The hawaii marine education and research center (merc) is a state of hawaii and u.s. federal 501(c)3 non-profit organization that connects communities to timely scientific information on marine resources. located in milolii on hawaii island, hawaii merc provides community engagement, relational and contextual planning for coastal and marine management as well as natural resource enforcement via community education. hawaii merc facilitates inter-operability among diverse local communities (native hawaiian, long-term residents, and new arrivals) with hawaii state (department of land and natural resources - dlnr, division of aquatic resources - dar) and federal (national oceanic and atmospheric administration, fisheries division and law enforcement division) agencies by supplying a neutral convening space paired with organizational and operational skills and science to support and maintain knowledge exchange and community action.