Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

The protected marine area spans 582,578 square miles of ocean waters, including ten islands, atolls, coral reefs, and deep-sea ecosystems.

President Theodore Roosevelt established initial protection in 1909 with the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation, leading to its national monument status in 2006.

The monument bears the names of Hawaiian deities Papahānaumoku and Wākea, representing the connection between earth mother and sky father in Native Hawaiian traditions.

Access to the monument requires special permits, while the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo provides educational programs about marine conservation and Hawaiian heritage.

Scientists have documented over 7,000 species within the monument, with one quarter being endemic, including the Hawaiian monk seal and numerous coral varieties.

Location: Honolulu County

Location: territorial waters of the United States

Location: Exclusive economic zone of the United States

Location: United States Minor Outlying Islands

Inception: June 15, 2006

Founders: George W. Bush

Website: http://papahanaumokuakea.gov/about/welcome.html

GPS coordinates: 25.70000,-171.73333

Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:14