The Northwestern Islands are the group of uninhabited islands and atolls found in the Hawaiian archipelago. The area is considered a sanctuary for a number of endangered species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. It was officially declared a national monument by former United States President George Bush. The islands' 140,000 square miles of surrounding water is presently the largest conservation area in the United States.

The ecosystem houses an estimated 7,000 species of animals including, fishes, birds, invertebrates and marine mammals. Additionally, it is home to thriving colonies of coral reefs which are among the world's healthiest and most abundant. Although the region is devoid of human settlements its importance to the entire archipelago cannot be emphasized enough. Its isolation allows it to sustain plant and animal life that would otherwise perish in overpopulated areas. Furthermore, its vibrant underwater environment and geological formations are a testament to Hawaii's grandeur.

Islands and Atolls

There are several islands and atolls in the Northwestern region. Some of these were once settlements, others were important to ancient Polynesians for fishing and a variety of sea faring activities.

French Frigate Shoals
French Frigate Shoals, once called Mokupapapa or "low reed island" is roughly 560 miles north west of Honolulu. The atoll is home to a 22 mile long reef and the La Perouse Pinnacle which measures 120 feet. It is believed that this was one of the land masses mentioned in Captain Cook's journals. The ancient Hawaiians went to Mokupapapa to hunt turtles, which inhabited the area. Today it provides a sanctuary for the endangered monk seals. It is also a preferred nesting area for the Hawaiian green turtle.

Gardner Pinnacles
The Garden Pinnacles or Puhahonu which translates to mean "turtle surfacing for air" is surrounded by a large network of coral reef measuring 600,000 acres which is home to some 27 species of coral. The two disconnected rocky surfaces emerge from beneath the water giving both the appearance of turtles rising for air.

Kure Atoll
Kure Atoll or Kanemilohai "the brother of Pele" was given its more recent name in recognition of the Russian navigator. Loran (Long Range Aids to Navigation) a Coast Guard Station, was constructed on the island in the year 1960.

Laysan Island
Laysan Island also known as Kauo resembles a cracked egg with a pond in its center and a large body of sand surrounding it. Thousands of birds make the area their home. It was once inhabited by Max Schlemmer who used the bird droppings found on the island to make guano, a naturally based fertilizer. Once the droppings became inadequate to meet his demands, he switched to growing coconuts and also sold bird feathers to the Japanese. Neither venture was successful. He also attempted to raise rabbits on the small island, however they reproduced uncontrollably and ate all the vegetation, forever altering the island's environment. No longer could its flowering plants and sandalwood trees thrive and it became a barren area. Some species of birds died out around that time including the orange honeycreeper. Recent efforts are being carried out by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to restore the island to its original state.

Lisianski Island
Lisianski Island is named for the captain of the ship that ran aground there in 1805. In Hawaiian it is called Papaapoho or "flat island with a depression" and it looks exactly as it is described. It is part of the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation.

Maro Reef
Maro Reef once called Nalukakala or "'surf that arrives in combers", is home to the second largest lagoon in the entire archipelago with the French Frigate Shoals having the largest. Typically, the island is inundated with large waves that are able to cover most of the land mass.

Midway
Midway Atoll is best known as the locale of the WWII Battle of Midway. The Hawaiian name, Pihemanu Kauihelani literally translates to mean "the loud din of birds" and the atoll is now home a bird sanctuary for numerous species. Tourists may visit the atoll as part of an organized tour or as a volunteer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nihoa
Nihoa, once referred to as Mokumana or "the bird island" by ancient Polynesians, is about 150 miles north west of Kauai and was an important sea route. Its highest point is 903 feet and it is home to Hawaiian burial grounds, housing sites and agricultural terraces. There was no record of inhabitants in Nihoa when the Europeans first came to the islands.

Necker Island
Necker island, also known as Mokumanamana covers 45 acres in total with its highest point measuring 300 feet. It is distinctly shaped like a fish hook and has rocky surfaces throughout. Today there are a number of heiaus or Polynesian shrines which indicate the island was settled or used for religious ceremonies or a temporary resting spot for ancient voyagers. Additionally, archaeologists have unearthed stone tools and a number of other artifacts that share several similarities with those found on the major Hawaiian islands. Carbon dating of these objects indicate that the island was utilized hundreds of years after settlements were established on the main land masses and also that Hawaiians stopped venturing to the area well before Europeans arrived.

Pearl and Hermes Atoll
Pearl and Hermes atoll also known as Holoikauaua or "the dog like animal that swims in the rough" was named after the Hawaiian Monk Seal which inhabits the area.

Endemic Marine Life

The Northwestern Hawaiian islands and the entire body of water surrounding them are home to more than 7,000 species of marine animals. The region houses a large network of healthy and untouched coral reefs and is now considered an official sanctuary for many of Hawaii's endangered creatures.

Marine Mammals
The waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian islands are home to a number of whale, seal and dolphin species. These underwater mammals have flattened flippers and tails that help them traverse the waters. Dolphins and whales spend all their time in the water and have evolved blow holes for above surface swimming. Both animals generally travel in large packs, although they may swim individually at times. The whale species found in the region include humpback, sperm, melon headed and false killer whales. Dolphin species include the rough toothed, spinner, and Risso. Monk seals are the other types of marine mammals found in Hawaiian waters and are considered endangered because of their dwindling numbers.

Fish
There are a wide variety of fish living in the waters of the northwestern region. These include sharks, rays and bony fish. Their natural habitats are the sea grass beds, rocky or coral reefs, open areas of ocean or the sandy depths. There are hundreds of indigenous coral reef fish species, some found exclusively in Hawaiian waters. The reefs, deep water banks, sea-mounts and atolls are natural habitats for these creatures that depend on the ideal conditions within this environment.

Marine Birds
Marine birds are simply classified as those that primarily live in ocean areas, heading back to land for reproductive purposes. The Northwestern islands provide an excellent home for these birds who may find an adequate portion of food supplies within the diverse underwater ecosystem. Sea-birds commonly found here include the albatross, boobies, petrels, tropic-birds, shear-waters and terns. The small islands and atolls are used by both indigenous and migratory birds as nesting areas. The Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is the largest colony in the world and is home to endangered species like the Laysan Albatross. The sanctuary is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Invertebrates
Invertebrates make up a large portion of living organisms found in the underwater ecosystem. Marine creatures that do not have a vertebral column are classified as invertebrates. There are more than a hundred species of invertebrates in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands including lobsters, snails, crabs, sea stars, jelly fish, urchins and corals. The coral reefs are also home to microscopic polyps which continue to build these large networks that provide an important habitat for other invertebrates. The area comprises 70% of the United States coral reef population.

Plants and Algae
The plant life in the area is significant to the entire ecosystem because of its fundamental role as a primary food source. Plants and algae capture energy from the sun rays and make food through the process of photosynthesis. There are more than 150 species of alga in the northwestern region such as the brown, red and green varieties and other forms of sea grasses. The plants also oxygenate the underwater environment. A by-product of photosynthesis is oxygen which is converted from carbon dioxide during the process. Many marine animals depend on algae as a primary food source. New species of algae have also been discovered in the region since conservation efforts and underwater exploration began.

Marine Reptiles
The region is not home to many underwater reptiles. There are however some sea turtles in the area. There are now only seven species of sea turtles in existence in the world, most of which are endangered. The northwestern islands are home to the olive ridley, hawksbill, logger-head and green turtles. Many of these endangered animals traverse the waters and nest in the sandy areas that are being preserved by the Hawaiians Islands National Wildlife Refuge on the French Frigate Shoals.

The Northwestern Islands provide an important sanctuary for many of Hawaii's indigenous and endangered creatures. Efforts being undertaken by conservation groups have been largely successful and many of the declining populations of creatures like the monk seal, are now steadily increasing their numbers. The islands may not be inhabited by humans but they form a significant part of the Hawaiian environment that must be preserved to ensure the archipelago's natural ecosystems continues to flourish.

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