All Aboard ...

Join the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument Expedition!


The NOAA ship Hi’ialakai (“embracing the sea”) will depart for a 28-day voyage to the farthest reaches of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands on June 23, 2006.
This will be the first expedition to this area since President Bush's proclamation designating it the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.This multidisciplinary research expedition will include a benthic habitat mapping team, maritime archaeologists and interpretation of this research through education and outreach specialists.
The Hi’ialakai recently returned from an expedition to French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll to complete work related to ecosystem connectivity, apex predator tagging and movement studies, and coral reef health assessment.
On June 23, the research vessel will set sail with 20 scientists and educators in order to conduct further studies at Kure Atoll, the northernmost atoll in the Hawaiian Islands Archipelago, and at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
Check back during the mission for daily logs and photos from the expedition team.