Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary consists of approximately 582,570 square miles of marine habitat, co-extensive with the marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The sanctuary comprises several interconnected ecosystems, such as coral islands surrounded by shallow reefs, low-light mesophotic reefs with extensive algal beds, open ocean waters connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, deep-water habitats such as abyssal plains 16,400 feet below sea level, and deep reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, and shoals. Visit the pages below to learn more about the sanctuary.

ʻĀina Momona - Place of Abundance

Our vision for Papahānaumokuākea is a birthplace of rich ocean diversity where a living story of creation, exploration, and valor is remembered and shared throughout Hawai‘i and the world. People value Papahānaumokuākea as a place of regeneration and renewal—a place of hope where an abundance of species thrive to nourish our minds and bodies and stir our ancient need for wild places where man is just one part of a whole. Papahānaumokuākea awakens a truth that most have forgotten—that we need a healthy ocean for our well-being. It reminds everyone that nature and culture are one and the traditional and conventional, spiritual, and scientific have learned to coexist. Papahānaumokuākea inspires us to care passionately for all nature and to learn to mālama—to care for each other.

--Papahānaumokuākea Sanctuary Management Plan, NOAA

Natural Resources

a cluster of many large, puffy, white tubular structures in a deep, dark ocean
The largest known marine sponge was discovered in 2015 by NOAA during an expedition to Papahānaumokuākea at a depth of 7,000 feet. The sponge was roughly the size of a minivan, measuring 11.5 feet long, 6.5 feet wide, and 4.9 feet high. Photo: NOAA
fish swimming over coral
This small colony of cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina), located in Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary at Kānemiloha‘i (French Frigate Shoals), hosts more than a hundred endemic Hawaiian domino damselfish (Dascyllus albisella, ‘alo’ilo’i). Photo: Lindsey Kramer/USFWS

Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary is a place of unique marine habitats and wildlife that provide large-scale ecosystem services for the region and the world. The marine habitat includes several interconnected ecosystems, including coral islands surrounded by shallow reefs (down to 100 feet), low-light mesophotic reefs (100 to 490 feet) with extensive algal beds, open ocean (pelagic) waters connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, deep-water habitats such as abyssal plains 16,400 feet below sea level, and deep reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, and shoals.

Native Hawaiian Culture

Papahānaumokuākea is of great importance to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiian culture, and Native Hawaiian culture is a foundational element to sanctuary management. The name Papahānaumokuākea commemorates the union of two Hawaiian ancestors—Papahānaumoku and Wākea—who gave rise to the Hawaiian Archipelago, the taro plant, and the Hawaiian People.

Maritime Heritage

remnants of a ship on the seafloor
The naval vessel USS Macaw ran aground at Midway Atoll in 1944 while attempting to rescue a nearby submarine. The wreck lies within the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA

Papahānaumokuākea is also home to a variety of post-western-contact historic resources, such as those associated with the 1942 Battle of Midway and 19th century commercial whaling.

Cooperative Management

The sanctuary provides regulatory and management tools to supplement and strengthen existing protections for Papahānaumokuākea ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural and maritime heritage resources.

Designation

There is a long history of considering this area for national marine sanctuary designation. Papahānaumokuākea is also both a marine national monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.