HONOLULU -- Federal economic stimulus money is coming to Hawaii to help our reefs. The money will be used to remove invasive algae from Maunalua Bay.

Maunalua Bay is where the Kuliouou reef flats once a productive healthy ecosystem. Since the 1980s, the reef has been choked by an invasive algae known as mud weed.

It lives up to its name, it spreads rapidly and smoothers the reef, killing coral and threatening reef fish.

Volunteers on Tuesday pulled up the invasive mud weed by hand. The removal can be successful, but it is a big job.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will bring $3.4 million and create 73 new jobs to remove the mud weed, officials said.

"When you think about what's going on here the administration and Congress and (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) have this great national vision to create jobs and stimulate the economy, and they're able to take that all the way down the local level so the right things can happen to create jobs and help the environment," said Suzanne Case of The Nature Conservancy.

The money will be used for jobs, equipment, supplies and scientific studiesin the two-year project to help the reef.

"Now, it seems the ball's really going to roll. There's going to be a large effort because of the award. The invasive algae is going to be coming out at a much greater rate than what we've been able to do just as a community," said Kimo Franklin, of Malama Maunalua.

The groups hope to remove mud weed from 22 acres of reef in the next two years.

Scientists said the project will actually pay long-term dividends because they said healthy reefs generate money from fishing tourism and recreation.