Kammala wannan jumla: An sanya yankin da ke bayan bakin rairayin bakin teku na Makalawena a matsayin National Natural Landmark a shekarar 1972. An san marsh a matsayin Ōpaeula Pond (Hawaiian don "ja shrimp") kuma shi ne shafin wani karamin kauyen kamun kifi da aka shafe a cikin
Tsunami na shekara ta 1946. Yankunan da ke cikin ruwa suna samar da ɗayan ragowar wuraren da ake yin gidaje na "āeo" (Hawaiian stilt, "Himantopus mexicanus knudseni"), da "alae keokeo" (Hawaiian coot, "Fulica alai"), da kuma kawai sanannen yankin kiwo na "aukuu" (ƙaramin kambi na dare, "Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli") a Hawaii. Tafkin yana cikin haɗin kai a cikin yankin mallakar masu zaman kansu tsakanin sassan biyu na wurin shakatawa na jihar.