On this mission, we are very fortunate to be hosted by the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology.  (HIMB)The institute is owned and operated by the University of Hawaii and is located on the small private island of Moku O Loʻe, also known as Coconut Island. The island has a rich and interesting history, which you can read about on the HIMB website. To get to the island, you must have permission and a sponsor from the University, and show documentation of such to the ferry boat operator who transfers you from the pier to the island.

We arrived late in the afternoon and had just enough time to put our things away and walk around to explore before catching the ferry back to town for dinner. Tomorrow we begin collecting coral samples.