With knowledge, these can also be sources of fascination and enjoyment. Coral Reefs are an important resource for Hawaii. They are extremely sensitive to human impact. Try not to touch them or walk on them. State law prohibits the taking or damaging of live corals, so admiring these important animals from afar will provide a happier experience for all.
Stony corals are animals which help build our coral reefs.
Most of them live in colonies and secrete a hard skeleton made of calcium carbonate which may have razor-sharp edges. The animals called polyps, form the outer living layer of the coral skeleton. Each polyp sits in a cup-like depression called a calyx . The color in living coral is due to the presence of algae, called zooxanthellae , which live inside the coral polyps. Corals also have stinging cells which can cause irritation to sensitive skin.