Hawai’i Marine Animal Response (HMAR)

Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the largest nonprofit marine species conservation and response organization in Hawai‘i, founded in 2016 to protect the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi). Operating primarily on O‘ahu and Moloka‘i, HMAR has become a cornerstone of marine stewardship in the islands.

Originally focused on monk seal conservation, HMAR has since broadened its scope to include sea turtles and seabirds, responding to strandings, injuries, and threats across multiple species. In 2024, HMAR opened the first full-time sea turtle emergency care and rehabilitation center on O‘ahu, located at Hawai‘i Pacific University’s Makapu‘u Campus. This facility treats injured turtles and provides life-saving surgeries and rehabilitation.

HMAR’s work includes field response and rescue for monk seals, turtles, and seabirds, data collection on seal health, habitat use, and threats, community outreach and education to promote respectful coexistence, and partnerships with NOAA, local schools, and conservation agencies to enhance recovery efforts.

Their efforts have been recognized nationally, including a 2023 Partner in the Spotlight Award from NOAA for their role in expanding monk seal recovery. HMAR’s volunteers and staff are often the first responders when seals haul out on busy beaches, ensuring safe viewing distances and public awareness.