the road that slices through the reserve and ends at Keone'o'io, a favorite fishing spot, will remain open.

"This is going to help the enforcement guys deal with the people who are conducting prohibited activities like camping and poaching. There is lots of bad stuff going on at nighttime," Evanson said. "Nobody has much business going out there at night. It is not a camping area."

Upcountry resident Sharon Sotelo, who was fishing with family on Friday at Keone'o'io, said that as long as access to legal fishing grounds remains open, she wouldn't object to gates blocking the parking areas at 'Ahihi-Kina'u. But she also wasn't so sure they'd be effective in thwarting poachers.

"They'll find a way to come in. I don't think that's going to stop them," she said.

After kayak tours overwhelmed the reserve, disturbing spinner dolphins and creating other problems on and off shore, the state in 2004 declared 'Ahihi-Kina'u and Keone'o'io off-limits to all commercial operations. Two rangers were hired that year to patrol, and a third was added two months ago.

The ban on commercial activities and regular patrols by rangers, conservation officers, police, volunteer groups and the caretaker at nearby Makena State Park have significantly improved protection efforts, said Randy Awo, who heads the DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement on Maui.

The biggest problem remains motorized vessels entering the reserve, he said. From July through May, there were 67 reports of illegal boating activities, with 12 warnings and six citations issued, Awo said. Most of the violators were private boat operators, not tours, he said. Seven cases during that same period involved possession of fishing gear or taking of marine animals.

A coral-damage case that concluded last week with a $7,300 settlement between Crystal Seahorse Ltd. part-owner and boat captain Peter Wood and the Board of Land and Natural Resources shows why motorized vessels are not allowed within 'Ahihi-Kina'u. The snorkeling charter had dropped anchor about 50 feet from shore, breaking off at least 11 coral heads. The captain said he wasn't aware he had entered an area where boating was prohibited.

The fine is the first ever for an administrative case involving violations of state rules prohibiting the breaking or damaging of stony corals, officials said.

CLOSURE DISCUSSED

Evanson acknowledged there may be confusion about the reserve's marine boundaries, which extend about a half-mile seaward and include a portion of the bay at Keone'o'io. He said the DLNR is seeking a permit to install buoys notifying ocean users of the restricted area.

A more drastic option for protecting the entire reserve would be simply closing it off to the public. In January, Gov. Linda Lingle granted the DLNR authority to close off portions of the state's natural area reserves for up to two years in the interest of protecting resources or public safety.

Evanson said such a step has been discussed by reserve officials and a citizens advisory group, although no formal proposal has been made.

Not being able to enjoy 'Ahihi-Kina'u's pristine waters would disappoint Larry and Lorrie Parsell of Tucson, Ariz., who made their second snorkeling visit Friday. "There are really a lot of fish. There are big schools of fish and they come right up to you," Lorrie Parsell said.

They said they don't mind that the reserve lacks amenities found at beach parks. "It's untouched," said Larry Parsell.

But "untouched" is a relative term, according to reserve ranger Matt Ramsey. Any degree of human activity could be seen as detrimental to the highly protected site. Even the visitors who don't violate reserve rules are trampling coral and disturbing geological and archaeological features, he said.

"This is set aside for protection. No impacts are supposed to be occurring, and there are a lot of people impacting the resources," Ramsey said.

Marine biologist Fielding, who serves on the 'Ahihi-Kina'u advisory group and offers educational snorkeling trips through her business, Snorkel Maui, said a better way to keep people from wandering across unmarked lava fields in search of snorkeling coves would be to close the reserve except for small groups accompanied by guides who could keep visitors safe and educate them about the area's natural and cultural features.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.