NOAA in your backyard: Pacific Islands

Educational opportunities and staff in American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaiʻi, Republic of Palau, and Republic of the Marshall Islands

NOAA in Your State & Territory

State by state listings of NOAA facilities and programs
A summary of NOAA facilities, staff, programs, or activities based in, or focused on, your state or territory.

National Weather Service

School visits • Forecast office tours • Student and educator resources
The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas.

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Field trips • Professional development • Educator resources
The National Estuarine Research Reserves System protects more than 1.3 million coastal and estuarine acres in 29 reserves located in 24 states and Puerto Rico for purposes of long-term research, environmental monitoring, education and stewardship.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries

Field trips • Professional development • Educator resources
NOAA’s 14 National Marine Sanctuaries serve as the trustee for the nation’s system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural legacy.

National Sea Grant Program

Professional development • Curriculum • Student and educator resources
Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 34 university-based programs that conduct scientific research, education, training, and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources.

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Lesson plans and curricula • Stewardship projects • Media library
The NOAA Marine Debris Program envisions the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris. The Pacific Islands region, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s largest geographic region, encompasses Hawaiʻi, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Marine Debris Program works with local partners to address marine debris in the Pacific Islands through removals and prevention through education and outreach.  

NOAA Fisheries

Student opportunities • Laboratory facilities • NOAA scientists • Educator resources
The NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. They have regional offices and several smaller field offices.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

Curriculum • Data • Multimedia
The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) is a national-regional partnership working to provide new tools and forecasts to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect our environment.

Hawaiʻi Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)

Competitive grants for educator watershed training programs
B-WET is an environmental educator program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment.

Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center (Honolulu, HI)

School visits • Data • Student and educator resources • Citizen science

NOAA Office of Coastal Management

Curriculum • Data • Grants • Local resources
The Pacific Islands office delivers meaningful products and services to address the coastal resource management needs in the State of Hawai'i, territories of American Samoa and Guam, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

    Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC)

    Tsunami warnings, watches, and advisories • Office tours • Real-time and historic data
    The PTWC office supports an increased capability of the tsunami warning system for the Pacific basin. This includes the observational system (sea level, seismic and GPS) and the continued enhancement of tsunami outreach and education capacity, including the implementation of the TsunamiReady® (US) and Tsunami Ready (International) Programs.

    Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)

    Hurricane information and data • Preparedness information • Educator resources
    The Central Pacific Hurricane Center issues tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for all tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific from 140 Degrees West Longitude to the International Dateline.

    Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) (Hilo, HI)

    Facility tours • Data • Local events
    MLO is a premier atmospheric research facility that has been continuously monitoring and collecting data related to atmospheric change since the 1950's. The undisturbed air, remote location, and minimal influences of vegetation and human activity at MLO are ideal for monitoring constituents in the atmosphere that can cause climate change.

    Northern Mariana Islands Coral Reef Initiative (Saipan)

    Educator and student resources • Events • Student internships
    The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' Coral Reef Initiative is a cross-agency initiative to protect and preserve coral reefs and to ensure the responsible management of the resources associated with those habitats.

    Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program (Honolulu, HI)

    Pacific climate change resources • Case studies • Data
    The Pacific RISA Program supports Pacific Island and coastal communities in adapting to the impacts of climate variability and change. They strive to enhance Pacific communities’ abilities to understand, plan for, and respond to changing climate conditions.

    Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) (Honolulu, HI)

    Scientists • Local research • Student opportunities
    JIMAR was established to pursue the common research interests of NOAA and the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa in oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical research. Major areas of research include ecosystem forecasting and monitoring, protection and restoration of resources, equatorial oceanography, climate research and impacts, tropical meteorology, and tsunamis.

    National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB)

    Regional competitions in the ocean sciences
    NOTE: The NOSB national office will not host a national finals competition in 2023-24 or 2024-25. Some regional offices will be hosting competitions. Please reach out to contacts below for more details.
    The NOSB is a national high school academic competition with regional competitions for student teams to test their knowledge of the marine sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology.

    Local NOAA vessels

    Follow current science in the Pacific Ocean

    Historical and real-time data

    Local historical weather events and data

    NOAA Science on a Sphere® (SOS) locations

    Earth systems data projected on a six-foot globe
    SOS is a room-sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display data onto a six foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. It was developed by researchers at NOAA to help illustrate complex environmental processes in a captivating way.