Marine scientists gather for Hawaiian Islands Research Symposium on May 2-3

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Carlie S. Wiener, (808) 628-8666
Research & Outreach Specialist, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
Daniel Wagner, (808) 927-0603
Research Specialist
Posted: May 1, 2012

5th annual Hawaiian Islands Symposium is occurring this week at the East-West Center (D.Dennison)
5th annual Hawaiian Islands Symposium is occurring this week at the East-West Center (D.Dennison)
5th annual Hawaiian Islands Symposium is occurring this week at the East-West Center (D.Dennison)
5th annual Hawaiian Islands Symposium is occurring this week at the East-West Center (D.Dennison)
Researchers work to characterize coral reef ecosystems in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Researchers work to characterize coral reef ecosystems in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
UH Mānoa's Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center will host the 5th annual Hawaiian Islands Research Symposium on May 2-3 at the East-West Center on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus.
This week, managers and scientists from HIMB, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center will meet to share the latest in marine science research conducted throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. Presentations will highlight ecosystem-wide research occurring in both the Main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the latter also known as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
The purpose of this symposium is to help foster an understanding of Hawaiian reef ecosystems for management and planning, in an effort to produce proactive responses to future social and ecological changes. The symposium also offers an opportunity for collaboration amongst scientists and managers at various federal, state and non-profit agencies, as well as from several universities. Another goal of the symposium is to foster young scientists and conservation managers. For this purpose, the symposium will feature a session devoted entirely to student research, with student presenters competing for a best presentation award, as determined by a panel of senior researchers and managers.
This annual event provides a forum for managers and scientists from different agencies to share their research and encourage collaboration among agencies in Hawai‘i.  This symposium marks the 6th anniversary of the HIMB Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Research Partnership. HIMB has been an integral part of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands decision-making process by providing ecosystem-based science to help inform the management decisions of this unique ecosystem.
Now in its 7th year of the partnership, both managers and scientists continue to work together offering research support and new scientific knowledge for ecosystem-based management. Since its first edition in 2007, the symposium has continuously grown, and to accommodate the increasing importance of this annual gathering, this event will be expanded to a large-scale conference to be hosted at the Hawai'i Convention Center on November 14-16, 2013. In addition to showcasing research on ecosystem based management conducted in Hawai'i, the 2013 conference will expand this annual gathering to important partners throughout the Pacific Region, thereby providing an international platform to foster the sharing of information regarding scientific assessments and management practices of large-scale marine managed areas.