Pearl and Hermes (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Located within the boundaries of the Monument is the Papahānaumokuākea World Heritage site. This remarkable property includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and 140,000 mi2 (362,000 km2) of remote ocean, and comprises a complex array of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Mokumanamana in the dark (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
While Papahānaumokuākea is the second site in Hawaiʻi to be granted World Heritage status, it is only the first mixed (natural and cultural) site in the whole of the United States. In fact, only 3% of all sites worldwide are recognised to be of both natural and cultural value.
Red fish (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
The words ‘āina momona describe a place of abundance. The remote reefs, islands and waters of Papahānaumokuākea represent ‘āina momona, and provide refuge for a wide array of species.
Mountain and sea (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
The Monument is a remarkable testimony to the shared origins of all Polynesian societies. The island of Mokumanamana, for example, contains numerous wahi pana (religious places) and mea makamae (cultural objects) and is of great spiritual significance in Hawaiian cosmology.
Po and Ao Illustration (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
These islands, atolls, and waters are also considered to be a sacred realm, where the boundary between Ao, the world of light and the living, and Pō, the world of gods and spirits, can be found. It is a place where life originates and where ancestors return after death.
Uprights (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
The name, Papahānaumokuākea, honors the union of two Hawaiian ancestors, Papahānaumoku and Wākea, which gave rise to the Hawaiian Archipelago and the Hawaiian people. It is a symbol of hope and regeneration for the Kupuna islands and the main Hawaiian Islands.
Former Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Program Coordinator Keoni Kuoha blows on a pū (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
The Monument is a training ground for traditional Hawaiian wayfinders, who have excelled in non-instrument navigation for generations. They use the stars, sun, seabirds, ocean swells and navigational signals to travel the open ocean and reach their desired destination.
Dr. Kelly Keogh investigates a ginger jar at the Two Brothers shipwreck site (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Along with its relationship to Native Hawaiian culture, Papahānaumokuākea also holds a large collection of maritime heritage within its waters and on its terrain. These treasures include fascinating shipwrecks, downed planes and numerous World War II remnants.
Geology (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
In addition to its cultural and heritage value, Papahānaumokuākea also has a number of significant geologic features. Formed millions of years ago, the string of islands within Papahānaumokuākea was created by a deep-sea volcanic hotspot.
Papahānaumokuākea showcases unparalleled examples of Earth’s processes. The various islands in the Monument represent some of the most compelling examples of global plate tectonic movements, as well as demonstrating the evolution of atolls and islands over time.
Brightly Colored Coral Garden on Argonaut Seamount | Nautilus (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Seamounts, another important geologic feature, are underwater mountains created by volcanic activity. They are crucial deep-water habitats as they support a diverse range of species, including various sponges and corals.
French Frigate Shoals reefscape (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Papahānaumokuākea is a remarkable example of ongoing evolutionary and biological processes, as illustrated by its exceptional ecosystems, unique species, and communities of plants and animals.
Rare species at Kure (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
The Monument is home to a diverse array of endemic species, which are those found nowhere else in the world. These include a variety of marine and terrestrial species that represent the last of their kind and depend on Papahānaumokuākea for its unique habitats and ecosystems.
In situ photo of Martensia lauhiekoeloa, new species of algae from Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
A number of formerly unknown species have been discovered in the Monument, such as the Martensia lauhiekoeloa, a type of limu (seaweed). The name “lauhiekoeloa” describes the beautiful way it flutters in the ocean currents, like a gown in the wind.
Blackfoot ʻopihi in a tidepool at Nihoa (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
‘Opihi (limpet) are a resilient species that live in the intertidal zone. Their strong suction cups keep them firmly attached to shoreline rocks. They are important to Native Hawaiian culture, as they are both a delicacy and are used for jewelry and tools throughout the islands.
A school of galapagos sharks/manō (Carcharhinus galapagensis) at Maro Reef (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Papahānaumokuākea is home to one of the world’s last apex predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems, abounding in manō (sharks) and ulua (jacks). This ecosystem is characteristic of reefs that are unaffected by human exploitation and still exists here thanks to its isolation.
Two masked boobies enjoy an afternoon chat astride two threatened Hawaiian green turtles (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Papahānaumokuākea provides crucial land and marine habitats for 23 threatened or endangered plant and animal species. It is also a vital feeding, nesting and nursery habitat for many species, including seabirds and honu (sea turtles).
Monk seal and honu (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Among the species on the endangered list are the critically endangered ʻīlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal), six species of endangered plants and four species of bird: koloa pōhaka (Laysan duck), ʻekupuʻu (Laysan finch), palihoa (Nihoa finch), and ulūlu (Nihoa millerbird).
World's largest albatross colony at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Papahānaumokuākea has the largest tropical seabird rookery in the world, with 5.5 million seabirds nesting every year and 14 million residing seasonally. Almost all of the world’s vulnerable mōlī (Laysan albatross) and endangered kaʻupu (Black-footed albatross) are here.
Where Nature and Culture are One (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Map of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument showing original and expansion area boundaries (2010) by PapahānaumokuākeaUNESCO World Heritage
Managed by NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges and Ecological Services, State of Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources and Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
This exhibit was created by Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: www.papahanaumokuakea.gov
More on Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and World Heritage: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1326/
Photos: Brad Kaʻaleleo Wong, Steven Gnam, Ruben Carrillo, Kimberly Jeffries, Kaleomanuiwa Wong, Greg McFall, Solomon Enos (@solomonenos), Randall Kosaki, Wayne Levin, Richard Pyle, Hoku Johnson, James Watt, Mark Sullivan, Kristy Lapenta, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Videos: Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy, Keolohilani Lopes, Ocean Exploration Trust, NautilusLive, Jim Knowlton, Blue Ocean Productions, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
