Marine Biological Hall of Distinction: Dr. Nicole Hokulani Yamase
- Orsolya Dunai
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
This article is part of our Marine Hall of Distinction collection. In this special collection, we discuss the marine biologists who have contributed most to marine biology and oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists and show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Dr. Nicole Yamase.
Dr. Nicole Yamase is a Micronesian marine biologist who is the first Micronesian and Pacific Islander, fourth woman, first marine scientist, youngest in age and only the 20th out of now 27 individuals to ever reach the Challenger Deep in Micronesia’s Mariana Trench. Yamase’s research and work seamlessly combines her Micronesian cultural history with science respecting both sides of the equation while working to open doors to marine science for women, minorities and the underprivileged.
In today’s article, we will delve into her formative years and education, her personal life and career, as well as her ongoing achievements, awards, and accomplishments to date. With that being said, let’s plunge into the extraordinary life of Dr. Nicole Yamase!
Her Education & Formative Years
A large cluster of approximately 600 islands with a collective surface area larger than that of the country of France times five; sits in the South Pacific Ocean like a crown of jewels to the ocean’s majesty. Monikered Micronesia, these islands form part of the ‘Oceania’ assemblage of Pacific Islands which include Polynesia and Melanesia. The most popular of Micronesia’s islands are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) which are sub-divided into four main ‘states’ of Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei. Micronesia supports a lower-end population combined of only 115,000 Micronesians with most residing on Yap, Pohnpei and Chuuk. These ancient Micronesian islands surfaced by way of volcanos peeking through the ocean’s sparkling surface creating a web of hospitable land masses. Local Micronesian tribes have inhabited these islands since this volcanic creation and root their own personal heritage to being descendants of the ocean gods. These tribes’ main principles surround culturally respecting, idolizing and protecting the clear blue waters.
The Federated States of Micronesia sports the world’s largest manta stingray populations dating back to the formation of these Micronesian Islands and is reflected in its cultural birthright. FSM’s creation myths lay the legendary foundation of a frightened, inexperienced woman exiled during pregnancy to give birth in the Micronesian waters without assistance. A stingray appeared to the expectant mother helping to deliver her newborn while continuing to aid in the afterbirth healing. The stingray became the totem protector and spirit animal to the Micronesian tribes and earned the role of ‘mother’ to the newly formed Stingray Clans.
Dennis Yamase whose own soul is connected to the ocean with a personal interest in marine biology; was born into this Stingray Clan while the elders in his family tree held roles of navigators and explorers consequentially adopting a canoe as their family emblem. Dennis’s wife also allied spiritually to nature and the sea; respecting her culture and holding its tantric fables dear to her heart. It was legend, myth and culture that sealed the birth and fate of future Micronesian glass ceiling-breaking marine biologist Nicole Yamase to not only inherit the oceanic passions of Dennis and her mother; but equally of that of the ocean gods and stingrays from which her clan believe to have evolved.
Nicole Yamase was born (1992) in Pohnpei but her father’s job circulated her childhood to Palau, Saipan and back to Pohnpei before formally settling roots on Chuuk. All the better, as this gave Yamase the liberty to explore sea life, coral reefs, and water plants at the encouragement of her father; solidifying her romance to the ocean and her future profession. Although raised Catholic, religion wasn’t a firm life routine for the Yamase family and Dennis Yamase alternatively instilled into his daughter the benefits of altruism/doing good unto others and making a positive impact foreshadowing exactly what Yamase would grow to encompass.
Spending most of her days snorkeling and exploring the ocean paved through her ancestors; Yamase entered her high school era at the esteemed, private Xaviar High School in Chuuk where alongside the traditional studies; students are encouraged to participate in an intensive biology course. It was here that Yamase’s eyes began to twinkle at the possibility of a future working with the ocean that was already in her DNA. “Our ancestors were scientists from the very beginning. They observed and collected data … they tested and tried new things,” Yamase pondered as she realized that this was her creation story and her future.
Yamase’s path to formal marine biology started with her undergraduate years at Chaminade University of Honolulu where she dove head-first into the sciences earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in 2014. Due to this double-major, Yamase bypassed the traditional Masters requirement and jumped directly to pursuing a doctorate in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa becoming the first Micronesian to follow such an academic path. Yamase was staunch in her perspective of combining scientific research with a cultural approach respective to her ancestors and clan; using this arduous drive as her motivation to apply for marine biology summer internships during her undergraduate years. This confidence was also gifted to Yamase via Dr. Gail Grabowsky, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, who saw Yamase’s potential and urged her to apply for these beneficial opportunities. To her delight, Yamase received sponsorships to multiple internships including such as studying macroalgae in Miami, Florida’s Biscayne Bay which directly contributed to being recognized by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as a candidate for a PhD in Marine Biology. Yamase would go on to focus her thesis and dissertation on the climactic impact on macroalgae and off-shore plants as the basic building blocks of the food chain.
Her Personal Life & Career
In 2021, a year shy of both her 30th birthday and of receiving her doctorate degree in Marine Biology; Yamase followed in the footprints of her navigator/explorer ancestors and entered the pages of history annals. In an exploration program sponsored by her university; Yamase caught the attention of Victor Vescovo, the owner of the ‘Limiting Factor’: the only submersible able to descend to the Mariana Trench (the deepest canyon and ‘Last Frontier’ of the world’s oceans) and the Challenger Deep (the lowest seabed of the Mariana Trench). Even though the Mariana Trench resides in Micronesian territory; no Micronesians have ever made the journey to the trench. This all changed when Vescovo and his committee asked Yamase to board the Limiting Factor with Vescovo firm in his conviction that it is was overdue for a Micronesian to visit the “part of the ocean in their own backyard”. On the morning of the exploration, Yamase prepared by donning a cowry shell necklace reflective of her culture and clutching a canoe figurine representing her navigator family forefathers to descend four hours down reflecting, “The weight of the journey was not just representing myself, but Micronesia, and more broadly, the Pacific. I carried an ocean of people, cultures, traditions, legends, history and sacredness. That responsibility was overwhelming”.
Sadly, Yamase’s two hours exploring the Challenger Deep momentarily tempered her joy as she observed rope and other debris on the ocean floor showcasing the poor consideration humans display to the oceans. Yamase then ascended the return trip of four hours totaling a 10 - hour journey and resurfaced to become the first Micronesian and Pacific Islander, fourth woman, first marine scientist, youngest in age and only the 20th out of now 27 individuals to ever reach the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench etching her name into ocean science history. Yamase returned to the ocean bottom in 2022 (the same year as finishing her doctorate); visiting the Yap Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean at a depth of 27,976 feet (8,527 meters) being one of two women on this descent and the first Micronesian; signaling history once again.
Since earning her PhD, Yamase has become the Director of Impact at One Reef - a coral reef conservation organization based in Micronesia where she connects the local Micronesian communities to the mission of One Reef resulting in a symbiotic relationship benefiting coral reefs and the oceans. In this role, Yamase also works to bridge the gap between the cultural importance and connection of Micronesia’s ocean culture with science.
In 2025, Yamase was the subject of a documentary film directed by Daniel H. Lin following her history-making exploration of the Mariana Trench and Challenger Deep. However, instead of solely being a biopic documentary; the film, "Remathau: People of the Ocean”, compounded into a much more profound message with Yamase highlighting Micronesia’s cultures and the importance of the ocean to Pacific Islanders. The film won the Pasifika award at the 2025 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF45); and as of June 2026, is being screened at multiple film festivals targeting a national release.
In her spare hours, Yamase is a regular on the marine science lecture circuit with a poignant message of encouraging women to break gender confines in STEM and especially those in underprivileged and minority communities like Pacific Islanders. “If I can do it,” she said, “they can do it too”, Yamase contends. Yamase’s future goal is to found a marine science lab on Pohnpei opening the doors to local Pacific Islanders interested in marine science especially for those unable to secure higher education in the fieldwork. Yamase never forgets her father Dennis Yamase’s message to leave a positive impact asserting, “We need to take care of our natural resources for future generations. I hope we can leave this place better than when we came.”
Her Awards, Accomplishments & Achievements
1. Yamase earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in her undergrad which allowed her to bypass the traditional Masters requirement and jump directly to pursuing a doctorate in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa becoming the first Micronesian to follow such an academic path.
2. Yamase was the first Micronesian and Pacific Islander, fourth woman, first marine scientist, youngest in age and only the 20th out of now 27 individuals to ever reach the Challenger Deep in Micronesia’s Mariana Trench.
3. In 2022, Yamase was one of the first two women and the first Micronesian to descend to the Yap Trench.
4. Yamase is the subject of a documentary film highlighting her descent to the Mariana Trench and Challenger Deep while exploring her culture and heritage. The film won the Pasifika award at the 2025 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF45) and is being screened in multiple film festivals in 2026 targeting a national release.
Directories / Credits
1: “Interview: Dr. Nicole Yamase”, Written by Dr. Nicole Yamase. Published on Unknown Date by Oceangraphic Magazine
2: Dr. Nicole Yamase contact card format at Pacific Leadership Assistance Network
3: One Reef company website format
4: “Dr Nicole Yamase on Reaching the Deepest Part of the Ocean” Podcast format. First Aired August 10, 2023 by Radio National Breakfast
5: “Micronesian Scientist Becomes First Pacific Islander to Reach Ocean's Deepest Point”, Written by Jon Letman. Published on April 3, 2021 by The Guardian
6: “Yamase Dives Deep to Inspire New Generation”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on May 1, 2023 by the University of Guam
7: “Under the Sea: Into Challenger Deep”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on April 12, 2021 by Chaminade University of Honolulu
8: “First Pacific Islander to Reach the Ocean's Deepest Point”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on Unknown Date by The Coconet
9: “1st Pacific Islander to Reach Ocean’s Deepest Point is UH Grad Student”, Written by UH News. Published on April 6, 2021 by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa News
10: “Nicole Yamase: Honoring Her Culture through Science”, Written by Kate Uesugi. Published on May 26, 2021 by The Humanist
11: “Yamase Wants to Inspire More Micronesians to Become Scientists”, Written by Phill Leon Guerrero. Published on April 8, 2021 by The Guam Daily Post
12: “Palau and Yap Trench Expedition Team Honored with Reception Hosted by Micronesian Voyaging Society and PICRC”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on July 22, 2022 by Palau International Coral Reef Center
13: “Nicole Yamase: The Ocean is a Mirror” Podcast format. First Aired April 22, 2024 by Plant Kingdom
14: “Yap: Micronesia’s Kingdom of the Mantas”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on Unknown Date by Dive Training
15: “Micronesia Country Profile”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on October 27, 2023 by BBC News
16: “Nicole Yamase is the First Micronesian to Dive to Challenger Deep” YouTube Video format. Published March 24, 2021 by Caladan Oceanic
17: “Remathau: People of the Ocean” Documentary Trailer and Description format. Published on Unknown Date by Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF45)
18: “Remathau: People of the Ocean” Documentary Trailer and Description format. Published on Unknown Date by Nia Tero