Resources: Visitation Fact Sheet

• Three thousand miles from the nearest continent, Papahānaumokuākea is one of the largest World Heritage Sites, as well as one of the largest Marine Protected Areas on the globe. Spanning a distance of 1931 km (1,200 mi) across the North Pacific Ocean, the Monument is approximately 185 km (115 mi) wide
  
  
• Composing the Northernmost three‐fourths of the Hawaiian Archipelago,
  Papahānaumokuākea is Hawai‘i’s second World Heritage Site. The first, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, was inscribed in 1978
  
  
• The remote reefs, islands and waters of Papahānaumokuākea are home to more than 7000 species, approximately 25% of which are found nowhere else in the world
  
  
• The Monument Management philosophy is to “Bring the place to the people,” through a variety of media and web‐based interactive experiences in order to help limit the human footprint on the remote region’s near pristine ecosystems and cultural heritage for future generations
  
  
• The Monument’s Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, on the island of
  Hawai‘i, offers virtual visitor opportunities to Papahānaumokuākea through
  exhibitry, events, and educational programs
  
  
• With the Monument philosophy in mind, and by regulation, all access to and
  activities within the Monument are by permit only
  
  
• Strict carrying capacity guidelines limit visitor access, which is restricted to
  Midway Atoll only