Facilitating Science
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale

The R/V Kohola was specifically built and customized for large whale response, disentanglement and research. Credit: ONMS, NOAA

There are several resources available to researchers at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Please contact the Research Coordinator for more information.

Acting Research Coordinator: Jonathan Martinez

Boats

The R/V Kohola is the primary research and diving vessel used by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback National Marine Sanctuary staff. Please contact the Research Coordinator for more information on potential opportunities for collaboration on sanctuary vessels.

Permits

At this time the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary does not issue permits for activities in the sanctuary. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of Hawai’i issues permits for research with humpback whales. For more information contact the National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of Hawai’i Division of Aquatic Resources.

Diving

The coral reef ecosystem of the sanctuary provides habitat for numerous species including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, dolphins, manta rays, green sea turtles and sharks. Please respect a safe distance from marine life, especially North Pacific humpback whales, as they come to these waters to breed, calve and nurse their newborns. Divers can receive reciprocity to conduct SCUBA on the HIHWNMS vessel.

Lab Space

Oahu: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has a partnership with the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). They have lab space available, please contact them directly for more information.

Maui: The Kihei campus has a new wet lab facility and can be made available to research partners.

picture of wet labe in Kihei. — Wet lab in Kihei. Credit: HIHWNMS

Accommodations

This marine sanctuary is spread out over several islands and the accommodations differ for island to island. For parts of the sanctuary around O‘ahu there are accommodations available at Coconut island which is part of the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. Please refer to their website for the most up to date prices. Other accomodations are also available on the islands of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Hawai‘i.

Research Areas

There are no special areas that researchers need to be aware of as they develop research plans.

Data Buoys

A network of buoys that collect real-time data on oceanic conditions have been deployed in and near the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Collected parameters include wind speed and direction, wave height, dominant wave period, average wave period, air temperature, water temperature and atmospheric pressure. A listing of these buoys may be accessed from here.

Equipment and Instruments

Photography equipment, satellite tags, passive acoustic listening devices, GPS, incubator, autoclave, water quality supplies, and a Quanti-tray System Sealer are available for use by research collaborators. Please contact the Research Coordinator for more information.

Special Considerations

Researchers should be familiar with the various regulations in place at the sanctuary. The Au'Au Channel between Maui and Lanai is an area of particular interest for research in the sanctuary.

Key Documents

Science Needs

Documents that describe the immediate science needs for critical management issues.

Condition Report

The Condition Report is a summary of the status and trend of sanctuary resources, pressures on those resources, and management responses to the pressures that threaten the marine environment.

For a full biography please visit the sanctuary library site.

Facilitating Science Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale