Director’s Message

Dr. Megan Donahue, HIMB Interim Director

Aloha, and welcome to the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, a global hub of excellence and innovation in marine science, coastal solutions, place-based education, and Indigenous community engagement. We are honored to be stewards of Moku o Loʻe, an islet in the ahupuaʻa of Heʻeia, among the living coral reefs of Kāneʻohe Bay. From this place, we advance a shared mission of understanding and conserving the world’s oceans – connecting research excellence with transformative education and community engagement for the benefit of Hawaiʻi, the Pacific Islands, and the world. 

The pressures on our planet are mounting, and the HIMB ʻohana creatively meets the challenges of this moment. Every day on the boat, I hear a new story – a masters student describing a new species of sponge, a doctoral student mapping the benefits of Indigenous aquaculture, a high school student finding her first spark for ocean acoustics, or a postdoc using cutting-edge tools to map, measure, and mindfully manage corals, fish, or marine mammals – we are getting wet, asking questions, and finding solutions. Our location sets us apart, but so do our people. We approach our projects collaboratively, as we know our work requires many hands, minds, and hearts for viable, sustainable solutions. 

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. There are so many ways you can support this work! I invite you to explore our website or get in touch to learn more.

Sincerely,