Learn & Explore/Programs & Initiatives/Coral Restoration Nursery/Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark
Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark
A living safeguard for Hawaiʻi’s rare and endemic corals.
Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark
A living collection protecting Hawaiʻi’s rare and endemic corals from extinction. By preserving species found nowhere else, the Ark helps ensure reef ecosystems can recover and endure future threats.
The HCRN maintains the Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark, a living collection that protects rare and endemic coral species found only in Hawaiʻi. With up to 20% of Hawaiian corals existing nowhere else, preserving these species is critical to preventing extinction and protecting the reef ecosystems that depend on them. The Ark serves as insurance against catastrophic events like mass bleaching and is supported through active collaboration with the Maui Ocean Center.
The value of the Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark was proven through the successful restoration of a rare endemic coral on Oʻahu. Before a major bleaching event in 2015, the HCRN collected fragments of Knobby Finger Coral (Porites duerdeni), a species found only in Kāneʻohe Bay. After widespread bleaching eliminated the remaining wild colonies, the Ark held the only known living specimens. In 2019, these corals were grown and outplanted back into their native habitat — marking the first known reintroduction of a possibly extirpated coral species. Today, the outplanted corals remain healthy and continue to grow.
Corals in the Rare Hawaiian Coral Ark
Acroporidae:
Acropora sp., Anacropora sp., Montipora dilatata*, Montipora flabellata*, Montipora patula*, Montipora studeri
Agariciidae:
Gardineroseris planulata, Leptoseris foliosa, Leptoseris hawaiiensis, Leptoseris incrustans, Leptoseris mycetoseroides, Leptoseris papyracea, Leptoseris scabra, Leptoseris tubulifera*, Pavona maldivensis
Dendrophylliidae:
Cladopsammia eguchii, Tubastraea coccinea, Tubastraea diaphana, Rhizopsammia verrilli
Faviidae:
Cyphastrea agassizi, Cyphastrea ocellina, Leptastrea bewickensis, Leptastrea transversa, Leptastrea pruinosa
Fungiidae:
Cycloseris sp. (red)*, Cycloseris vaughani, Diaseris fragilis, Diaseris distorta, Fungia (Lobactis) granulosa
Pocilloporidae:
Pocillopora ligulata*, Pocillopora molokensis*
Poritidae:
Porites cf. annae, Porites compressa*, Porites duerdeni*, Porites evermanni*, Porites hawaiiensis*, Porites cf. lichen, Porites monticulosa, Porites rus, Porites solida
Siderastreidae:
Coscinaraea wellsi, Psammocora explanulata, Psammocora profundacella, Psammocora nierstraszi, Psammocora stellata, Psammocora verrilli*
Soft Corals & other:
Sarcothelia edmondsoni*, Sinularia molokensis*, Clavularia sp., Heteractis malu
*Asterisks denote endemic species.
