Hawaii launches hybrid reef project to protect coastlines from erosion and storms

Written By Olivia Cropper

Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation

By Kennedy Choo for Pacific Business News

The Hawaii Department of Transportation has launched the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project, with its first year of maintenance and monitoring funded by the state's Green Fee program. […]

The hybrid reef system combines live coral with engineered reef structures designed to reduce wave energy, strengthen shorelines and improve coastal resilience. According to HDOT, the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef is the first large-scale demonstration of the technology following four years of research.

Click here to read the full article published by Pacific Business News on September 15, 2026.

Olivia Cropper
Previous

HDOT launches UH-developed hybrid reef to protect Hawaiʻi’s coastal highways
Next

New hybrid reef project shields Hawaii's vulnerable coastlines