Polanui Hiu Project AreaBy Jared Welch

GIS 180 – Ecosystem Management

Figure 2: Overlaying the historical map onto modern day imagery presented a challenge because it caused the distortion of lines

and words. Shown here are two sections of the 1884 map, zoomed in, to show clearer details.

Figure 1: Modern imagery showing the 222 acres of the Polanui Hiu project area, as well as surrounding roads, streams, and other

landmarks.

Figure 4 – use this as a caption for your Map 4

Figure 3: The majority of the storm drains located along the project area shoreline are private, with larger, public drains placed at

greater intervals along the shore.

Photo by: Tony Novak-Clifford

Photo by: Jim Petruzzi

It is important to thank a couple of people for their

help in completing this project. First, I would like

to thank the GIS 180 instructor, Sarah McLane.

Not only has Sarah’s patience, knowledge, and

instruction helped me for this project, it has helped

my understanding of GIS grow immensely this

semester. I would also like to thank Ekolu Lindsey,

for the use of the 1884 Lahaina map, as well as his

assistance in other aspects of this project. Ekolu

gave his time to not only give input on the maps

and written words related to this project, but to also

help me gather data by walking with me along the

project’s shoreline, and taking me out in a canoe to

get waypoints for the channels.

Acknowledgements

References

Credits:

• Ekolu Lindsey, Polanui Hiu Project Director

• Roxie Sylva, The Nature Conservency

• The State of Hawaii/Natural Resources

Conservation Services (NRCS)

Results

What resulted from this project is the beginning of a

database that can be expanded upon for future uses

by the Polanui Hiu project group. The initial data

shows where public and private storm drains exist

along the shores of the Polanui Hiu project area, as

well as the points where channels begin. The

location of the storm drains can be used to analyze

marine data collected at a later date. For example,

the locations of bleached coral can be mapped and

compared to the locations of the storm drains.

Mapping the points of the channels is important

because the conditions of the channels are key to

the health of the marine environment. Having a

map showing the points of these channels gives a

base map for the collection, mapping, and analysis

of future data. To add to having this data, the maps

also give a historical perspective by showing the

1884 Lahaina map.

Introduction

Project Focus

The focus of this project was to create a GIS

database for Polanui Hiu. This will allow Polanui

Hiu to expand the use of the maps they currently

have by enabling them to add data to these maps

and use them for future analytical purposes.

Methodology

The health of a marine environment is dependent on

the activities in the water and on land. Reef health,

fish populations, plant life, etc. can either be

healthy or in need of recovery. For this project,

there was an opportunity to contribute to a group,

Polanui Hiu, who are working to improve a marine

zone in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Specifically, the

zone encompasses the makai area between Kauaula

Stream and 505 Front Street in Lahaina. The zone

extends from the shore to the point where the depth

of the ocean reaches 70 feet.

First, data was gathered by walking along the

project’s shoreline and using a GPS unit to record

waypoints for the storm drains. For the waypoints

showing the locations of the channels, we paddled a

canoe to each point along the surf break where a

channel begins. The storm drain and channel

waypoints were then used to create their respective

maps. To create the map that consists of the 1884

map overlaying the modern imagery, I had to

georectify the maps. This involved matching

geographic points that exist on both maps so that

they align themselves to each other.

Image 1: A view of the Polanui Hiu project area, as seen from the shore near the Puamana townhomes.

Image 2: An example of a private storm drain; this

particular drain is located near a swimming pool.

Figure 3: Mapping the location of the channels in the project area is necessary for future analysis of the health of the marine

environment. Other forms of data can be collected and used to create new layers to add to this map, such as the locations and

populations of healthy and unhealthy coral.