What are the opening hours?

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

Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary

Home
United States
Hilo, HI
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

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

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

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

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"

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”

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!

09/22/2026

🌊 Dive into deep-sea exploration LIVE with the E/V Nautilus! 🚢✨

The research vessel is returning to the Hawaiian Islands from September 22 to October 12 to explore uncharted waters, ancient underwater volcanoes, and abyssal plain habitats in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary!

Want to bring real-time ocean discovery to your students or community? You can host a FREE 30-minute live Ship-to-Shore interaction with the oceanographers, engineers, and educators onboard the E/V Nautilus!

Spot unexplored deep-sea corals, learn about cutting-edge ROVs, and ask the Corps of Exploration your burning career & science questions! 🌊

To learn more, visit: https://nautiluslive.org/education/ship-to-shore-interactions.

09/21/2026

Join us for the next Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting on September 24, 2026!
The meeting will be held virtually via Google Meet, and the public is invited to attend.

🗓 Thursday, September 24, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. HST
💬 Public comment opportunity: 12:30 – 12:45 p.m. HST

The advisory council provides advice and recommendations for the management and protection of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary.
Interested in attending? Click here to register via the Community Announcement: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/involved/advisory-council/meetings.html

09/10/2026

What a summer! 🌊✨ The Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center had a fin-tastic season packed with ocean conservation, community, and fun.

Mahalo to everyone who joined us! Here are a few highlights from our summer:

After Hours events: We teamed up with DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, UH Sea Grant, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP), and the Hawai‘i Audubon Society. From virtual trips to Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) and marine debris cleanup to predator fences protecting native birds, we learned so much about preserving our ecosystems.

Out in the Community:
*Bishop Museum Sustainability Fest: You created a beautiful mobile filled with personal pledges to protect our oceans.
*Symphony of the Seas & Outrigger Zone Day: We listened to your best whale songs and used spectrograms to learn how scientists study humpback calls.
*Hawai‘i Conservation Conference: We gathered at the Royal Hawaiian to build a collaborative clay reef and discuss ecosystem preservation.
*Get Into Your Sanctuary Day: Visitors explored our life-sized inflatable humpback whale and learned about the gentle giants that visit Hawai‘i.
*Kūpuna Afternoon Launch: We hosted our very first Kūpuna Afternoon filled with ocean trivia, Hawaiian vocabulary games, and marine crafts! Due to its success, this will now be a monthly event for the rest of the year!

From our keiki to our kūpuna, your curiosity and dedication to ocean stewardship inspire us every day. We can’t wait to see you at our upcoming events! 🤙🐋

Photo 1: After Hours with PMDP. Credit: Monica Fries

Photo 2: Kaylee Tanig leading whale song activity at the Symphony of the Seas event. Credit: Monica Fries

Photo 3: After Hours with Hawai‘i Audubon Society. Credit: Claire Generous/NOAA

Photo 4: PNMS SAC members Kammie Tavares, Angelina Elido, and Emma Rudy Srebnik at the PIR booth during Hawai‘i Conservation Conference. Credit: Sara Wood/NOAA

Photo 5: Pledge mobile at the Bishop Museum Science and Sustainability Festival, Credit: Claire Generous/NOAA.

Photo 6: After Hours with Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Josh Atwood Virtual Trio to Hōlanikū. Credit: Claire Generous/NOAA.

Photo 7: Get Into Your Sanctuary Day at

09/08/2026

The Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center is CLOSED today, September 8th, due to potential impacts from Hurricane Lowell.

The safety of our visitors, staff, and community is our top priority. Please stay tuned to local forecasts and ocean condition updates. We hope everyone stays safe during the storm!

We 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

http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary:

Want your organization to be the top-listed government service in Hilo?