Aloha.
Welcome to HIMB.

The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) is where marine science connects cutting-edge research and transformative education to understand and protect our local and global oceans.

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From Microbes to Megafauna

At HIMB, we harness the latest technology to understand the ocean’s tiniest–to largest–inhabitants, and learn what they need to thrive.

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Meeting this Moment

HIMB researchers ask and answer questions to assess and secure ocean health- now, and into the future. With nature as our guide, we innovate the solutions we need today for a resilient coast tomorrow.

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Where Marine Science Connects

From the center of the Pacific, HIMB's dynamic research community is a hub for ocean solutions. Marine biologists from Hawaiʻi and around the globe come to HIMB to learn and lead careers of impact. Our research extends from our living laboratory on Moku o Loʻe to communities here and around the world.

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Research Excellence

HIMB advances fundamental research and develops new technologies to address the challenges facing Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and the world’s oceans. Our community of over 200 faculty, staff, and students transform local research into global solutions.

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Research Labs

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Transformative Education

Surrounded by a living coral reef and diverse marine life, HIMB offers a learning environment like no other. Our education pathways connect students, educators, and community members with our research, sparking curiosity and opening doors to marine science. From grade school to graduate studies, we’re inspiring the next wave of ocean stewards.

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Graduate Education

Community Education

Research Experiences in Marine Science

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Island Stewardship

HIMB forges and fosters partnerships with coastal communities. Our research extends from mauka (ridge) to makai (reef). From shared bodies of knowledge, we find strategies for sustaining our coastal resources, and we are piloting programs to inspire other island communities to do the same.

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Grounded in Place

HIMB is an organized research unit of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, located on the island of Moku o Lo‘e and surrounded by a living coral reef in Kāne‘ohe Bay. Boarding our shuttle boat to reach the island is an invitation to connect with and mālama (care for) ‘āina (land, that which feeds). This responsibility is intrinsic to our work in Hawai‘i and study sites worldwide.

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One Ocean. Global Solutions.

Coral & Coastal Resilience Microbes to Megafauna: Marine Sentinels of Climate Change Community-Engaged Research Fish & Sustainable Fisheries Applied Technology & Nature-Based Solutions

Coral & Coastal Resilience

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Nature-Based Solutions

HIMB advances coral and coastal resilience through research on thermal tolerance in corals, effectiveness of reef restoration, and the coastal protection that reefs provide. Our researchers develop innovative technologies like 3D-printed settlement structures and explore nature-based coastal defense. HIMB advances our foundational understanding of corals, coral reefs and their roles in coastal resilience, developing solutions to protect and conserve reefs in the face of climate change and other human impacts.

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Microbes to Megafauna: Marine Sentinels of Climate Change

Close-up of red and purple coral polyps against a vibrant green and yellow background, seen under a microscope.

System-Wide Impacts of Global Change

HIMB investigates the impact of climate change across marine life, from the smallest microbes to the largest megafauna. Our researchers study how warming temperatures and ocean acidification impact coral health, plankton dynamics, and the physiology and behavior of sentinel species like fish, turtles, and marine mammals. This comprehensive approach reveals the cascading effects of climate change on the entire marine ecosystem.

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Community-Engaged Research

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Collaborative Partnerships and Diverse Ways of Knowing

HIMB actively engages with its local community through research collaborations, educational outreach, and stewardship initiatives focused on the unique marine environment of Kāne‘ohe Bay and the broader Pacific. This place-based approach fosters reciprocal relationships, integrates local knowledge, and empowers communities in marine conservation and scientific discovery.

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Fish & Sustainable Fisheries

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Fisheries Ecology and Management: Resilience in Tropical Systems

FISH@UH is a new sustainable fisheries initiative and graduate training program focused on the quantitative and ecological challenges inherent to tropical, multi-species fisheries. HIMB faculty are developing new tools for quantitative fisheries and ecosystem-based management with bicultural frameworks to develop robust, localized management solutions for the Pacific Islands.

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Applied Technology & Nature-Based Solutions

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Accelerating Discovery and Restoration

HIMB advances the development and application of advanced technological solutions to accelerate how we study ocean organisms and systems. Our program integrates an essential toolkit of genomic sequencing, bio-logging, and high-resolution remote sensing alongside autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This sophisticated approach enables non-invasive species monitoring, 3D habitat mapping, and rapid screening of coral lineages for climate resilience. By leveraging these cutting-edge innovations—from applied genetics to robotics—HIMB establishes new operational paradigms for effective coral reef restoration and large-scale ecosystem management.

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