A research team last week began studying the ecosystem around Molokini — without the usual tour boats and crowds of snorkelers — to observe any changes. They already have noticed a few. The ...

A tour boat motors toward the island of Molokini on Wednesday morning. Bills in the Legislature would limit the number of commercial boats moored at any one time in the crater to 20.

In Hawaii, it’s against the law to approach whales in an attempt to swim with the mammals. But every now and then, whales do the approaching when boats are idle and people are already in the water.