Strategic Plan

HIMB's strategic plan is our guiding document for the future, outlining a shared vision and collective goals for our research, education, and stewardship.

About The Plan - Guiding 2023-2028

Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology's strategic plan is a guiding document that charts our course for the future. This comprehensive plan is the result of a collaborative effort undertaken by HIMB's director, faculty, and staff to reflect a shared vision for our institution. The plan outlines HIMB's collective goals and strategic priorities, ensuring our research, education, and stewardship continue to honor people and place for the benefit of Hawai‘i and the world. We invite you to explore the full plan to learn more about how we take daily strides to achieve our mission.

Helpful Resources

Download Strategic Plan

Download HIMB's Mission and Values

See The Mālama ‘Āina Plan

Visit The UH Mānoa Website

HIMB Values

Person tending to trays of small coral fragments in a lab setting, holding a small tool and container.

Children in bright green life jackets hold floating boards while standing in calm ocean water under a blue sky.

A student examines seaweed with tweezers while a teacher observes in a science classroom.

A scuba diver swims underwater beside a large manta ray in clear blue ocean water.

Scuba diver using scientific equipment to study coral reef underwater.

Respect & Integrity / Pono

Respect and integrity guide our work through transparency, honesty, consistency, and openness. We prioritize the needs and well-being of our community, and lead by example.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion / Kāko‘o

We are dedicated to achieving a culture of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion through our collaborative institutional approach. We create opportunities, establish community support structures, and ensure attentiveness to power differentials, to promote a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Empowerment / Ho‘oulu

We commit to being part of an empowered community by nurturing, supporting, and enhancing pathways into marine science and related careers by integrating training across every aspect of our institute. We engage in co-development of programs with diverse knowledge holders, local educators, industrial partners, and community groups.

Innovation & Creativity / Noelo

We strive for innovation and creativity by pushing boundaries towards
breakthroughs in fundamental knowledge. We value creativity and curiosity and strive to have global impact by conducting visionary science, grounded in societal engagement.

Ocean Stewardship / Mālama

Guided by our commitment to ocean stewardship and aloha ‘āina, we advance research that seeks solutions to problems facing our oceans. We foster reciprocity through research and service, and prioritize sustainability and resilience in our infrastructure and approach to science. Our research is impactful, resulting from our unique expertise and position to collaborate widely and communicate effectively.

HIMB Strategic Priorities

A diver in a wetsuit and mask swims underwater with research equipment near the ocean surface.

Research Excellence

HIMB‘s unique location allows us to build knowledge together and to create future-oriented solutions at scale.

People working in a green field near a muddy area with trees and hills in the background under a blue sky.

Community & Collaboration

HIMB unites researchers, students, and partners, and our shared passion propels marine research and education to new depths.

Sea turtle swimming underwater with outstretched flippers against a bright blue background.

Multiple Ways of Knowing

HIMB weaves scientific inquiry with Indigenous knowledge, creating a holistic understanding of tropical marine ecosystems and advancing meaningful ocean stewardship.

Palm trees and boats docked on a calm, reflective lagoon with cloudy skies and distant mountains.

Sustainable Infrastructure

At HIMB, we are dedicated to co-stewarding Moku o Lo‘e toward a sustainable future with guidance and support from our community partners.

See Our Mālama Āina Plan

A humpback whale pokes its head above the calm ocean surface, showing barnacles and grooves.

Sustainable Funding

A core strategic priority for HIMB is securing sustainable funding to support its long-term marine research and conservation efforts.

Support the next wave of marine science

Our research is advancing and evolving to meet the needs of our changing world. We invite you to join us in curiosity, discovery, learning, and stewardship.

Donate Today

A dolphin leaps playfully out of the blue ocean water, with another dolphin just beneath the surface.