Bring Marine Stewardship to Life for your Students/Haumāna
Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology offers a 3.5-hour experience where students become junior marine biologists and stewards of their backyard, exploring Kāne‘ohe Bay by boat and arrive on island for an engaging walking tour of the labratory facilities. We offer hands-on labs with walking tours for our students in 4th grade and up.
Most programs start at 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and require a signed waiver with program fees. Groups of 12 or fewer depart from Lilipuna Pier, while larger groups –13 to 35 participants– will use our HIMB research education vessel, Ka Noelo Kai, for a fee.
All participants must be at least five years old and able to climb in & out of small boats, up & down several pier steps, navigate one to two steep hills, walk on uneven paved and non-paved pathways, & complete the entire ~ 1 mile tour at the pace of the group they are with.
Contact & Helpful Links
For more information about field trips and programs, please contact:
CCE Team Call: 808-743-0229 Email: [email protected]
Huakaʻi at HIMB
Shuttle Over to Coconut Island
The adventure begins with a scenic boat ride across Kāne‘ohe Bay. As students travel to Moku o Lo‘e, they are surrounded by the Ko‘olaupoko Mountains and waters teeming with life, marking the start of a day of discovery.
How To Book
Hawai‘i K-8th Grade
- Plan for a weekday trip for your K-8th Grade Group (9:00am - 12:30pm)
- Ensure transportation to Kāne‘ohe is arranged for desired date (vans, buses, chaperones)
- Fill out HI K-8th School Request Form linked below
- Request your tour well in advance of the desired tour date
- If you have questions email [email protected] or call 808-743-0229.
Out-of-State K-8th Grade
- Plan for a weekday trip for your K-8th Grade Group (9:00am - 12:30pm)
- Ensure transportation to Kāne‘ohe is arranged for desired date (vans, buses, chaperones)
- Fill out Non-HI K-8th School Request Form linked below
- Request your tour well in advance of the desired tour date
- If you have questions email [email protected] or call 808-743-0229.
Please note that we prioritize our in-state DOE school booking requests first due to limited availability. Mahalo for your understanding.
See Students In Action
What Attendees Have to Say
“Thank you so much for hosting our students. It was an amazing experience. We appreciate your time and effort into planning for our students.”
Elementary School Teacher, May 2025
“Thank you so much for the tour yesterday! I loved the different interactive stations and the walk around the island. I learned many things and viewed ocean research from a couple different perspectives. It was eye-opening!”
Middle School Student, March 2025
“Mahalo nui for a wonderful huaka‘i! This was our first visit, and we’re so pleased. We are finding valuable connections to the learning our haumāna have done and will continue to do in class. Upon returning to class, our homeroom kumu pointed out ‘ike kūpuna that she saw in today’s huaka‘i (how the gorilla ogo was not wasted but instead used for good – for fertilizing). She emphasized how our kūpuna were never wasteful and always found purpose and uses for things.”
Middle School Teacher, February 2025
FAQ
Resources For Educators
We look forward to hosting your students on their upcoming expedition to Moku o Lo‘e! To help prepare for an unforgettable day of marine science discovery, we have a few resources available to help you plan your visit.
Downloads
To help you get ready for your trip, we encourage you to download and share these learning materials, which cover background information on Moku o Lo‘e and Kāne‘ohe Bay, along with details about the plankton and algae labs. Reviewing these materials beforehand will help make your visit more engaging and educational.