The Kahaluu Bay Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Study is being conducted under Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, under the Continuing Authorities Program. Section 206 authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to initiate investigations and implement projects for aquatic ecosystem restoration with the objective of restoring degraded ecosystem structure, function and dynamic processes to a less degraded, more natural condition considering the ecosystem's natural integrity, productivity, stability, and biological diversity. The non-federal sponsor for this study is the County of Hawaii.

Kahaluu Bay, managed by the County of Hawaii, is an approximately one-half-mile-wide bay that includes a pocket beach and beach park located on the west coast of the island of Hawaii, approximately five miles south of Kailua-Kona. There are four major habitat types within the bay: intertidal zone, tide pool, lagoon, and coral reef. At the shoreline are intertidal zones and tide pools. The area within the breakwater is a lagoon with the highest concentration of corals in the southern portion. These four habitats combined with shallow waters of the bay make Kahaluu Bay a popular recreational destination.

Kahaluu Bay is a historical and cultural site for the Native Hawaiian community on the Island of Hawaii. The study area includes the Menehune Breakwall and traditionally constructed fish ponds. The cultural and identity values of the Bay and its shoreline features are tied to indigenous Hawaiian beliefs and practices, representing sacred spaces that foster a sense of connection between humans and the marine realm.

The coral reef system provides Kahaluu Bay and the surrounding region with many ecosystem services. Within Kahaluu Bay, the coral reef provides recreational values, attracting tourists, divers, and snorkelers who wish to view the multitude of marine species that reside in and around the reef system. The reef also plays a role in sustaining subsistence fishing practices, serving as nurseries and habitats for commercially important fish species. The complex physical structure of the reef provides shelter, feeding grounds, and breeding sites for a plethora of marine organisms, the reef is a cornerstone in maintaining food web dynamics.

This feasibility study will address factors contributing to ecosystem degradation in Kahaluu Bay and recommend measures to mitigate those factors.