A Classroom Unlike Any Other
CCE offers engaging, hands-on learning experiences designed to cultivate ocean literacy for all ages. With Moku o Lo‘e and Kāne‘ohe Bay as our teachers and classrooms, we connect the community with cutting-edge research at Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). We welcome approximately 4,000 students and visitors annually through our onsite programs, and engage 7,000 additional participants through community outreach.
Our programs include island walking tours, hands-on lab experiences, and professional development workshops that integrate ‘āina-based (land-based) education with STEM.
We offer specialized lab programs for K-8 school groups on topics such as plankton, invasive algae, sea level rise, marine plastics, and ocean alkalinity enhancement. In addition to these school group experiences, we offer custom experiences for community groups interested in marine science and conservation.
Helpful Links
For more information please email [email protected] or call 808-743-0229.
Programs to Connect with
Marine Science
We offers a unique opportunity for haumāna and ʻohana to explore Moku o Loʻe through island walking tours and/or hands-on labs for ages 5 and older to explore marine science. Professional development workshops can be offered to school teachers, staff, admin, non-profits, etc.
Program
Our public tours offer diverse opportunities to explore HIMB’s living laboratory and surrounding coral reefs. From guided walking tours to hands-on programs, we offer a marine science experience for everyone 5 years of age and older.
Program
HIMB offers a dynamic, hands-on field trip for K-8 grade students on Moku o Lo‘e. Students will explore the world of marine biology with an immersive day of lab experiences, walking tours, touch tables, shark pens, and fish tanks.
Program
The Marine Understanding through Hands-on Exploration and Education (MUHE‘E) Program is a new five-day course at HIMB offered for students in 7th-9th grade during fall and spring break. Students will learn about the cultural and ecological connections from ridge to reef while exploring marine conservation through hands-on activities, including snorkel surveys, a plastics lab, and coral restoration modules.
Program
The Research Experiences in Marine Science (REMS) Programs support local Hawaiʻi high school students and classes, recent graduates, and early undergraduates interested in marine-related STEM degrees, while also training graduate students and postdocs working at the intersection of marine science and education research.
Meet Our Team
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Lauren Van Heukelem, MS
Junior Specialist, HIMB Community Education Coordinator
Center for Community Education
Ka Noelo Kai - Connecting O‘ahu to Moku o Lo‘e
The HIMB Education Program's catamaran, Ka Noelo Kai ("seeking knowledge of the sea"), serves as a floating classroom for exploring Kāne‘ohe Bay's coral reef ecosystems. From the generous donation of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation in 2017, this 45-passenger vessel transports thousands of students, educators, community members, and visitors to Moku o Lo‘e for hands-on educational programs and provides a safe platform for research and investigation.
Support The Next Wave of Ocean Stewards
Join a global effort. Your donation to HIMB funds the world-class research, education, and community programs that are crucial for protecting and restoring marine ecosystems in Hawai‘i and across the planet.
