Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary

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Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary The sanctuary is part of the marine national monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the single largest conservation area in the U.S.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. It encompasses 582,578 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (1,508,870 square kilometers) - an area larger than all the country's national parks combined. Papahānaumokuākea is of great cultural importance to Native Hawaiians with significant cultural sites found on the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana. The extensive coral reefs found in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are home to over 7,000 marine species, one quarter of which are found only in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Many of the islands and shallow water environments are important habitats for rare species such as the threatened green sea turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. For more information about Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site please visit our homepage at: http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov

Or visit our Discovery Center in Hilo:

Mokupāpapa: Discovery Center for Hawaii's Remote Coral Reefs

Location: 76 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720, 808.498.4709
Center hours: 9 AM to 4 PM, Tuesday - Saturday, Except Federal Holidays

More information: http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.html

🌊 Now Recruiting: Sanctuary Advisory Council Members 🌊 We are seeking to fill eight primary and five alternate seats on ...
10/19/2026

🌊 Now Recruiting: Sanctuary Advisory Council Members 🌊

We are seeking to fill eight primary and five alternate seats on the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, including Citizen-At-Large, Conservation, Native Hawaiian Elder, Native Hawaiian, Ocean Related Tourism, Recreational Fishing, and Research. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the superintendent.

🗓️ Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. HST on December 18, 2026.
🔗 Learn more and download an application: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/involved/advisory-council/recruitment.html

📸: A. Collins/NOAA

PIOEC After Hours: Healing Pasifika with Arielle Taitano LoweDate: Friday, November 20thTime: 6 – 8 PMLocation: Pacific ...
10/15/2026

PIOEC After Hours: Healing Pasifika with Arielle Taitano Lowe

Date: Friday, November 20th
Time: 6 – 8 PM
Location: Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (Aloha Tower Marketplace center courtyard)

Join us for a special screening of One Day Our Bodies Will Truly Be Free followed with Q&A with author Arielle Taitano Lowe.

Arielle Taitano Lowe is the author of Ocean Mother (University of Guam Press, 2024). She is the first Indigenous Chamoru woman, born and raised in Guam, to publish a book of poems. Ocean Mother is Lowe’s debut poetry book. This screening of the short film One Day Our Bodies Will Truly Be Free, written by Lowe, directed by Joyce Torres, and produced by Humanities Guåhan, touches on the lives of Chamoru people, their matrilineal traditions, and the healing of their islands and ocean. This screening and following Q&A is the inaugural event of a developing Healing Pasifika series at the The Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center. Our aim is to explore untold stories of Pasifika that reach across all who are part of Oceania, Moananuiākea, and Pasifika diaspora as we build towards an inclusive effort and collective responsibility to our ocean and each other.

Register at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html (link in bio) and click “Event info”

Mahalo to our Kūpuna for joining the Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (PIOEC) for another wonderful afternoon of...
10/15/2026

Mahalo to our Kūpuna for joining the Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (PIOEC) for another wonderful afternoon of connection, learning, and fun! 🌊🌺

Our October 7th Kūpuna afternoon brought together new faces and familiar friends for an afternoon of games, creative activities, and ocean learning.
We loved having you here and look forward to welcoming you back, along with more new faces, at our next Kūpuna afternoon on November 4th! 🩵

Final 2026 Kūpuna Afternoon Dates:
-- 11/4, 1-4pm
-- 12/16, 1-4pm

Photos: Kiana Brady/NOAA

The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) is seeking a Data Management Specialist to support...
10/13/2026

The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) is seeking a Data Management Specialist to support research and monitoring activities within Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, based in Honolulu, HI.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine data management expertise with hands-on participation in marine science and conservation efforts.

To learn more, head to https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/cimar/job-links/ select "CIMAR Jobs via RCUH" and search using the position ID # 226616.

Dive Alert! We are preparing to launch ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary at...
10/11/2026

Dive Alert! We are preparing to launch ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary at Middle Bank, 4:30 PM HST, and it will be the last dive of this expedition. Watch it live at: https://nautiluslive.org/

Photo: Launching the ROV Hercules from the E/V Nautilus. Credit: Andy Collins/NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Dive Alert! We are preparing to launch ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary so...
10/10/2026

Dive Alert! We are preparing to launch ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary south of the Island of Nihoa at 4 PM HST, 10/9/26. Watch it live at: https://nautiluslive.org/

Photo: Launching ROVs from E/V Nautilus. Credit: Andy Collins/NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Nautilus Live

Dive Alert! We are launching the ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary at St. R...
10/07/2026

Dive Alert! We are launching the ROVs for a deep sea exploration in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary at St. Rogatien Bank, West of Lalo, French Frigate Shoals, at 9 PM HST. Watch it live at: https://nautiluslive.org/

Photo: Dive Alert. E/V Nautilus launching Hercules, Credit: Andy Collins/NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Nautilus Live

Join us for our next Kūpuna Afternoons at the Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (PIOEC)!These afternoons are welc...
09/29/2026

Join us for our next Kūpuna Afternoons at the Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (PIOEC)!

These afternoons are welcome to all, but they are especially created for kūpuna as an opportunity to meet new friends, create art, play fun ocean-themed games, and learn more about the ocean and our special national marine sanctuaries in the Pacific Islands Region.

2026 Dates:
--October 7
--November 4
--December 16

Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center
Aloha Tower Marketplace (located in the center courtyard)
1 Aloha Tower Dr Suite #1101
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
96813

Register at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html (lin in bio) and click "Event info"

PIOEC After Hours: Marine Endangered Species & Conservation with Division of Aquatic Resources Date: Thursday, October 1...
09/26/2026

PIOEC After Hours: Marine Endangered Species & Conservation with Division of Aquatic Resources

Date: Thursday, October 15th
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center (Aloha Tower Marketplace center courtyard)

Join us for a dynamic session on our local marine endangered species and learn how your actions can directly impact their survival. We’ll cover key identification techniques for False Killer Whales and Oceanic Manta Rays, alongside actionable strategies for caring for Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles. Come learn how to be an active partner in marine conservation.

You will also learn about the amazing species found on the coral reef, while being empowered to make a positive difference for our marine environment.

Followed by a Q&A with panelists from the Division of Aquatic Resources:

Kristen Kelly and Devon Stapleton, Protected Species Program Biologists

Register at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html (lin in bio) and click “”Event info”

The Mokuapãpapa Center is CLOSED TODAY, September 24, through Saturday, September 26th due to the incoming storm activit...
09/24/2026

The Mokuapãpapa Center is CLOSED TODAY, September 24, through Saturday, September 26th due to the incoming storm activity.

We hope everyone stays safe during the storm and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Address

76 Kamehameha Avenue
Hilo, HI
96720

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+18087255800

Website

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