Hawaii Day-Use Mooring Buoys
protecting hawai‘i's coral reefs THROUGH
SUSTAINABLE ACCESS
For more than three decades, Malama Kai Foundation has led Hawai‘i’s statewide effort to protect coral reefs from anchor damage by maintaining and expanding a network of Day-Use Mooring Buoys (DMBs). These public-access moorings give boaters a simple way to secure their vessels without dropping anchors onto coral — preventing more than 90,000 anchor drops every year.
🎥 Watch:
Hawai‘i’s Day-Use Mooring Buoy Program See how local innovation and community care protect reefs across the islands. Watch on YouTube
Hawai‘i’s first Day-Use Mooring Buoys were installed off the Kona Coast in 1990 through a partnership among community members, ocean operators, and the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Extension Service.
What began as a grassroots solution has grown into a statewide network of more than 220 moorings across five islands. Today, MKF manages this system in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR-DAR). We maintain and repair moorings, train field teams, and provide sustainable reef access for boaters.
HOW MOORINGS WORK
Each DMB is anchored to the seafloor using either a stainless-steel pin drilled into hard lava rock or a “manta” anchor driven deep into sandy areas. The mooring tackle — a combination of chain and durable nylon line — connects to an 18-inch buoy floating about 10 feet below the surface.
This design keeps the reef surface free from heavy ground tackle or chains, allowing coral to thrive naturally while providing secure vessel access in high-use areas.
PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT
State contracts provide a foundation for this work, while federal grants and private donations make it possible to go beyond maintenance in the hopes of expanding to new permitted sites. Donor support fills the gaps — funding equipment, field operations, and the community outreach that keeps the program strong.
Know Before You Go:
Day Use Mooring Rules
Liability: Use of a state day-use mooring is at the sole risk of the vessel owner or operator.
Time limit: First-come, first-serve; up to 2.5 hours maximum stay
Overnight Use: Prohibited except in emergencies or by authorized enforcement/rescue craft.
Anchoring: Prohibited within 100 yards of a day-use mooring. Anchoring is permitted only in sand, rock, or rubble areas with no live coral.
For the complete rules and guidelines,
view the Hawaii Administrative Rules Pertaining to Day-Use Moorings on DLNR’s website.
EXPORE THE NETWORK
Visit MKF’s Interactive Mooring Map to see DMB locations statewide.
A coordinates list can be found on the DLNR website.
PDF Guidebooks are also available
Jerry Garcia approved
During the 1980's, Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Grateful Dead, spent a lot of time diving Hawai'i's reefs and recognized the reef-saving potential of the mooring program. He was so impressed that not only did he testify on behalf of the mooring program at a Hawai'i State hearing, but he made a sizable donation that was the beginnings of Malama Kai Foundation!
Do you have a question or notice a mooring that requires maintenance? Please let us know via the email addresses below…
Kohala, Big Island Moorings - kohalamoorings@malamakaifoundation.org
Kona, Big Island Moorings - konamoorings@malamakaifoundation.org
Maui Moorings - mauimoorings@malamakaifoundation.org
Kauai Moorings - kauaimoorings@malamakaifoundation.org
Oahu Moorings - oahumoorings@malamakaifoundation.org