Papahānaumokuākea and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuaries seek advisory council applicants

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) is seeking to fill 13 primary and 11 alternate seats on its advisory council. 

HIHWNMS is accepting applications for the following seats:

• Business/Commerce (Primary)
• Commercial Shipping (Primary and Alternate)
• Conservation (Alternate)
• Education (Primary and Alternate)
• Fishing (Primary and Alternate)
• Hawaiʻi Island (Primary and Alternate)
• Kauaʻi Island (Primary)
• Molokaʻi Island (Primary and Alternate)
• Native Hawaiian (Primary and Alternate)
• Oʻahu Island (Alternate)
• Ocean Recreation (Primary and Alternate)
• Research (Primary)
• Tourism (Primary and Alternate)
• Whale Watching (Primary and Alternate)
• Youth (Primary)

NOAA’s Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) is seeking applicants for eight primary and five alternate seats on its advisory council. 

PNMS is accepting applications for the following seats:

• Citizen-At-Large (Primary)
• Conservation (Two Primaries and Three Alternates)
• Native Hawaiian Elder (Primary)
• Native Hawaiian (Primary)
• Ocean Related Tourism (Primary)
• Recreational Fishing (Primary and Alternate)
• Research (Primary and Alternate)

Candidates are selected based on their expertise in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and experience regarding the protection and management of marine resources. Applicants who are chosen as primary or alternate members should expect to serve a three-year term and regularly attend quarterly meetings.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. HST on Dec. 18, 2026. Visit the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary website or the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary website to download the application.

For this recruitment cycle, applicants will complete a unified application package. Please note that while a single application form is used, candidates must explicitly indicate on the form the specific advisory council, or councils, they are applying for. For further information, please contact Sara Wood via email at sara.wood@noaa.gov.