The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is the largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage Site on the planet, and was one of the catalysts for large-scale marine conservation in the Pacific and globally. PIPA is now one of the oldest large-scale marine protected areas and has experienced 3 major high thermal events (resulting in coral bleaching). The fate of PIPA’s ecosystems has implications for climate survival the world over, as does the success of PIPA’s policies and enforcement. The PIPA science program formally began in 2010; a decade later, what have we learned? And in the decade to come, what do we need to know?