The role that marine algae play in a coral reef system is often overlooked because of lack of knowledge that they are the primary producers in the system. The coral reef ecosystem in Hawaii contains about ten times more algal species than coral species, some of them regulating space that permits coral recruitment. This study took place during 2000-2002 at 44 sites for a total of 56 dives (each dive a unique day) on 7 of the major islands in Hawaii. Most sites correspond to the Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP)locations, for which extensive monitioring of the coral and fish ecosystems have been undertaken from 1999-2002.