Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – February 27, 2015 — Central Pacific Bank employees, family and friends will be helping to restore Maunalua Bay to its native ecosystem by removing invasive algae on Saturday, March 7 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Maunalua Bay in Hawaiʻi Kai.

Central Pacific Bank is teaming up with Malama Maunalua, a community nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the health of the Maunalua Bay. This effort will help to eliminate alien algae that have invaded nearly 200 acres of Maunalua Bay.

“Helping to restore and protect Hawaiʻi’s native natural resources is very important to our employees,” said David Hudson, EVP, Community Banking Manager. “Maunalua Bay is an essential and beautiful part of our community and we are excited to help.”

The spread of invasive, non-native marine algae is one of the greatest threats to Hawaiʻi’s coral reefs and near shore marine ecosystems. As invasive alien algae spreads, it grows over and smothers coral reefs, killing extensive areas of native habitat. Three species of invasive algae are devastating Maunalua Bay – Gorilla Ogo, Prickly Seaweed and Leather Mudweed.

Malama Maunalua is a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing invasive alien algae, reducing run-off of sediment and pollutants from the land, and increasing marine life.