Deep-Sea Tales From a Hawaiian Marine Protected Area

The deepest portions of the world’s oceans remain mostly unexplored, although recent expeditions onboard the exploration vessel called Nautilus added many new insights to our ocean knowledge. In this article we unveil some details from a previously unexplored area of the Pacific Ocean. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, off the Hawaii Archipelago, is an incredible place. Here, undersea mountains, deep-ocean coral forests, and habitats created by volcanoes are common, but their details remain mysterious. Our recent expedition relied on the contributions of indigenous people, who interacted directly with ocean scientists. The indigenous collaborators shared tales from their ancient cultural traditions, and their information was useful for shaping the scientific exploration. The collaboration made the exploration even more enriching for the scientists, deepening their relationship with the beloved ocean!