On Thursday, Nov. 10, the public was invited to Mokupāpapa Discovery Center (MDC) to view never-before-seen fish collected from the deep-water coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, now on display in the center’s aquarium.

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Randall Kosaki, Ph.D, deputy superintendent for field and research at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument discussed mesophotic exploration in the monument.

Kosaki and MDC aquarist Tim Brown also talked about the newly discovered fish species, including the newly described butterflyfish, Prognothodes basabei, as well as many other marine life specimens.

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Mokupāpapa Discovery Center is located at 76 Kamehameha Ave. in Hilo.

Call (808) 933-8180 for more information.

Papahānaumokuākea is cooperatively managed to ensure ecological integrity and to achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations.

Three co-trustees—the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, and the State of Hawai‘i—joined by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, protect this special place.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument was inscribed as the first mixed (natural and cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States in July 2010.

For more information, visit www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.