Research Several University of Hawaii research projects have focused on Maui County's coastal and marine resources. These projects have greatly increased our knowledge of the coastal and marine environments and processes and have led to improved management of the coastal zone. Further research is necessary to increase our understanding of coastal and marine science and to insure the effective and efficient management of the coastal zone. Hawaii Sea Grant can help identify new projects and potential funding partnerships. An important component of research is monitoring .
Monitoring involves the periodic collection of data to study changes in an environment through time.
The collection of data on nuisance algal blooms was initiated in 1995 by Na Maka'ala and is currently being carried out by Na Pale O Ke Kai. Ke Kai also collects water samples and analyzes turbidity. Researchers involved in this joint study have monitored 32 profile lines on Maui beaches twice yearly since January 1995. The analysis of sequential beach profiles provides data on seasonal and longer-term changes in beach volume. This information is needed to complement aerial photograph analyses of coastal erosion and to help plan beach restoration projects.