Some 50 years ago, a game fish called the roi was introduced to Hawaiian waters from its native Tahiti. While local fishermen were not impressed, the roi flourished and our native reef fish have been steadily disappearing ever since.
This week Maui county and several co-sponsors held their fourth roi roundup of the year.
At the weigh-in at the Hard Rock Cafe in Lahaina Sunday morning, we learned just how much impact there is on local reef fish by removing just one of these invaders.
"For every one of these roi removed from the reef, 146 indigenous reef fish are spared. And over the course of these four tournaments, we estimate about 150,000 fish that belong here are still here," said Maui County Environmental coordinator Kuhea Paracuelles.
Sunday's tournament netted 264 of the invasive roi. If you're doing the math, that means 38,544 indigenous reef fish will live to swim another day.
Also this week on Maui TV News, we have a music video that you have to see, with a message that must be heard.
"Practicing Aloha" is a project put together by some very talented people seeking to find the meaning of aloha in Hawaii in the modern age.
We've got those stories for you, plus the lieutenant governor made two trips to Maui this week for very different reasons.
And, on mauitvnews.com, we've got ongoing updates of breaking news, special reports and more.
