Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) These brightly colored fishes are found throughout the Hawaiian islands. (more) Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument monument, Hawaii, United States Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Papahanaumokuakea-Marine-National-Monument Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: PMNM Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti, John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... John P. Rafferty•All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Feb 11, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea Marine National Monument? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea Marine National Monument is a large marine protected area made up of an isolated archipelago of islets, coral atolls, coral reefs, and surrounding deep-ocean waters in the northern Pacific Ocean. At 582,578 square miles (1,508,870 square km)u2014an area larger than all U.S. national parks combinedu2014is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, and it is the largest contiguous, fully protected U.S. conservation area." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the significance of the name Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The name Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea has its origins in Native Hawaiian cosmology. The name represents the union of Papahu0101naumoku (the earth mother) and Wu0101kea (the sky father), who are revered ancestors. According to belief, islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago, the taro plant (a Hawaiian food staple), and the Hawaiian people originated from Papahu0101naumoku and Wu0101kea." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What natural features are found in Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Papahu0101naumokuu0101kea contains the worldu2019s deepest and northernmost coral reefs, and it is home to over 7,000 marine species, including many endemic species. It also provides breeding and nesting grounds for birds and critical habitat for endangered species like the green turtle and Hawaiian monk seal." } } ] } Top Questions What is the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument? Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is a large marine protected area made up of an isolated archipelago of islets, coral atolls, coral reefs, and surrounding deep-ocean waters in the northern Pacific Ocean. At 582,578 square miles (1,508,870 square km)—an area larger than all U.S. national parks combined—is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, and it is the largest contiguous, fully protected U.S. conservation area.

　　What is the significance of the name Papahānaumokuākea? The name Papahānaumokuākea has its origins in Native Hawaiian cosmology. The name represents the union of Papahānaumoku (the earth mother) and Wākea (the sky father), who are revered ancestors. According to belief, islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago, the taro plant (a Hawaiian food staple), and the Hawaiian people originated from Papahānaumoku and Wākea.

　　What natural features are found in Papahānaumokuākea? Papahānaumokuākea contains the world’s deepest and northernmost coral reefs, and it is home to over 7,000 marine species, including many endemic species. It also provides breeding and nesting grounds for birds and critical habitat for endangered species like the green turtle and Hawaiian monk seal.

　　Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), natural marine area made up of an isolated archipelago of islets, coral atolls, coral reefs, and surrounding deep-ocean waters in the northern Pacific Ocean. It is located approximately 155 miles (250 km) to the northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. At 582,578 square miles (1,508,870 square km)—an area larger than all U.S. national parks combined—Papahānaumokuākea is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, and it is the largest contiguous, fully protected U.S. conservation area. The name Papahānaumokuākea derives from Native Hawaiian cosmology, and it represents the union of Papahānaumoku (the earth mother) ...(100 of 734 words)

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