The Hawaii Traveler

Please don’t pet the coral

If you’ve read anything about coral and coral reefs, it’s obvious that their conservation is key to the overall health of our oceans and the planet.  As someone who grew up in a desert environment, it’s strange to consider that something that looks so much like big shelves of rock are actually a living organism.It’s not furry or adorable, and there’s no YouTube video of a coral polyp reuniting with its rescuers. And yet coral is one of the most interesting living things in existence.  Get to know your coral before visiting the islands, and get on board with the rest of humanity’s fascination with those families of stony entities that create whole underwater universes.  But don’t touch! Coral may appear durable, but it’s very fragile.  And it can hurt you, too.

By the way, if you do accidentally come in contact with coral, you can find yourself with a nasty gouge in your skin, both because corals can be very sharp, and may leave proteins and other irritating substances under the skin.  Take care of the wound promptly by scrubbing it and applying Bacitracin or similar application.  If the infection spreads, see a doctor for more aggressive treatment, perhaps with antibiotics.