Laysan

Laysan is a small coral and sand island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. It is primarily notable for its large seabird colonies and endemic species of plants and birds.

The island’s central area includes a shallow hypersaline lagoon surrounded by sand and guano-rich flats, and its beaches and dunes form important nesting sites for Laysan albatross and other seabirds. Several species unique to the island evolved in isolation, and the site is managed for wildlife protection.

In the early 20th century the island suffered severe ecological damage after the introduction of rabbits and other pests, which led to vegetation loss and several species extinctions; later conservation campaigns removed invasive mammals and re-established native plants and bird populations. Today Laysan is accessible only for authorised scientific and conservation visits.

Laysan lies in the northwestern extent of the Hawaiian archipelago and is administered as part of the State of Hawaii’s protected island units; it is remote from the main Hawaiian Islands and located within a large marine conservation zone.

• Protected status: Part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands chain and included in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the island is closed to casual visitation and access requires permits for research or conservation work.
• Conservation history: Historical introduction of rabbits and other invasive mammals caused severe habitat damage and extinctions; conservation and eradication efforts in the 20th century restored vegetation and native bird populations.

What to See #

• Central lagoon and flats: The central island supports a shallow, often hypersaline lagoon and extensive sand and coral rubble flats that provide nesting habitat for seabirds and shorebirds.
• Seabird colonies: Large seabird colonies, notably of Laysan albatross and other breeding species, concentrate on the island during the nesting season and are a key reason for its protected status.