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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One Ocean. Global Solutions.
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.
Happening At HIMB
Go behind the scenes and experience the breakthroughs, stories, and news coming out of our HIMB ‘Ohana.
HIMB to Co-Lead New NOAA Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute
The University of Hawaiʻi has officially been designated by NOAA as the home of the new Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute (Pacific RRCI). This landmark initiative, aimed at bolstering coral reef conservation across the Pacific through high-impact research and regional collaboration, will see the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) playing a pivotal leadership role.
HIMB PhD Candidate Leon Tran Awarded Smith Fellowship for Fisheries Research
HIMB PhD candidate Leon Tran has been awarded the prestigious David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship to spearhead new methods for monitoring Hawaiʻi’s octopus fisheries. By utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA), Tran’s research will provide the first-ever population assessment of the Day Octopus (Heʻe mauli), bridging the gap between cutting-edge laboratory science and community-driven fishery management.
HIMB and Waikīkī Aquarium Launch Collaboration to Bring Papahānaumokuākea to the Community
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary designation, HIMB and the Waikīkī Aquarium have launched "A Year of Hoʻolauleʻa." This strategic partnership brings the remote science and cultural significance of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the public through a year-long seminar series, student field trips, and a modernized interactive exhibit.
Hawai'i Sea Grant "Voice of the Sea" Episode Features HIMB Research
This episode of "Voice of the Sea" explores how researchers at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology are tackling the challenge of sediment runoff in Kāneʻohe Bay. By investigating the tolerance limits of reef fish and monitoring the success of wetland restoration, HIMB scientists and partners are establishing the water quality standards necessary to ensure healthy corals and abundant nearshore fisheries.
Study Debunks Myth of Native Hawaiians Causing Bird Extinctions
Challenging a 50-year-old narrative about Hawaiʻi’s native birds, a new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa found no scientific evidence that Indigenous People hunted waterbird species to extinction. Published in the journal Ecosphere, the research debunks this long-held myth and offers a new, integrated theory to explain the disappearances.
Climate Resilience Found in Traditional Hawaiian Fishponds
Traditional Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa) are emerging as a model for climate resilience, according to a study from Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). The research, published in npj Ocean Sustainability, revealed Indigenous aquaculture systems effectively shield fish populations from the negative impacts of climate change, demonstrating resilience and bolstering local food security.