The increasing destruction of coral reefs from temperature elevations and pollution is threatening the fragile ecosystems of the world's warmest seas. The coral reefs around Hawaii are especially threatened by a secret enterprise attempting to tap into the extensive heat pockets of the earth's core. Dr. Chad Gunnings, an aquatic ecologist with the Phoenix Environmental Research Institute, teams with Dr. Kado Hashimoto, a marine biologist with the University of Hawaii, and Dr. Elice Morningside, an anthropologist from the University of Alaska, to investigate the accelerated bleaching of the coral. The three scientists face untold dangers from the denizens inhabiting the reefs, a fanatic determined to thwart any attempts to stop his illegal activities, and a mysterious woman with unprecedented skills in martial arts. Chad and his colleagues must rely on their trust in each other to persevere in solving an intense problem that not only threatens the diverse marine life of the islands but also the rich cultural history of Hawaii.