RESPECT
PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT

HAWAII CONSERVATION MAKA'I

We are strong supporters of numerous conservation organizations that promote eco-friendly exploration and enjoyment of amazing places. Bonefish Hawaii participates actively in the One Percent for the Planet conservation fund that gives a portion of our earnings directly back to worthy conservation causes each year. We also work closely with the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the worlds top Bonefish research and conservation organization, on many challenges we face here in the Islands. In 2014 Captain Rick was designated a Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Conservation Captain.

Captain Rick also serves on the Reserve Advisory Council for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, coral reef ecosystem. The Monument is the single largest conservation area in the world. It encompasses 582,578 square miles of the Pacific Ocean– an area far larger than all the country’s national parks combined.

Papahānaumokuākea was established by Presidential Proclamation 8031 on June 15, 2006 under the authority of the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431-433). The Monument was expressly created to protect an exceptional array of natural and cultural resources. On July 30, 2010 Papahānaumokuākea was inscribed as a mixed (natural and cultural) World Heritage Site by the delegates to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 34th World Heritage Convention in Brasilia Brazil (click here to learn more).

The extensive coral reefs found in Papahānaumokuākea – truly the rainforests of the sea – are home to over 7,000 marine species, one quarter of which are found only in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Many of the islands and shallow water environments are important habitats for rare species such as the threatened Green Sea Turtle and the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal. On less than six square miles of land over 14 million seabirds representing 22 species breed and nest. Land areas also provide a home for four species of bird found nowhere else in the world, including the world’s most endangered duck, the Laysan duck.

Papahānaumokuākea is of great cultural importance to Native Hawaiians with significant cultural sites found on the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana, both of which are on the National and State Register for Historic Places. Mokumanamana has the highest density of sacred sites in the Hawaiian Archipelago and has spiritual significance in Hawaiian cosmology (learn more). Papahānaumokuākea is also home to a variety of post-Western-contact historic resources, such as those associated with the Battle of Midway, and 19th century commercial whaling (learn more).

The name Papahānaumokuākea is more than just a Hawaiian word to add flavor to the name of the Monument. Papahānaumokuākea has great significance and meaning. In addition, the process of how the name was chosen is equally as important. For more information and audio files to help understand and pronounce the name, click here.

The Monument Vision is to forever protect and perpetuate ecosystem health and diversity and Native Hawaiian cultural significance of Papahānaumokuākea. The Monument Mission is to Carry out seamless integrated management to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of NWHI ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations. Captain Rick is honored to serve as a Papahānaumokuākea advocate to help protect our unique Hawaiian culture and environment for future generations.

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