The Pacific Islands Region is geographically isolated and composed entirely of islands and atolls that can only be reached by air or sea.  It encompasses 50% of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and includes the State of Hawai‘i and the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

NOAA has substantial capabilities working to address the priorities and needs of our stakeholders and partners in the Pacific Islands Region. Several NOAA centers, offices, and laboratories serve the region.  There are over 30 NOAA offices and over 600 federal and contract employees in the region, with the majority of NOAA’s workforce being located on the island of Oʻahu and smaller numbers of employees spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands and territories. Within the region, we have an extensive partnership network that keeps the agency informed about priority issues, collects data and information, conducts cutting-edge research and science outreach, and helps manage our coasts and resources. 

NOAA assets in the Pacific Islands include:

• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center;
• International Tsunami Information Center offsite link (ITIC);
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center;
• The TAO/TRITON array;
• NOAA research vessel Oscar Elton Sette;
• Two baseline atmospheric observatories:
  • Mauna Loa Observatory,
  • American Samoa Observatory;
• Three marine national monuments:
  • Rose Atoll Marine National Monument,
  • The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument,
  • The Marianas Trench Marine National Monument;
• Three National Marine Sanctuaries:
  • Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument,
  • Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary,
  • National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

NOAA has a broad portfolio of activities and services throughout the region. Communication and coordination across NOAA and its partners can be challenging, given the extent of locations, missions, and needs. In order to improve, focus, and better integrate the development and delivery of NOAA’s products and services, NOAA’s Pacific Islands Regional Collaboration Team supports activities and efforts that strengthen communication, coordination, and collaboration among NOAA and partners at regional and sub-regional levels.

Pacific Islands Region Partners

In addition to NOAA employees and facilities, NOAA benefits from close partnerships with these NOAA-supported entities in the region:

National Estuarine Research Reserves

• Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve / https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/reserves/hawaii.html

Sea Grant College Programs

• University of Hawaiʻi / https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/ offsite link
• University of Guam / https://www.uog.edu/seagrant/index.php offsite link

Cooperative Institutes

• Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) / https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/jimar/  offsite link

Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments

• Pacific Islands RISA / https://www.pacificrisa.org/ offsite link

Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems

• Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) / https://ioos.noaa.gov/regions/pacioos/

Coastal Zone Management Programs

• Hawaiʻi Coastal Management Program / https://planning.hawaii.gov/czm/
• Guam Coastal Management Program / https://bsp.guam.gov/guam-coastal-management-program/

Regional Fishery Management Council

• Western Pacific Fishery Management Council / http://www.fisherycouncils.org/western-pacific offsite link